Chapter 3: Anxiety, OCD, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Question 1

What is fear?

Answer 1

A belief that someone or something is dangerous, can cause pain, or a threat; real or imagined threat; fight or flight.

Question 2

What is anxiety?

Answer 2

Anticipated danger or misfortune resulting in a state of apprehension.

Question 3

What is the difference between panic disorder and anxiety disorder?

Answer 3

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of panic.
Anxiety disorder is a type of psychological disorder with anxiety as its prominent feature.

Question 4

What is a panic attack?

Answer 4

Feature of a panic disorder; extreme form of anxiety accompanied by physical, behavioural and cognitive symptoms.

Question 5

T or F: only 10% of adults will develop an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.

Answer 5

False, as many as 17% will.

Question 6

What does prevalence mean?

Answer 6

Overall number of cases of a disorder existing in a population during a given period of time.

Question 7

What does neurosis mean?

Answer 7

An abnormal or diseased condition of the nervous system.

Question 8

What is etiology?

Answer 8

Cause of origin; study of causality.

Question 9

T or F: In the early 1900s, Freud’s concepts formed the basis for the classification systems in the first two editions of DSM.

Answer 9

True, Freud’s concept of disorders as neuroses and how neuroses are the ego’s ways of defending itself from anxiety.

Question 10

What is the present Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is based on?

Answer 10

Similarities in observable behaviour and distinctive features.

Question 11

What are psychoses?

Answer 11

Loss of touch with reality and by the appearance of bizarre behaviour, beliefs, hallucinations.

Question 12

What are some of the anxiety disorders that the DSM-5 recognizes?

Answer 12

• panic disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• specific phobias
• social anxiety disorder
• agoraphobia

Question 13

What is a panic disorder?

Answer 13

Occurrence of repeated, unexpected panic attacks;

Question 14

How do panic attacks occur?

Answer 14

Occur suddenly; reach a peak intensity usually in 10 minutes or less; lasts for about 20 minutes.

Question 15

T or F: Each year about 8-10% of the general population will experience a panic attack.

Answer 15

True, but most will not develop a panic disorder.

Question 16

How can a diagnosis for a panic disorder be made?

Answer 16

Must be current unexpected panic attacks, not triggered by specific objects or situations; out of the blue; over time may be associated with certain cues.

Question 17

What do people feel during a panic attack?

Answer 17

Exhausted; worst experience of their lives; coping abilities are overwhelmed; tendency to cling to others for help or support.

Question 18

Why do people with panic disorder change their daily behaviour?

Answer 18

Attempt to prevent or escape an attack.

Question 19

T or F: Recurrent panic attacks can evoke suicidal feelings.

Answer 19

True, due to the difficulty to cope.

Question 20

What is ataque de nervios?

Answer 20

A syndrome that occurs among Latin American and Latin Mediterranean groups; happens because of a stressful event involving family; feelings of being out of control

Question 21

What are the symptoms of ataque de nervios?

Answer 21

• shouting uncontrollably
• crying fits
• feelings of warmth or heat rising from the chest to the head
• aggressive verbal and physical behaviour

Question 22

What is khyal cap?

Answer 22

A syndrome among Cambodian attributed to a fear that a wind-like substance will infiltrate the body causing asphyxia, tinnitus, loss of consciousness.

Question 23

T or F: Canadian and American national surveys reveal that 1-5% of people develop panic disorder at some point in their lives.

Answer 23

True; typically begins in late adolescence or early 20s; women with twice the likelihood of developing than men.

Question 24

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 24

Fear of places and situations from which it might be difficult or embarrassing to escape in the event of panicky symptoms or of situations in which help may be unavailable if such problems occur.

Question 25

T or F: People who develop panic disorder often report general anxiety disorder before the onset of a panic disorder.

Answer 25

False, they report agoraphobia before panic disorder.

Question 26

When does agoraphobia frequently begins?

Answer 26

Late adolescence or early adulthood; more common in women than men; approx 2% of adults have experienced at some point in their lives.

Question 27

What needs to be considered when diagnosing for agoraphobia?

Answer 27

Sociocultural context; ie. crime rate in neighbourhood, cultural expectations.

Question 28

What do people who suffer from agoraphobia do?

Answer 28

Experience mild panicky symptoms that lead them to avoid venturing away from places they feel safe or secure; become dependent on others for support, only leaving their house with a companion.

Question 29

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Answer 29

Persistent feelings of anxiety that are not triggered by any specific object, situation, activity; Freud “free floating”.

Question 30

What is the key feature of GAD?

Answer 30

Excessive and uncontrollable worrying.

Question 31

When does GAD tend to arise?

Answer 31

Initially during mid-teens to mid-20s, followed by a lifelong course; lifetime prevalence in gen. pop of Canada is about 8.7%; more common in women.

Question 32

T or F: GAD frequently occurs simultaneously with other disorders.

Answer 32

True; depressive, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders.