chapter 5: anxiety, OCD, stress-related disorders Flashcards
define anxiety
future oriented emotion (feeling tension, dread, or apprehension) for something to come
define fear
present emotion from a response to danger or perceived threat
what are our physiological changes experienced in the body due to “fight or flight”
two systems controlled by the hypothalamus
1. ANS (SANS specifically)
2. adrenal-cortical system
what does the stimulation from the hypothalamus on the SANS cause this system to do ?
acts on smooth muscle and internal organs to produce bodily changes (inhibit digestion, accelerate heart beat, etc)
from the stimulation of the hypothalamus how does the adrenal- cortical system respond?
releasing hormones like CRF -> pituitary (which releases ACTH) -> andrenal glands and causes many hormones to be released like epinephrine and norepinephrine
what is the body’s major stress hormone
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
what brain structure turns off the “fight or flight” cascade
hippocampus (also responsible for regulating emotions)
what happens to the “fight or flight” response in those we discuss during this chapter?
typically becomes dysregulated
what are some of the feelings of anxiety associated with the disorders discussed in this chapter?
- some disorders involve anxiety that is more specific and acute to certain objects, thoughts, or situations
- or just a more generalized level of anxiety
Define a panic attack
Short and intense period of physical experiences like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, intense dread, etc. but is a psychological event
Do panic attacks always have
a specific trigger
No
What percentage of adults experience occasional panic attacks
28%
What is the definition of panic disorder?
When panic attacks become problematic - common occurrence , not usually provoked by any particular situation ( are unexpected) and begin to change behavior because of them
what are some biological factors of Panic disorder?
- along with generalized anxiety disorder, has a high lifetime prevalence
- family component - 43-48% of family history and twin studies suggest heritability (we dont know a specific gene for cause)
- dysfunction of flight or flight response - poor regulation of several neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, serotonin, GABA, and CCK
what are some biological factors for how panic attacks can be triggered?
hyperventilating, inhaling carbon dioxide, caffeine, breathe in paper bad, or taking sodium lactate - these initiate physiological responses of fight-or-flight
what are some brain structure differences between individuals with panic disorder, and those who do not?
- difference in limbic system (stress response) like amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus
differences in what in the brain help explain development of symptoms associated with panic disorder
somatosensory cortex and thalamus - these areas relate to how people interpret sensations within body
what is the locus ceruleus
area of the brain stem and associated dysfunction of norepinephrine has been linked with panic disorder. it has well define pathways with limbic system. this can cause a panic attack which notify’s limbic system of stress and just continues cycle
why can women experience more severe anxiety symptoms
progesterone (usually PMS and postpartum) can affect both serotonin and GABA neurotransmitter systems. increased progesterone can induce mild chronic hyperventilation and in some women this is enough for a panic attack.
what are some psychological factors associated with cognitive theories around panic disorder
pay very close attention to bodily sensations, misinterpret body sensations in negative way, engage in snowball catastrophic thinking making symptoms worse
define anxiety sensitivity
unfounded belief bodily symptoms have harmful consequences - makes people with this more likely to have panic disorder, and have more frequent panic attacks
define interoceptive awareness
heightened awareness of bodily cues - these have usually occurred at the beginning of previous panic attack
interoceptive conditioning
bodily cues from interoceptive awareness become conditioned stimuli of new attacks
what are some of the most known cognitive factors that contribute to panic disorder
biased thoughts, anxiety sensitivity, high interoceptive awareness, interoceptive conditioning (learning), and beliefs about controllability
what is the viscous cycle of integrated model of panic disorder?
bio and psych factors of mild stimulus make individuals hypervigilant for signs of panic attacks making them have a constant stake of anxiety which increases probability of panicking again
conditioned avoidance reponse
associated panic with location or situation so you begin avoiding these things to reduce symptoms and stays in comforting places reinforcing this behavior
what are some biological treatments for panic disorder
usually work to affect serotonin and norepinephrine systems (SSRIS - paxil, prozac, and zoloft) and SNRIs - effexor), tricyclic antidepressenants
what do benzodiaepines do?
surpress central nervous system and GABA, norepinephrine, and serotonin transmitter systems to reduce panic attacks and general symptoms
what are the negatives of biological treatments like antidepressants and SSRIs
highly addictive and usually experience significant withdrawal symptoms. If someone discontinued their meds without therapy usually experience relapse of symptoms
how does cognitive-behavioral therapy benefit those with panic disorder
- challenge and change irrational thoughts about situations
- help lessen/stop anxious behaviors
what are some components of cognitive-behavioral interventions for panic disorder?
- teach breathing and relaxation techniques
- identify spiraling emotions when having bodily sensation changes (either from client documents when it happens throughout day or therapist will induce during a session)
- practice breathing and relaxation techniques when panicked
- taught to challenge spiraling thoughts
- systematic exposure (desensitization therapy) of client exposed to most feared situations and maintaining control over symptoms
what is the percentage of success of cognitive-behavioral therapy for panic disorder
85-90% of patients experience complete relief from panic attacks within 12 weeks - nearly 90% were panic-free after 2 years. better odds and preventing relapse compared to antidepressants
characteristics of separation anxiety
usually associated with childhood onset - emotional distress caused by possibility of being separated from caregiver. can usually happen after trauma, significant life event, getting lost, parent hospitalization - usually impacts 4-10% of children and is equally common among boys and girls
what is the diagnosing timeline for how long symptoms have to persist for separation anxiety
at least 4 weeks and significantly impair child’s functioning
characteristics of adult separation anxiety
usually impacting 7.7% (13-17) and 6.6% (18-64%)
maintain attachment with frequent calls, rigid routine, fear of being alone. usual onset in early twenties
very comorbid with other mental disorders
biological factors around separation anxiety
genetic component of general anxiety - none so far on specific to separation anxiety
define behavioral inhabitation
children are shy, fearful, and irritable as toddlers and become cautious, quiet, and introverted during school age. can become clingy towards care giver.
this is a risk factor
psychological and sociocultural factors of separation anxiety
-children usually are modeling behavior of anxious parent
-children who feel they have little control may develop anxiety symptoms
-mothers that use overprotective, less assertive, and punitive parenting style are more likely linked with higher rates of separation anxiety
treatment of separation anxiety
-for children CBT seen to do the best, could also try mindfulness-based, acceptance and commitment therapy
- possible drugs include antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs,
what is selective mutism?
failure to speak in specific social situations - now we have identified a strong relationship between SM and anxiety, usually social phobias
what are some characteristics of selective mutism?
usually presents during childhood and can last into adulthood - individuals are capable of holding conversations but when in situations that invoke anxiety they have a failure to speak. more rare with 0.03-0.79 % prevalence in school-aged.
-thought to be result of genetic, temperamental, environmental, and developmental factors
generalized anxiety disorder
no specific situation or trigger, feel anxious in all parts of life. worry about own life and those around them