GAD Flashcards
anxiety consists of
thoughts and feeling about the threat and physical signs/ symptoms
GAD
excessive free floating anxiety and worry about everyday events and problems occuring most of the time
panic disorder
severe short lived expisodes of anxiety that occur unpredicatbly
phobias
anxiety occurs in response to a specific trigger - eg fear of flying
ICD 10 criterai for GAD
- six month history of generalised anxiety plus four of
- autonomic arousal (palps, tachycardia)
- physical symptoms (diff breathing, chest pain, nausea, numbness / tingling)
- symptoms of tension (muscle tension, aches, restlessness, feeling on edge)
- psychological symptoms (DPDR, fear of losing control/ going crazy)
- should not be explainable by any other mental/ physical disorder
aetiolog of anxiety disorders
- hertiability
- biological factors - noradrnelaine, serotonic and GABA
- social and psychological - stressful life events, maladaptive thinking patterns
examination and investigation for anxiety
neuro and enocrine exam
- tachycardia and heat ntolerance may suggest thyrotoxicosis
- always consider substance misues and alc withdrawal
management of mild to moederte anxiety
- CBT - self help can be offered in mild cases
management of moderate anxiety
SSRIs - higher doses required than in depression - anxiety and agitation may increase in first 2 weeks
other options - SNRIs, TCAs and MAOIs
And CBT
management of sevre cases
combined pharma and psychological therapy
Managemnet of GAD
- applied relaxatio - breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation
- venlafaxine - SNRI - alternative to SSRIs
GAD prognosis
chornic andfluctuation, worse at times of stress, can cause signif distress and functional impairment