Intro

Question 1

One year prevalence of anxiety disorders

Answer 1

14%

Question 2

Put these in order of prevalence:

OCD
agoraphobia
GAD
Specific phobia 
social phobia

Answer 2

Specific phobia > social phobia > GAD > agoraphobia > OCD

Question 3

Define neuroses

Answer 3

psych disorders characterised by distressed that are non-organic, have a discrete onset + where delusions/hallucinations are absent
(e.g. my rat phobia)

Question 4

Define anxiety

Answer 4

unpleasant emotional state involving subjective fear + somatic Sx’s

Question 5

Yerkes-Dodson law

Answer 5

(Bell shaped curve) states that anxiety can be beneficial up to optimal functioning → after this point performance deteriorates

Important → every human has anxiety/fear but if they become excessive/inappropriate + has an affect on functioning then = disorder

Question 6

CFs anxiety disorders

Answer 6

Psychological → behaviours of avoidance/escape, inappropriate + excessive worry/fear, anticipatory fear of impending doom, worrying thoughts, exag. Startle response, restlessness, poor conc./attention, irritability, depersonalisation + derealisation, depressive Sx’s

CV → palptiations + chest pain

Resp → hyperventilation, cough, chest tightness

GI → loose stools, abdo pain/discomfort, N+V, dysphagia (or sense of lump in throat), dry mouth

GU → ^ Frequency, erection failure, menstrual discomfort

Neuromuscular → tremor, myalgia, headache, tinnitus, paraesthesia

Question 7

DDx anxiety disorders

Answer 7

• Medical → hyperthyroid (TFTs), hypoglycaemia, anaemia, Phaeochromocytoma (urinary catecholamines**), Cushing’s…etc
• Substance-related → Intoxication (cannabis, caffeine….etc), withdrawal (alcohol…), SEs (thyroxine, adrenaline, steroids)
• Psychiatric → eating disorders, somatoform disorders, depression, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD