L4 - Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What are the three interrelated anxiety systems?
The physical, cognitive, and behavioural systems.
In an anxious response, what is the Physical system responsible for doing?
The physical system is responsible for the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the flight/fight response.
It is also responsible for the mobilisation of resources to deal with a threat.
Symptoms include: sweating, ^BP, ^HR, trembling
In an anxious response, what is the Cognitive system responsible for doing?
The cognitive system is the system which perceives the threat. There is an attentional shift and increased vigilance, and difficulty in concentrating on other information.
In an anxious response, what is the Behavioural system responsible for doing?
The behavioural system is responsible for escape and avoidance behaviours, as well as aggression if escape isn’t possible.
What is the difference between normal and abnormal anxiety?
Abnormal and normal anxiety are not qualitatively different, as they incorporate the same three systems (physical, cognitive and behavioural)
Normal anxiety becomes abnormal when occurrence is excessive and inappropriate.
How might anxiety be excessive or inappropriate?
Anxiety is usually inappropriate due to an over estimation of a threat, whether it be the cost or probability of the threat.
Individuals higher in trait anxiety tend to:
perceived threat in ambiguous situations, as well as having a more anxious response/activation.
What do physical and social fears tend to overestimate about a threat?
Physical fears tend to overestimate probability of a threat, whereas social fears tend to overestimate the cost of a threat.
What is anxiety and anxious behaviour typically based on?
Anxiety usually develops as a result of experience, through conditioning/ reinforcement, observational learning, or through instruction (eg parents).
What are the main features of anxiety disorders?
- They involve an experience of anxiety/fear/panic
- They reflect an internal dysfunction
- They are socially inappropriate/harmful/unexpected
How are anxiety disorders categorised?
Anxiety disorders are categorised according to the focus of the anxiety, eg: specific phobia/social/general/etc
Name some Anxiety Disorders listed in the DSM 5:
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Selective mutism
- Specific phobia
- Social phobia
- GAD
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
What 3 DSM IV Anxiety Disorders does the DSM 5 no longer include under this heading?
Post traumatic stress disorder, Obsessive compulsive disorder, and Acute stress disorder.
How is SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder) characterised in the DSM?
marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.
These situations always always lead to fear and anxiety and are usually completely avoided or endured with extreme anxiety.
Fear/anxiety must be disproportionate to actual threat of the social situation.
According to DSM-5, how long does SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder) usually last for?
Typically 6 months or longer.
