Lecture 4 - Anxiety & Related Disorders Flashcards
Why is normal anxiety useful? When does anxiety become dysfunctional?
Activates a number of systems that shifts attention to the threat and elicits a response. It becomes dysfunctional when this system is activated with no threat present.
What are the three systems that are activated in relation to anxiety?
Physical system: parasympathetic (flight/fight) response.
Cognitive system: shifts attention to the threat and making us hypervigiliant (difficult to focus on other things).
Behavioural system: prepares escape/avoidance responses, but also aggression when needed.
What are three instances of normal anxiety activation?
Realistic/objective threat to the self.
Specific ‘prepared’ stimuli (spiders).
Novel stimuli/situations.
What is threat appraisal in terms of anxiety?
The likelihood of an outcome occurring (probability) and the degree of harm from that outcome (cost). Related to past learned experiences.
How is abnormal anxiety different to normal anxiety?
Overestimation of the probability and cost, or excessive and inappropriate anxiety.
What is the main characteristic of Separation Anxiety Disorder?
The child being overly anxious when separated from the primary caregiver at an age where they should be more comfortable (onset before 18).
What is the main characteristic of Specific Phobias?
Phobia directed towards a specific stimuli, e.g. animals, injections, situational factors, etc.
What is the main characteristic of Social Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety is directed at potential negative social evaluation.
What is the main characteristic of Panic Disorders?
Unexpected/spontaneous panic attacks where the first time it happens there is a fear anxiety about them happening again.
What is the main characteristic of Agoraphobia?
Fear of having a panic attack in a situation where help is difficult or in an embarrassing situation.
What is the main characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (ritualised behaviours that relieve anxiety) that are so overwhelming they must be carried out.
What are the general psychological vulnerabilities? (2)
Higher trait anxiety, lower perceived control of anxiety.
What are the specific psychological vulnerabilities?
Development of threat-related beliefs, as learned from direct experience, observation and instruction.
What are the generalised biological vulnerabilities?
Genetic predisposition and neuroticism.
