lecture 5 Flashcards
anxiety
an apprehension over an anticipated problem/future threat
fear
reaction to immediate danger- threat happening now
fear is fundamental for
fight or flight
anxiety helps us to
notice and plan for future threats
arousal shows an
inverted u shaped relationship with performance- heroes dodson effect
clinical description of anxiety disorders
All anxiety disorders share excessively high frequent anxiety- experience unusually intense fear
symptoms must
interfere with important areas of functioning /cause distress
phobias
fear of objects/situations that is out of proportion to any real danger. tried to be avoided
phobias symptoms must persist for at least
6 months
social anxiety disorder
fear of unfamiliar people or social scrutiny
panic disorder
recurrent unexpected panic attacks - unrelated to specific situations - sudden attack of apprehension, terror and feelings of impending doom
agoraphobia
fear or anxiety about at least 2 situations where it would be difficult to escape or receive help
generalised anxiety disorder
excessive anxiety and worry at least 50% of days about a number of events
gender as a risk factor
women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed - more likely to report their symptoms
mowers two factor model of anxiety disorder
classical conditioning - person learns to fear a neutral stimulus that is paired with an aversive stimulus
operant - person gains relief by avoiding the CS
other ways how anxiety might develop
direct experience, observation of another verbal instruction
genetic factors twin studies
suggest a heritability of 20-40% for specific phobias , social anxiety and generalised disorder and about 50% for panic disorder
neurobiological factors
amygdala seems to be particularly activated among people with anxiety disorder
less activity in the media prefrontal cortex
ris factor - cognitive factor
sustained negative beliefs about the future , lack of perceived control and attention to threat
model of the development of panic disorder
neurobiological panic attack involves activation of the sympathetic nervous system
panic disorder cognitive factor
catastrophic misinterpretation of these somatic changes
medication to reduce anxiety
two types of medication are most commonly used- Benzodiazepines and antidepressants
antidepressants are preferred over Bz’s because
less side effects - most people relapse when stop taking medication
combining treatments-
medication with psychological treatments
exposure therapy
a person must face up the source of their fear with the aim of extinction- learning new associations with regard to the feared object
systematic desensitisation
taught relaxation techniques
confronted with a list of gradually more frightening stimuli
flooding
relaxation technique - direct exposure immediately
David clark developed
a version of cognitive therapy - helps people learn to not focus on attention-combat their negative thinking
treatment of panic disorder
panic control therapy - based on the tendency to overreact to the bodily sensations associated with panic
treatment of agoraphobia
systematic exposure to feared situations - more effective when the person is involved
CBT
detailed clinical interview, self monitoring homework assignments , direct observation
CBT assessment should include
identify cognitions, identify behaviours and feelings and physical responses
ellis ABC model
peoples assumptions are irrational- triggered by negative events. activating event, beliefs and consequences
problem maintenance
safety behaviours - avoidance are intended to avoid or reduce anxiety
