Neurosis Flashcards
What is meant by neurosis?
A collective term for psychiatric disorders characterised by distress, that are non- organic, have a discrete onset and where hallucinations and delusions are absent.
What is anxiety?
Unpleasant emotional state involving subjective fear and somatic symptoms
What’s the Yerkes Dodson Law?
This states that anxiety is beneficial up to a plateau of optimal functioning. Beyond this level of anxiety then performance deteriorates.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Psychological- anticipatory fear of impeding doom, worrying thoughts, exaggerated startle response, restlessness, poor concentration and attention, irritability, depersonalisation and de realisation.
Cardiovascular- chest pain and palpitations
Respiratory- hyperventilation, cough, chest tightness
GI- abdo pain, loose stools, N and V, dysphagia, dry mouth
Genitourinary- increased freq of micturition, failure of erection, menstrual discomfort
Neuromuscular- tremor, myalgia, headache, parasthesia, tinnitus
What is the ICD-10 classification of anxiety disorders?
Phobic anxiety disorders- agoraphobia, social phobia, specific phobia
Other anxiety disorder- panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder.
Reaction to severe stress and adjustment disorders- acute stress reaction, post traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder.
What are the clinical features of neuroses?
The previous symptoms mentioned
Associated cognitions- worried or fears that are inappropriate or excessive
Associated behaviours include avoidance of escape
Depressive symptoms are also common in neuroses
What are the phobic anxiety disorder?
Specific phobia, agoraphobia, social phobia.
What is generalised (free floating) anxiety?
Present most of the time and not associated with specific objects or situations. Excessive or inappropriate worry about normal life events. Typically longer duration (days, months or even years).
What is episodic (paroxysmal anxiety) ?
Has an abrupt onset, occurs in discrete episodes. The episode of anxiety is severe with strong autonomic symptoms, but usually short lived (typically less than one hour). Can occur in response to specific threats.
What are the common medical conditions associated with anxiety?
Hyperthyroidism, hypoglycaemia, anaemia, phaeochromocytoma, cushings disease, obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), CCF, malignancies.
What are the psychiatric conditions related to anxiety?
Eating disorders Somatoform disorders Depression Schizophrenia OCD PTSD Adjustment disorder Anxious (avoidant personality disorder)
What are the substance related conditions associated with anxiety?
Intoxication- alcohol, cannabis, caffeine
Withdrawal- alcohol, benzodiazepine, caffeine
Side effects- thyroxine, steroids, adrenaline
What is GAD?
Ongoing, uncontrollable widespread worry about many events or thoughts that the patient recognises as excessive and inappropriate. Symptoms must be present most days and for at least 6 months duration.m
What are the predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating risk factors for GAD?
Predisposing: genetics, childhood upbringing, personality type and demands for high achievement, being divorced, living alone or as a single parent. Low socioeconomic status.
Precipitating: domestic violence, unemployment, relationship problems and personal illness (chronic pain, arthritis, COPD)
Perpetuating: continuous stressful life events.
What are the clinical features of anxiety?
Worry which is excessive and uncontrollable Autonomic hyperactivity (sweating, increase in HR, increase in pupil size) Tension in muscles/ tremor Concentration difficulty/ chronic aches Headaches, hyperventilation Energy loss Restlessness Startled easily/ sleep disturbance
What is the ICD-10 criteria for GAD?
A period of at least 6 months with prominent tension, worry and feelings of apprehension about everyday events and problems.
At least four of the watcher symptoms and at least one autonomic arousal (palpitations, sweating, shaking/tremor, dry mouth)
What are the investigations would you do for generalised anxiety?
Blood tests- FBC (infection/Anaemia), TFTS (hyperthyroidism), glucose (hypoglycaemia)
ECG- sinus tachycardia
Questionares- GAD 2, GAD7, Becks anxiety inventory, hospital anxiety and depression scale.
What are the differentials for GAD?
Other neurotic disorders: Panic disorder, specific phobias, OCD, PTSD
Depression
Schizophrenia
Personality disorder (anxious PD, dependent PD)
Excessive caffeine or alcohol consumption
Withdrawal from drugs
Organic- anaemia, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycaemia
What is the biological treatment for GAD?
SSRI (sertraline) is recommended which has anxiolytics effects
If the SSRI does not work then SNRI (venlafaxine, duloxetine) can be offered.
If both of the above can’t be tolerated then pregabalin may be used.
Meds should be continued for at least a year.
Why shouldn’t benzodiazepines be used long term for GAD?
They can cause dependence.
What are the psychological treatments of GAD?
Psycho educational groups (low intensity)
CBT and applied relaxation (high intensity)
What are the social intervention management for GAD?
Self help methods- writing things down and analysing them and support groups. Exercise may also help
What is the stepped care model proposed by NICE to determine the most effective interventions for patients with GAD?
Step 1= identification and Assessment. Psycho education about GAD and active monitoring.
Step 2= low intensity psychological interventions
Step 3= high intensity psychological interventions (CBT or drug treatment)
Step 4= highly specialist input (combination of drug and psychological therapies, involvement of crisis team, multi agency teams).
What is meant by phobia?
An intense, irrational fear of an object, situation, place or person that is recognised as excessive or unreasonable.
What is agoraphobia?
A fear of public spaces or fear of entering a public space from which immediate escape would be difficult in the event of a panic attack.
What is social phobia (social anxiety disorder)?
A fear of social situations which could lead to humiliation, criticism or embarrassment.
What is a specific (isolated) phobia?
A fear restricted to a specific object or situation.
What are the risk factors for phobias?
Aversive experiences Stress and negative life events Other anxiety disorders Mood disorders Substance misuse disorders Family history
What are the clinical features of phobic anxiety disorders?
Biological- tachycardia is the most common autonomic response, however in phobias of blood, injection and injury then bradycardia can be produced.
Psychological- unpleasant anticipatory anxiety, inability to relax, urge to avoid the feared situation, and at extremes a fear of dying.
What is the ICD-10 criteria of agoraphobia?
A. Marked and consistently manifest fear in, or avoidance of, at least two of the following…
- Crowds
- Public spaces
- Travelling alone
- Travelling away from home
B. Symptoms of anxiety in the feared situation, with at least two symptoms present together (and at least one symptom of autonomic arousal)
C. Significant emotional distress due to avoidance or anxiety symptoms. Recognised as excessive or unreasonable
D. Symptoms restricted to (or predominate in) feared situation.
What is the ICD-10 criteria of social phobia?
A. Marked fear/ avoidance of being the centre of attention or fear of acting in a way that will be embarrassing or humiliating.
B. At least two symptoms of anxiety in the feared situation, plus one of the following…
. Blushing
. Fear of vomiting
. Urgency or fear of micturition/defecation
C. Significant emotional distress due to the avoidance of anxiety symptoms
D. Recognised as excessive or unreasonable
E. Symptoms restricted to (or predominate in) feared situation.
What is the ICD-10 criteria for a specific phobia?
A. Marked fear (or avoidance) of a specific object or situation that is not agoraphobia or social phobia.m
B. Symptoms of anxiety in the feared situation
C. Significant emotional distress due to the avoidance or anxiety symptoms. Recognised as excessive or unreasonable.
D. Symptoms restricted to the feared situations.
What is the management of agoraphobia?
CBT- graduated exposure techniques
SSRIS are the first line pharmacological agent
What is the management of social phobia?
CBT (individual or group) specifically designed for social phobia, graduated exposure
Pharmacological interventions- SSRIs, SNRIs (venlafaxine), or if no response to these, MAOI (moclobemide)
Physcodynamic psychotherapy for those who decline CBT or medication.