Recognising Anxiety and Depression Flashcards
What is anxiety?
Unpleasant subjective/inner state of turmoil/dread over something unlikely to happen
How is anxiety different to fear?
Fear = response to real/perceived immediate threat, whereas anxiety = anticipatory
What are some physical symptoms of anxiety?
Increased RR Sweating Increased HR Nausea Feeling faint
What are some cognitive symptoms of anxiety?
Poor concentration Guilt Uncontrollable worry/rumination Extreme/irrational thinking Feeling easily fatigued Sleep disturbance
What are some affective symptoms of anxiety?
Intense fear Panic/impending doom Uneasiness Apprehension/nervousness Feeling of being out of your control
What are some behavioural symptoms of anxiety?
Fidgeting Pacing Restlessness Agitation Irritability Tense posture Nervous habits
How do you differentiate between normal and abnormal anxiety?
Responses/emotions > out of proportion Thoughts that can't be reasoned away Thoughts characterised by catastrophic/extreme thinking Behaviour beyond voluntary control Avoidance of feared situation
What are the key differences between an exaggerated fear response and an abnormal one?
Persistence of fear over time
Recognition by person that fear excessive/unreasonable
Associated avoidant behavioural response
Significant interference of fear in activities of daily life
What are some anxiety disorders?
Separation anxiety disorder Selective mutism Specific phobia Social anxiety disorder Panic disorder Agoraphobia Generalised anxiety disorder Substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder Anxiety disorder due to another medical condition Other and unspecified anxiety disorder
When might anxiety be relevant to clinical practice?
Treatment avoidance
Denial
Somatic symptoms
What are some options for managing an anxious response?
Relaxation training
Psychological referral
Psychopharmacology
What are the two symptoms of which at least one has to be present in the last two weeks for a diagnosis of major depression?
Depressed mood
Loss of interest or pleasure
Is depression higher in patient populations compared to the general population?
Yes
What are the psychosocial factors contributing to post-stroke depression?
Reduced ability to engage in social activities
Loss of life roles
Communication deficits
Sense of loss of control over one’s life
What are the neurobiological factors contributing to post-stroke depression?
Lesion location
Proinflammatory cytokines
