Task 3 - Anxiety & Panic Disorder Flashcards
Panic Attack
Discrete period of intense fear or discomfort;
-symptoms develop abruptly and peak within 10 minutes
in absence of triggers
-> certain situations but not every time
Panic Attack Symptoms
Heart Palpitations Sweating Trembling, shaking Shortness of breath or choking Chest pain, discomfort Nausea Dizziness Derealization/depersonalization
Panic Disorder DSM criteria
A. Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
B. at least one attacks followed by one month or more of:
1. persistent concern about additional attacks
2. worry about implications of attack or consequences
3. clinically significant change in behavior related to attacks
Panic Disorder Characteristics
- diagnosis when panics attacks become common occurrence
- can go with many episodes in a short time and then some time without panic attack
- fear of possessing life threatening illness
- tends to be chronic
- many show generalized anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse
Panic Disorder Prevalence
3-5% lifetime prevalence
- more common in women
- onset usually between late adolescence and mid-thirties
Agoraphobia
Fear of places where there might be trouble escaping or getting help if they become anxious or have panic attack
-> frequently developed by people with panic disorder
Panic Disorder Genetic correlates
10% of first-degree relatives also have it
- twin studies: 30-40% due to genetics (transmitted vulnerability)
- Agoraphobia: attributable in part due to genetics
Panic Disorder Neurobiological Contributors
Different functioning in limbic system (amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus)
- dysregulation of norepinephrine in locus ceruleus in brain stem
- > poorly regulated fight-or-flight response
Panic Disorder Cognitive Model
Psychological Factors associated with disorder;
- anxiety sensitivity: belief that bodily symptoms have harmful consequences
- > interoceptive awareness: heightened awareness of bodily cues
- > interoceptive conditioning: slight increases in anxiety elicit conditioned fear
Panic Disorder Integrated Model
Genetic vulnerability leads to vulnerability to dysreguulation of neurotransmitters involved in anxiety
- > lead to cognitive vulnerability: hyperattentive and misinterpretation of bodily sensations
- > anticipatory anxiety (panic disorder) and sometimes conditioned avoidance response (panic disorder + agoraphobia)
Biological Treatments for Panic Disorder
Trycyclic Antidepressants
SSRIs & SNRIs
Benzodiazepines
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Can reduce panic attacks and improve functioning of norepinephrine system & influence serotonin levels
-disadvantages: side effects and relapse upon discontinuation
SSRIs & SNRIs
- effective in anxiety relief
- better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants
- side effects as well (not as severe as trcyclic)
Benzodiazepines
Suppress CNS by influencing GABA, norepinephrine, and serotonin
- effective at reducing panic attacks
- physically and psychologically addictive: withdrawal symptoms, can interfere with cognitive and motor functioning
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Panic Disorder
- Confrontation with situations and thoughts causing anxiety: changing and challenging thoughts to extinguish behaviors
- components:
1. teaching of relaxation and breathing techniques
2. clinician guides in identifying catastrophic cognitions
3. practicing relaxation & breathing techniques while experiencing panic symptoms
4. Therapist challenges catastrophizing thoughts and teaches to challenge them - > relief of panic attacks of 85-90% within 12 wweeks
- > better at preventing relapse