Anxiety Disorders: The Clinical Picture

Question 1

How long does an acute stress response last for?

Answer 1

From a few hours to 3 days

Question 2

What is an acute stress response, and what are some of the typical symptoms?

Answer 2

Response to an extremely stressful event (physical or psychological).

• Insomnia
• Restlessness
• Anxiety/Anger/Depression
• Autonomic arousal (e.g. increase in HR)
• Poor concentration

Question 3

What is adjustment disorder, and what does it occur in response to?

Answer 3

A wide range of behavioural and emotional symptoms, including stress, hopelessness and sadness.

Happens in response to a stressful event that isn’t life-threatening (making the response out of proportion).

Question 4

How long can adjustment disorder last for?

Answer 4

6 months

Question 5

What is PTSD?

Answer 5

A response to an extremely catastrophic event that may have been witnessed or experienced (e.g. rape)

Question 6

What are some symptoms of PTSD?

Answer 6

• Flashbacks/Nightmares of the event
• Insomnia
• Hypervigilence (state of high alert)
• Anxiety / Depression
• Numbness / Detachment

Question 7

What is GAD?

Answer 7

Exaggerated anxiety about everyday life

Question 8

What does GAD have a high co-morbidity with?

Answer 8

• Depression
• Panic disorder
• Social phobia

Question 9

What does the attachment theory suggest about GAD?

Answer 9

Parents play an important role

Question 10

What is panic disorder and some symptoms?

Answer 10

An anxiety disorder that leads to sudden attacks of panic and fear.

• Palpitations and Tachycardia
• Fear of losing control, dying, going mad, fainting
• Sweating
• Nausea

Question 11

What is agoraphobia, and what does it lead to?

Answer 11

Irrational fear of leaving the house or entering crowded areas.

Leads to avoidance of going out as well as worrying about losing control or fainting.

Question 12

What are some risk factors for panic disorder?

Answer 12

• Divorced / Widowed / Separated
• Living in a city
• Abuse at a young age
• Parental loss at young age
• Limited education

Question 13

Where in the brain are panic attacks thought to be started?

Answer 13

Locus Coeruleus

Question 14

What type of drugs can be effective against panic attacks?

Answer 14

• GABA agonists

- SSRIs

Question 15

What are specific phobias?

Answer 15

Intense feeling of fear and anxiety in response to a particular stimulus. Exposure to stimulus may even cause a panic attack.

Question 16

What are some phobias thought to be due to?

Answer 16

Classical conditioning after a negative experience.

Question 17

What can alcohol reduce?

Answer 17

Social anxiety

Question 18

What is obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Answer 18

Intense form of anxiety where sufferer has obsessions (unwanted thoughts/sensations) that drives them to carry out compulsions (e.g. checking or cleaning) which reduces the anxiety.