Anxiety Flashcards
(42 cards)
What are some of the sympathetic manifestations of anxiety?
diaphoresis, mydriasis, tachycardia and tremor
What are the GI/GU symptoms associated with anxiety?
diarrhea and increased urinary frequency
What are some of the other symptoms of anxiety?
dizziness, syncope, hyperventilation, numbness and tingling in the extremities
What are some of the psychological manifestations of anxiety?
restlessness, irritability, trouble concentrating and worry
What are the 6 classifications of anxiety disorders?
GAD, panic disorder, OCD, simple phobia, PTSD, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder
What are some of the organic causes of anxiety-like symptoms?
caffeine, substance abuse, withdrawal, hyperthyroid, hypoglycemia
What are some of the psychiatric disorders that are associated with anxiety?
depression schizophrenia eating disorders personality disorders substance dependence
What are the 3 main criteria for a diagnosis of anxiety?
Symptoms persistent (>6 months) Interfere with normal functioning Cause significant distress
What are some of the psychosocial factors in the etiology os anxiety disorders?
traumatic disorders
maladaptive coping skills
learned anxiety? (worrying parents)
In which 2 populations is there a higher a prevalence of anxiety disorders?
- those with family members with anxiety disorders
- women more affected than men
Which neurotransmitters are hypothesized to be involved in the pathology of anxiety disorders?
decreased serotonin and GABA
increased NE and glutamate
What are the diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder?
- excessive worry >6 months about >1 thing
- difficulty controlling worry
- > 3 of : restlessness, fatigue, diff. concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbance
- causes significant impairment
What is the prognosis like for GAD?
worsens over time without treatment
What types of therapies and medications are used to treat GAD?
- therapy: CBT or psychodynamic
- medications: antidepressants, buspirone, benzodiazepenes (2nd line), Beta blockers
What is a panic attack?
abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that is unexpected (not precipitated by a trigger)
What are the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder?
- recurrent, unexpected panic attacks
- > 1 attack followed by >1 month of >1 of: concern about more attacks, changes in behavior related to attacks
- no other explanation for symptoms
What is agoraphobia?
- Fear/anxiety about >2 of: public transportation, open spaces, enclosed spaces, in line or in a crowd, and being outside the home alone
- fear of not being able to escape a situation
- avoids situations
- fear out of proportion to actual danger
- > 6 months
- causes significant impairment
- no other explanation for symptoms
How is panic disorder treated?
CBT, psychodynamic therapy, SSRI, Benzos (emergency tx)
What is a phobia?
- > 6 months
- significant impairment
- fear/anxiety about a specific object/situation
- avoids object/situation
- fear/anxiety out of proportion to actual danger
- no other explanation
What is social anxiety disorder?
- > 6 months
- significant impairment
- fear/anxiety when exposed to social situation
- fear of acting in ways that will be negatively scrutinized
- avoids social situations
- fear/anxiety out of proportion to actual threat
- no other explanation for symptoms
What is performance only social anxiety?
fear is restricted to public speaking or performing and doesn’t generalize to other social aspects
How are specific phobias treated?
- therapy: flooding, systemic desensitization, psychodynamics
- meds: Benzos?
How is social anxiety treated?
- therapy: CBT, assertiveness training, group therapy
- meds: SSRI/SNRI, MAOI, Beta Blockers for performance only variant
What are the criteria for OCD?
A-presence of obsessions and compulsions
B-O & C must be time consuming, cause significant distress, not substance induced and not better explained as symptoms of another disorder
