Anxiety Flashcards
Define anxiety
feelings and symptoms that arise when an individual perceives a threat or danger
what is an anxiety disorder?
excessive and persistent sense of apprehension
Psychological and physiological symptoms of anxiety disorders
psychological - worry, restlessness, fatigue, irritability
physiological - sweating, muscle aches, dizziness, shortness of breath
What limbic structures play a role in anxiety? Why?
Amygdala - triggers fear and anxiety response, emotional memories
Hippocampus - encodes threatening events into memories
What is the main problem with anxiety?
hyperactivity in the amygdala
How does the body naturally calm down?
neural release of GABA
What is GABA?
neurotransmitter that acts as a natural tranquilizer by stopping neural firing
What are the steps of GABA?
Cl- ion channels appear on nerve cells
GABA opens and changes the shape of the ion channels
Negative ions are let into the cell –> hyperpolarization
Action potentials are inhibited –> brain is calmed down
What are the 3 drugs for anxiety?
- anxiolytic agents
- SSRIs
- B-adrenergic antagonists
What is an anxiolytic agent and how does it work?
GABA substitute, binds to GABA site on receptors
What is a common anxiolytic agent?
Benzodiazepines like valium and librium
Side effects of Benzodiazepines
drowsiness, amnesia, impaired co-ordination, respiratory depression when mixed with alcohol
What is a SSRI and how does it work?
Serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor - inhibits the reuptake (reabsorption and destruction) of serotonin so there’s more serotonin in the brain
What are common SSRIs?
prozac and paxil
What is serotonin?
feel good hormone
