Anxiety disorders Flashcards
(43 cards)
what are the different subtypes of anxiety disorders
- specific phobia
- social anxiety disorder
- generalised anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- agorapobia
- seperation anxiety disorder
- selective mutism
what is a specific phobia
marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (duration 6 months +)
- recognised as excessive but can’t be reasoned away
what is social anxiety disorder
persistent fear or anxiety about 1 or more social or performance situations that is disproportionate (6/12+)
what is GAD
excess worry about a number of events or activities for at least 6 months and difficulty controlling this
- chronic condition with acute episodes
- often begins in early adulthood and twice as common in women than men
what is separation anxiety disorder
excessive fear or anxiety focussed on seperation from home or attachment figures (1/12 in children, 6/12 in adults)
what is selective mutism
consistent failure to speak in social situations when there is an expectation to do so (1/12+)
what is panic disorder
recurrent unforeseen panic attacks, an abrupt surge of intense fear (an initial panic attack, followed by 1/12 of persistent worry about additional attacks )
- can peak within 10 minutes with many somatic/physical symptoms
- can be combined with GAD or phobic disorders
what is agoraphobia
marked fear or anxiety about situations where escape might be difficult (6/12+)
- typically leads to pervasive avoidance, eg. being alone outside home or being in a crowd of people
describe the prevalence of anxiety
- 20% of adult population will be affected at some point
- most likely subtype diagnosis is specific phobia with a prevalence of 13%
- next most prevalent is social anxiety disorder, then GAD
- twice as many women than men affected
how common is comorbidity in anxiety disorders
- presentation is usually complex and differentiation between disorders is difficult
- co morbidity is very common
what is step 1 of the stepped care model
- all known and suspected presentations of GAD identification and assessment
what is the nature of the intervention for step 1 of the stepped care model
education about GAD and treatment options
- active monitoring
what is step 2 of the stepped care model
diagnosed GAD that has not improved after education and active monitoring in primary care
what is the nature of the intervention for step 2 of the stepped care model
- low intensity psychological interventions
- individual non facilitated self help
- individual guided self help
- psychoeducational groups
what is step 3 of the stepped care model
GAD with an inadequate response to step 2 interventions or marked functional impairment
what is the nature of the intervention for step 3 of the stepped care model
- choice of high intensity psychological intervention
- cognitive behavioural therapy/applied relaxation
- or a drug treatment
what is step 4 of the stepped care model
complex treatment refractory generalised anxiety disorder and very marked functional impairment, such as self neglect or a high risk of self harm
what is the nature of the intervention for step 4 of the stepped care model
- highly specialised treatment, such as complex drug/psychological treatment regimens
- input from multi agency teams, crisis services, day hospitals or inpatient care
what are the common characteristics of adults affected by GAD
- Aged between 35 and 54
- divorced or seperated
- living alone or as a lone parent
- less likely to be aged between 16-24 or between 65-74
- less likely to be married or cohabiting
what are the risk factors for anxiety
- family history
- childhood adversity
- stressful life events
- specific personality traits- excessive worrying
- certain parenting styles- overprotective, lacking emotional warmth or parents modelling fear and avoidance
- younger age
- being female, unmarried or unemployed
- poor physical or mental health
what are the presenting symptoms of anxiety
- apprehension
- cued or spontaneous panic attacks
- irritability
- poor sleep
- poor concentration
- avoidance
- increased heart rate/palpitations
- dry mouth
- GI discomfort
- sweating
what are the 10 most common phobias
- arachnophobia
- ophidiophobia
- acrophobia
- agoraphobia
- cynophobia
- astraphobia
- trypanophobia
- social phobias
- pteromerhanophobia
- mysophobia
what is obsessive compulsive disorder
- a time consuming obsession and compulsion which interferes with a person day to day functioning, work or relationship
- if compulsion is resisted, anxiety levels are increased
- lifetime prevalence of 2%
- males and females equally affected
what is post traumatic stress disorder
- intense and prolonged response to a particular trauma
- characterised by emotional numbness, detachment, flashbacks, recurring memories and vivid dreams
- don’t have to be personally involved, can be a bystander or rescue worker