Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
(37 cards)
What are the main differences between fear and anxiety in the context of anxiety disorders?
Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, often associated with autonomic arousal necessary for fight or flight, thoughts of immediate danger, and escape behaviors.
Anxiety is the anticipation of future threat, typically associated with muscle tension, vigilance in preparation for future danger, and cautious or avoidant behaviors.
How is anxiety defined?
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. It involves recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns and may lead individuals to avoid certain situations due to worry.
How do panic attacks feature within anxiety disorders?
Panic attacks are a type of fear response that feature prominently within anxiety disorders, characterized by abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes. They are not limited to anxiety disorders but can also be seen in other mental disorders.
How are anxiety disorders differentiated from one another?
Anxiety disorders are differentiated by the types of objects or situations that induce fear, anxiety, or avoidance behavior, and the associated cognitive ideation.
This differentiation is based on the specific situations that are feared or avoided and the content of the thoughts or beliefs associated with these fears.
What distinguishes anxiety disorders from normative fear or anxiety?
Anxiety disorders are distinguished by excessive fear or anxiety that persists beyond developmentally appropriate periods or by being persistent, typically lasting 6 months or more.
They are not transient and involve overestimation of danger, with diagnosis considering cultural contextual factors.
What are common symptoms of anxiety disorders?
Symptoms include nervousness, restlessness, feelings of panic or dread, rapid heart rate and breathing, sweating, trembling, muscle twitching, weakness, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, digestive problems, and a desire to avoid anxiety triggers.
Is experiencing anxiety normal?
Yes, some level of anxiety is normal and has been crucial for human survival, aiding in “fight or flight” responses. It only becomes problematic when it is excessive, frequent, and occurs in inappropriate situations.
What causes persistent anxiety?
Persistent anxiety may be caused by a combination of vulnerability factors (“Why me?”), precipitating events (“Why now?”), and maintaining factors.
Maintaining factors are the most critical as they sustain the anxiety and are the primary target of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Can you provide an example of managing symptoms of anxiety in a patient?
A patient reports excessive worry and physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate and difficulty concentrating, especially in social situations.
Through CBT, they identify maintaining factors of their anxiety, such as negative thought patterns and avoidance behaviors. Therapy focuses on challenging these thoughts and gradually exposing the patient to feared situations, thereby reducing anxiety.
What is the evolutionary role of anxiety?
Anxiety played a key role in human evolution by preparing individuals to respond to threats via “fight or flight” mechanisms. This response system boosts survival by increasing alertness and physical readiness to face or escape danger.
When does anxiety become a problem?
Anxiety becomes problematic when it is excessive, occurs too frequently, or happens in inappropriate situations, affecting an individual’s daily functioning and well-being.
What are the vulnerability, precipitating, and maintaining factors in anxiety?
Vulnerability factors include personal or genetic predispositions to anxiety (“Why me?”), precipitating factors are immediate events or situations that trigger anxiety (“Why now?”), and maintaining factors are elements that continue to fuel anxiety over time, making it persistent (“Why still?”). CBT aims to address these maintaining factors to alleviate anxiety.
What is the anxiety threat equation?
The anxiety threat equation suggests that anxiety is proportional to the perception of danger, which is calculated as the perceived likelihood of something terrible happening multiplied by the perceived awfulness of the event, divided by perceived coping ability.
What are the types of anxiety and fear-related disorders?
Anxiety and fear-related disorders include Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Specific Phobia, Social Anxiety, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
What are the types of obsessive-compulsive disorders?
Obsessive-compulsive disorders include Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hypochondriasis (or Health Anxiety), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and Hoarding Disorder.
What disorders are specifically associated with stress?
Disorders associated with stress include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adjustment Disorder.
Can you provide an example of how the anxiety threat equation might be used in therapy?
A patient with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) perceives a high likelihood of failing at work and views this as catastrophic (high perceived awfulness) while doubting their ability to cope. In therapy, the focus is on reducing perceived awfulness and increasing perceived coping ability by building coping skills and challenging catastrophic thoughts, thereby aiming to lower anxiety.
What differentiates stress-associated disorders from other anxiety disorders?
Stress-associated disorders, such as PTSD and adjustment disorder, are specifically related to the occurrence of a stressful or traumatic event. They differ in their onset, with PTSD often involving long-term psychological effects after a traumatic experience, and adjustment disorder involving emotional and behavioral symptoms in response to a specific stressor.
What role do biological factors play in anxiety?
Biological factors contributing to anxiety include genetic predispositions, brain chemistry imbalances, and the functioning of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These factors can influence an individual’s susceptibility to anxiety disorders and their response to stress.
What are key psychological theories explaining the development of anxiety?
Key psychological theories include the cognitive theory, focusing on how negative thoughts and beliefs about oneself and the world contribute to anxiety, and the behavioral theory, emphasizing the role of learned responses and conditioning in the development of anxiety symptoms.
How do environmental factors contribute to anxiety?
Environmental factors such as traumatic experiences, chronic stress, family dynamics, and societal pressures can contribute to the development and exacerbation of anxiety disorders. These factors interact with biological and psychological vulnerabilities to influence anxiety levels.
What are common approaches to managing and treating anxiety?
Management and treatment approaches include psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy), medication (such as SSRIs and benzodiazepines), lifestyle changes (such as stress management techniques, exercise, and diet), and mindfulness practices (such as meditation and yoga).
Why is early intervention important in anxiety disorders?
Early intervention can prevent the escalation of anxiety symptoms, reduce the risk of developing comorbid conditions, and improve long-term outcomes. Timely treatment helps individuals develop coping strategies and resilience against future stressors.
How does comorbidity affect individuals with anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions, such as depression and substance use disorders. Comorbidity can complicate diagnosis and treatment, requiring integrated approaches to address all coexisting conditions effectively.
