Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
(40 cards)
What are the different models of stress?
1 - Biomechanical ‘engineering’
2 - Medicophysiological
3 - Psychological (Transactional)
What factors will influence an individuals reaction to stress?
1 - Cognitive processing of any perceived threat
2 - Perceived ability to cope
What are the 2 ways of coping with stressors?
1 - Problem focused
2 - Emotion focused
What is an example of the problems focussed approach to dealing with stressors?
Efforts directed towards modifying the stressor - e.g. preparing for exams or an interview
What is an example of the emotion focussed approach to dealing with stressors?
Modifying emotional reaction - e.g. denial or taking a sedative drug
What organs and hormones are involved in the bodies natural stress response system?
Brain - Amygdala and Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland - Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
Adrenal Gland - Cortisol & Adrenaline released
What are the different groups of symptoms experienced from anxiety (‘fight or flight response’)?
1 - Psychological arousal
2 - Autonomic arousal
3 - Muscle tension
4 - Hyperventilation
5 - Sleep disturbance
What is the name of the curve that represents the relationship between stress levels and performance?
Yerkes Dodson curve
What are the psychological symptoms of stress producing anxiety?
1 - Fearful anticipation
2 - Irritability
3 - Sensitivity to noise
4 - Poor concentration
5 - Worrying thoughts
What are the autonomic symptoms produced by a stress producing anxiety?
GI - Dry mouth, swallowing difficulties, frequent loose bowel movements, flatulence
CVS - Palpitations, tight chest
CNS - Dizziness & sweating
What are the physiological symptoms associated with a stress response?
Muscle tension
Hyperventilation
Sleep disturbance
What are the similarities and differences between phobic anxiety disorder and general anxiety disorder?
Similarities - Share the same core anxiety symptoms
Differences - Timing of when they occur (Phobias associated with specific circumstances, GAD occurs persistently)
What are the features of GAD?
- Persistent symptoms (several months) not confined to a situation or object
- All symptoms of human anxiety occur (psychological, autonomic, muscle tension, hyperventilation, sleep disturbance)
What are some of the differential diagnosis for anxiety disorders?
Psychiatric:
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Dementia
- Substance misuse
Physical:
- Thyrotoxicosis
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Hypoglycaemia
- Asthma
Are woman or men more affected by anxiety disorders?
Woman
What is thought to be the cause of GAD?
- A stressor acting on a personality predisposed to the disorder by a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences in childhood
How is GAD managed?
1 - Counselling
2 - Relaxation training
3 - Medication (SSRI’s or TCA)
4 - CBT
What is phobic avoidance?
When a person behaves in a way to avoid the circumstances that create their phobic anxiety
What is anticipatory anxiety in relation to phobic anxiety disorders?
Person experiences anxiety if there is a perceived threat of encountering the feared object or situation
Give examples of clinically important phobic anxiety syndromes?
1 - Specific phobias
2 - Social phobia
3 - Agorapobia
What are the features of social phobia?
Inappropriate anxiety in situation where person feels observed or could be criticised:
- Restaurants
- Shops or ques
- Public speaking
- Can be any general anxiety symptom but blushing and tremor are most common
How is social phobia managed?
1 - CBT (addresses groundless fear of criticism) - Negative views of self, ‘safety barriers’, unrealistically high standards, excessive self-monitoring
2 - Education and advice
3 - SSRI’s
What are the core features of OCD?
Experience of recurrent obsessional thoughts and or compulsive acts
What are some examples of obsessional thoughts experienced by people with OCD?
1 - Ideas, images or impulses that occur repeatedly
2 - These ideas, images or impulses can be unpleasant and distressing (obscene or violent images)
3 - Individual believes them to be their own true thoughts
4 - General anxiety symptoms arise because of the distress of the thoughts or attempts to resist them
