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Anxiety Disorders

Terms in this set (32)

DSM-IV Anxiety Disorders
Specific phobias
Panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Social phobia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
PTSD

*stressful pt. of their life, need to understand what's going on and how it affects function
how many people have anxiety disorders?
>25% of population
A psychological disorder characterized by unrealistic fear and anxiety.
what is a panic disorder?
-A disorder characterized by episodes of intense fear accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath and irregularities in heartbeat, feels like a heart attack
-4 panic attacks within the last month so there is recurrence of it happening
about panic disorders
-Panic Disorder with or without agoraphobia
-Anticipatory anxiety
-Agoraphobia
Anticipatory anxiety
A fear of having a panic attack; may lead to the development of agoraphobia
-anticipating another attack=stress out
Agoraphobia
going to public situations/settings
-An unrealistic and intense fear of being away from home or other protected places.
-In severe cases people will not leave home
possible causes of panic disorders
1. Genetic origins: Evidence supports some anxiety disorders may be inherited, associated with joint hypermobility.
2. Neurotransmitters: Serotonin (what makes you happy) and GABA receptors (what helps w/ neuroTs) GBIs induce severe anxiety, serotonin depletion increases susceptibility to panic
3. Brain Structures: Imaging studies suggest that the cingulate gyrus, prefrontal, and anterior temporal cortices are involved in panic attack
brain mechanisms in panic disorders
-fMRI reveals lower activity in frontal cortex (mood, problem solving) during panic attack in panic subjects compared to controls
-Decreased frontal activity may inhibit one's ability to control reactions to panic inducing stimuli..decision making, problem solving, if they can't deal with panic
-amygdala if size isn't right = difficult w/ emotions
Generalized Anxiety
-Often a result of Pavlovian conditioning (see the stressor and panic..psychologists deal with this)
-Role of Central Nucleus of the Amygdala
-Essential for identifying FEAR and ANXIETY stimuli
Initiating emotional responses
-hypothalmus (sympathetic responses) and cortex involved
Treatment for Anxiety
-Historically, barbiturates were used to treat severe cases of anxiety
-Benzodiazapines (valium, ativan, librium) had less severe side effects
-Other GABA agonists
-Gabapentin
-Serotonin agonists (increase serotonin)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
2-3% of population
-A mental disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions
Obsession
-An unwanted THOUGHT OR IDEA with which a person is preoccupied
-"I left the doors unlocked!"
Compulsion
-The feeling that one is obliged to perform a behavior, even if one prefers not to do so.
-Checking behaviors (keep checking the doors)
-Negative consequences
ex: flick light switch 10x or something bad will happen to brother
Examples of obsessions
Concern for order and constancy
Cleanliness (body or living space)
Forbidden sexual thoughts
Examples of compulsions
Hand washing
Checking (light clicks)
Collecting
Repeating behaviors (in and out of a door)
Arranging things
Cleaning
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