Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety

General state of dread or uneasiness

that occurs in response to a vague or

imagined danger

How is anxiety different from fear?

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Phobic Disorders

Panic Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Stress Disorders

Phobic Disorders

Fear leads to avoidance behavior that interferes with one’s life

Any object or situation can become a phobia

Simple phobia- persistent excessive or irrational fear of a particular object or situation (ex- arachnophobia)

Social phobia- persistent fear of social situations, close scrutiny

Panic Disorder

Recurring and unexpected panic attacks

Panic attack- relatively short period of intense fear or discomfort; shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea…

Agoraphobia- fear of being in places or situations is which escape may be difficult Crowds, malls, trains etc.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

An excessive or unrealistic worry about life circumstances that lasts for a least six months

Most common anxiety disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obessions- unwanted throughts, ideas

or mental images that reoccur Compulsions- repetitive ritual

behaviors

The compulsions are done to lessen the obsessions

Must interfere with one’s life to be diagnosed

Stress Disorders Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Intense, persistent feelings of anxiety that are caused by a traumatic experience Flashbacks, nightmares, numbness,

avoidance, increased tension, sleeping problems, irritability…

Acute Stress Disorder Similar, but occurs immediately or within 6

months Short term disorder

Causes

Genetic?

Biochemical?

Learned?

Interaction of factors

Treatments?

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Medications

Psychotherapy (talk therapy)

Tourette Syndrome

multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year

usually involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk

tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid