Anxiety Disorders – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering definitions, disorders, therapies, and key concepts related to anxiety disorders for exam review.

Anxiety Disorder

A mental health condition characterized by excessive fear or worry that is out of proportion to a situation and impairs daily functioning.

DSM-5

The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, providing criteria for diagnosing anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.

Mild Anxiety

Lowest level of anxiety; heightens alertness and learning ability without dysfunction.

Moderate Anxiety

Narrowed focus and concentration; person can attend to immediate concerns but may miss peripheral information.

Severe Anxiety

Greatly reduced perceptual field; inability to complete tasks, possible ritualistic behaviors.

Panic Level Anxiety

Overwhelming anxiety with loss of rational thought, inability to process stimuli, and risk of self-harm.

Panic Disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by recurrent, unpredictable panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

Panic Attack

A discrete episode of intense fear lasting 15–30 minutes with physical and cognitive symptoms such as palpitations and fear of dying.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, leading to avoidance of public places.

Specific Phobia

Irrational fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., heights, blood) causing avoidance behavior.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Persistent fear of social or performance situations where embarrassment may occur; formerly called social phobia.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive, uncontrolled worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, plus symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear of being apart from attachment figures.

Selective Mutism

Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking in others.

Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder

Clinically significant anxiety resulting from substance intoxication, withdrawal, or medication side effects.

Systematic Desensitization

Behavioral therapy that gradually exposes a patient to feared stimuli while using relaxation techniques.

Implosion Therapy (Flooding)

Behavioral technique involving rapid, prolonged exposure to high levels of feared stimuli to extinguish anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Psychotherapy that links thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, aiming to change negative thinking and maladaptive behaviors.

Thought Stopping

CBT technique where the person mentally says “Stop!” to interrupt escalating anxious thoughts.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Systematically tensing and relaxing muscle groups to reduce physical tension and anxiety.

Deep Breathing Exercises

Controlled diaphragmatic breathing used to activate the relaxation response and lower anxiety.

Biofeedback

Use of electronic monitoring to gain voluntary control over physiological functions linked to stress.

Stress Reduction Methods

Activities such as meditation, yoga, time management, and social support that lower stress and anxiety levels.

Tranquilizing PRN Medication

As-needed anxiolytic drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines) administered to rapidly reduce acute anxiety.

Derealization

Sensation that the external environment is unreal or dreamlike, often occurring during severe anxiety or panic.

Depersonalization

Feeling detached from oneself, as if observing one’s actions from outside the body; associated with panic attacks.

Avoidance Behavior

Deliberate evasion of feared objects or situations to prevent anxiety, reinforcing the phobia.

Catastrophic Thinking

Cognitive distortion that anticipates worst-case outcomes, common in GAD and panic disorder.

Scheduled Worry Time

CBT strategy allocating a specific period for worrying, helping limit intrusive anxious thoughts during the day.

Time Management

Planning and prioritizing tasks to reduce stress and perceived overwhelm contributing to anxiety.