Generalized anxiety disorder - PSYC380 - Exam 2

Anxiety disorders

Most common mental disorders in the U.S

Impacts 19% of adults a year 

only 31% seek treatment

Fear

Stress response from immediate danger

Anxiety

Stress response from thoughts

Central nervous system’s emotional response to a vague threat of danger

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (GAD)

• For 6 months or more, the person experiences disproportionate, uncontrollable and ongoing anxiety and worry about multiple matters

• The symptoms include at least 3 of the following: edginess, fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems

• Significant distress or impairment

Disproportionate

Excessive and unreasonable

Have you ever worried about things for absolutely no reason

Have you worried more than you should have given the circumstances

Uncontrollable

It’s hard to stop worrying and shift your thoughts to focus on something else

GAD sociocultural perspective

If you have experienced danger at some point, you are more likely to develop GAD ex. Hurricane Katrina

Different groups suffer more than others, trans, gay people and women are more likely to experience GAD

Cognitive behavioral perspective on GAD

Looks into basic internal assumptions

Metacognitive theory (CBT on GAD)

People don’t just have thoughts, they have thoughts or beliefs about their thoughts

Positive beliefs (metacognitive theory)

Worrying is useful, it makes me remember to do things

Negative beliefs (metacognitive theory)

Worrying is bad, worrying about the fact that you worry

Intolerance of uncertainty theory (CBT of GAD)

Individuals find it unacceptable for something bad to occur

Needs to know what is going to happen 100% of the time, if not: Anxiety

Avoidance theory (CBT of GAD)

Worrying serves as a distractor from psychological symptoms/discomfort

GAD biological perspective

GABA: Inhibitory messages, eating, aggression, sleeping, fear

The more GABA you have, your fear reactions are reduced

Low GABA leads to hyperactivity, structure differences in the brain can also lead to hyperactivity

Fear circuit (fear circuit is hyperactive)

GAD can be inherited from family members

Biological treatments for GAD

Drug therapies

Benzodiazepines: Increase GABA levels, only provides temporary relief, can be addictive which means they are not prescribed as often

Antidepressants: Targets serotonin and NE which are important parts of fear circuit, not as addictive

What do you start with before cognitive treatments of GAD

Psychoeducation: Teaching clients about their mental health conditions

They can learn to recognize their anxiety when it comes up so they can change how they feel about it

NOT A TREATMENT, it just helps treatment outcomes

Cognitive treatments of GAD

Use CBT therapy

Start with self monitoring (taking notes of thoughts)

Clients become skilled at identifying thoughts and are able to use those skills to work towards the goal of CBT, which is to change maladaptive thoughts