32.2Overview of Anxiety Disorders and PTSD

What are anxiety disorders characterized by?

Excessive feelings of anxiety or uneasiness that are maladaptive and out of proportion for the given situation.

What defines Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Symptoms of excessive, unrealistic anxiety that do not relate to any specific source, causing clinical distress and lasting at least six months.

What are common symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and trouble concentrating.

What is Panic Disorder characterized by?

Brief periods of intense and uncontrollable anxiety, with somatic symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, and difficulty breathing.

Phobia

An intense and irrational fear of specific objects or situations.

Agoraphobia

A situational phobia characterized by fear of being in open or crowded spaces.

What is required for the diagnosis of phobias?

Symptoms must be present for at least six months and cause clinically significant distress.

What characterizes Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

A pattern of repeated unwanted thoughts (obsessions) followed by unwanted behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing anxiety.

What is the cycle of obsessions and compulsions in OCD?

Obsessions create anxiety, and compulsions provide relief, leading to more frequent compulsive behaviors.

What are some examples of compulsions in OCD?

Checking locks, excessive hand washing, organizing, or repeating words and thoughts.

What are trauma and stress disorders characterized by?

Excessive anxiety and stress following a traumatic event.

What are the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Avoidance of event details, intrusive thoughts, distorted cognitions, negative moods, and arousal symptoms like hypervigilance.

How long must PTSD symptoms be present for diagnosis?

At least four weeks.

What cognitive consequences can arise from PTSD?

Difficulty in learning due to neural changes in the hippocampus.

What are some behavioral consequences of PTSD?

Social isolation, substance abuse, and difficulty forming relationships.

How does trauma affect learning?

Changes in the hippocampus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex can lead to learning difficulties.

What is the duration of symptoms required for diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Symptoms must be present for at least six months.

What is the main difference between panic attacks and generalized anxiety?

Panic attacks are brief and intense, while generalized anxiety is chronic and diffuse.