Understanding Anxiety Disorders in South Africa

Anxiety

A range of disorders characterized by excessive worry.

Fear

Emotional response to real or perceived threats.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Persistent, excessive worry about various aspects of life.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

Phobic Disorders

Intense fear of specific objects or situations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Presence of obsessions and compulsions affecting daily life.

Stress Disorders

Disorders resulting from traumatic or stressful events.

Aetiological Model

Framework explaining causes of anxiety disorders.

Integrated Aetiology

Combines biological, psychological, and social factors.

Cross-Cultural Differences

Variations in anxiety presentation across cultures.

Nervous System Response

Physiological reaction during anxiety-provoking situations.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Body's automatic reaction to perceived danger.

American Psychiatric Association

Organization defining mental health disorders.

Psychological Arousal

Increased alertness and physiological response to stress.

Worry

Continuous concern about potential negative outcomes.

Debilitating Anxiety

Anxiety that significantly impairs daily functioning.

Prevalence in Women

Anxiety disorders more common among women.

Behavioral Disturbances

Changes in behavior due to anxiety.

South African Context

Local factors influencing anxiety disorder presentations.

Anxietas

Latin origin of the term anxiety.

Common Anxiety Triggers

Finances, relationships, and work-related pressures.

Survival Mechanism

Fear aids in escaping or confronting threats.

Emotional Response

Fear as a reaction to stimuli.

Fear

Response to immediate danger or threat.

Anxiety

Emotion related to future uncertainties or worries.

Gender-based violence

Crimes targeting individuals based on gender.

Functional anxiety

Adaptive response experienced by many individuals.

Physiological symptoms

Body's reactions signaling fear or anxiety.

Stress

Excessive strain from environmental demands.

Quality of life

Overall well-being affecting health and happiness.

Insomnia

Inability to sleep, often due to stress.

Mood changes

Alterations in emotional state from stress.

Mental exhaustion

Fatigue resulting from prolonged stress.

General adaptation syndrome

Three-stage process of stress response.

Alarm phase

Initial response involving fight-or-flight reaction.

Adrenaline release

Hormonal response increasing heart rate during stress.

Resistance phase

Body's attempt to return to normal state.

Exhaustion phase

Chronic stress leading to physical and mental fatigue.

Defence mechanisms

Psychological strategies to cope with anxiety.

Agoraphobia

Fear of situations where escape might be difficult.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and compulsions.

PTSD

Disorder from traumatic experiences, often in veterans.

Panic disorder

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks.

DSM-5

Diagnostic manual categorizing mental health disorders.

ICD-10

International classification of diseases, version 10.

Separation anxiety disorder

Excessive worry about separation from attachment figures.

Separation Anxiety

Distress from leaving attachment figures.

Excessive Worry

Fear of harm to attachment figures.

Refusal to Leave Home

Avoidance due to excessive worry.

Physical Complaints

Symptoms appearing with anticipated separation.

Childhood Onset

Typically evident before age 18.

Persistence into Adulthood

Childhood anxiety may continue later in life.

Specific Phobia

Unreasonable fear of specific objects or situations.

Panic Attack

Abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort.

Avoidance Behavior

Avoiding feared situations to prevent anxiety.

Common Phobias

Fear of dogs, spiders, heights, etc.

Onset Age for Phobias

Typically between 7 and 9 years old.

Panic Disorder

Spontaneous episodes of intense anxiety.

DSM 5 Definition

Panic attack peaks within minutes.

Cognitive Symptoms

Four or more symptoms during panic attack.

Maladaptive Behavior

Behavior changes lasting over one month post-attack.

Agoraphobia

Fear of large open spaces or situations.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of negative evaluation in social situations.

Cultural Context

Fear disproportionate to actual threat.

Adolescence Onset

Emerges during teenage years or early adulthood.

Performance Situations

Anxiety during social evaluations or performances.

Westphal's Definition

Agoraphobia as fear of open spaces.

Prevalence of Panic Attacks

Affects 3-4% of the population, more in women.

Social Anxiety

Fear of social situations and judgment from others.

Avoidance Behaviors

Actions like avoiding eye contact or limiting conversation.

Rumination

Repetitive thinking about past anxiety-inducing events.

Prevalence of Social Anxiety

More common in females; onset around age 13.

Childhood Influences

Develops from social inhibition or bullying experiences.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry.

Symptoms of GAD

Requires 3 of 6 symptoms causing significant distress.

Gender Susceptibility in GAD

Females more affected than males; developed countries more affected.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Involves obsessions and compulsions impacting daily life.

Obsessions in OCD

Recurrent, intrusive thoughts or urges experienced as unwanted.

Compulsions in OCD

Repetitive behaviors performed to alleviate obsession-related anxiety.

Time-Consuming Nature of OCD

Obsessions and compulsions take significant time daily.

Onset of OCD

Occurs in childhood for one-third to one-half of cases.

Common Obsessions in OCD

Concerns about symmetry and sexually intrusive thoughts.

Common Compulsions in OCD

Counting, repeated washing, checking, and ordering behaviors.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Preoccupation with imagined flaws in appearance.

Dysmorphophobia

Fear of becoming or being perceived as deformed.

Distress from Body Dysmorphia

Significant impairment in daily functioning due to anxiety.

Comparison to Others

Constant scrutiny of appearance against others' standards.

Hoarding Disorder

Involves excessive accumulation of items and inability to discard.

Freud's Contribution to Hoarding

Introduced concept of hoarding in psychological discourse.

Significant Distress in Dysmorphic Disorder

Causes anxiety and time-consuming behaviors related to appearance.

Childhood Onset of OCD

Risk factors include early life experiences and trauma.

Anal Character

Combination of orderliness, obstinacy, and parsimony.

Hoarding

Difficulty discarding possessions, regardless of value.

Sentimental Value

Emotional attachment to items, not hoarding.

Trichotillomania

Recurrent hair pulling causing significant hair loss.

Common Site for Trichotillomania

Scalp is the most frequent area affected.

Onset Age for Trichotillomania

Typically begins between 10-13 years old.

Excoriation Disorder

Skin-picking disorder causing lesions and distress.

Core Feature of Excoriation

Recurring skin picking despite efforts to stop.

Emotional State Related to Skin Picking

Often linked to anxiety and OCD disorders.