5.4a - Selection of Categories of Psychological Disorders: Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, and Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

anxiety disorders

group of disorders characterized by excessive fear/anxiety and related maladaptive behaviors

social anxiety disorder

intense fear and avoidance of social situations

-fear judgment/embarrassment

generalized anxiety disorder

• chronic

• continually tense/apprehensive

• state of autonomic nervous system arousal

panic disorder

• unpredictable, minutes-long episodes of intense dread

• may experience terror + chest pain/choking/other frightening sensations

• often followed by worry over a possible next attack

_{^{[an anxiety disorder]}}

agoraphobia

fear or avoidance of situations where one may experience a loss of control and panic (ex: crowds, wide open places, enclosed spaces, public transport, outside your home)

-most common phobia

specific phobia

persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object/activity/situation

_{^{[an anxiety disorder]}}

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

unwanted repetitive thoughts _{^(obsessions)} and/or actions _{^{(compulsions)}}

hoarding disorder

persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their value

_{^{[in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders <- anxiety disorders]}}

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• haunting memories/nightmares 👻, insomnia

• avoidance of trauma-related stimuli

• social withdrawal

• hypervigilance/jumpy anxiety

• numbness of feeling

• symptoms last 4 weeks or more after a traumatic experience

_{^{[a trauma-/stressor-related disorder]}}

trauma- and stressor-related disorders

group of disorders in which exposure to a traumatic or stressful event is followed by psychological distress