chapter 5.1: anxiety disorders and phobias

anxiety

a mood state characterized by marked negative affect and bodily symptoms of tension in which a person apprehensively anticipates future danger or misfortune; anxiety may involve feelings, behaviors, and physiological responses

fear

the emotion of an immediate alarm reaction to present danger or life-threatening emergencies

panic

sudden, overwhelming fright or terror

panic attack

abrupt eperience or intense fear or discomfort accompanied by a number of physical symptoms, such as dizziness or heart palpitations

behavioral inhibition system (BIS)

brain circuit in the limbic system that responds to threat signals by inhibiting activity and causing anxiety

fight/flight system (FFS)

brain circuit in animals that when stimulated causes an immediate alarm and escape response resembling human panic

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

anxiety disorder characterized by intense, uncontrollable, unfocused, chronic, and continuous worry that is distressing and unproductive, accompanied by physical symptoms of tenseness, irritability, and restlessness

panic disorder (PD)

recurrent or unexpected panic attacks accompanied by concern about future attacks and/or a lifestyle change to avoid future attacks

agoraphobia

anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult in the event of panic symptoms or other unpleasant physical symptoms (e.g., incontinence)

panic control treatment (PCT)

cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic attacks, involving gradual exposure to feared somatic sensations and modification of perceptions and attitudes about them

specific phobia

unreasonable fear of a specific object or situation that markedly interferes with daily life functioning

blood-injection-injury phobias

unreasonable fear and avoidance of exposure to blood, injury, or the possibility of an injection; victims experience fainting and a drop in blood pressure

situational phobias

an anxiety involving enclosed places (i.e., claustrophobia) or public transportation (i.e., fear of flying)

natural environment phobias

fear of situations or events in nature (i.e., heights, storms, water)

animal phobias

unreasonable, enduring fear of animals or insects that usually develops early in life

separation anxiety disorder

excessive, enduring fear in some individuals that harm will come to them or their loved ones when they are apart

social anxiety disorder (SAD)

extreme, enduring, irrational fear and avoidance of social or performance situations