Abnormal Psychology - Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Characterized by excessive worry related to a wide range of events and inability to control that worry.

Specific Phobia

Fear or anxiety specific to an object or situation; individuals may fear more than one object.

Agoraphobia

Intense fear related to public situations where escape may be difficult and help may not be available.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear or anxiety related to social situations, especially where evaluation by others is possible.

Panic Disorder

Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.

Prevalence of Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia has a prevalence rate of approximately 1.0%.

Prevalence of Specific Phobia

Specific Phobia has a prevalence rate of up to 12%.

Anxiety Disorder Gender Prevalence

Females are twice as likely as males to be diagnosed with most anxiety disorders.

Comorbidity in Anxiety Disorders

Many anxiety disorders occur comorbidly with one another.

Common Comorbid Disorders

Depressive disorders and substance-related disorders are common comorbidities with anxiety disorders.

Agoraphobia and PTSD

Agoraphobia has a high comorbidity with PTSD and panic disorder.

Biological Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Include the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and brain structures like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

Panic Disorder Biological Component

The locus coeruleus and CSTC circuit are involved in panic disorder.

Psychological Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Include maladaptive assumptions, respondent conditioning, modeling, and stimulus generalization.

Sociocultural Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Social pressures and discrimination increase anxiety disorder diagnosis rates in women and minorities.

Modeling

A psychological cause where behavior is learned through observing others.

Systematic Desensitization

A treatment for specific phobias involving gradual exposure to feared objects or situations.

Flooding

A treatment technique for specific phobia where an individual is immediately exposed to their fear.

Cognitive Restructuring

A therapeutic approach focusing on changing maladaptive thought patterns.

Suicidal Thoughts and Anxiety Disorders

Many anxiety disorders are associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Serotonin Transporter Gene

A biological factor linked to anxiety disorders, specifically the 5-HTTLPR gene.

Self-Monitoring in Panic Disorder

A technique used to help individuals identify triggers and manage panic attacks.