PSYP1-Anxiety Disorders-WK2

Separation Anxiety Disorder

A disorder characterized by excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from attachment figures.

Criteria for Separation Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms must persist for at least 4 weeks in children/adolescents and 6 months in adults.

Panic Attack

An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort, reaching a peak within minutes, with at least four physical symptoms.

Symptoms of Panic Attack

Includes palpitations, sweating, trembling, breathlessness, and fear of losing control.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Characterized by excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.

Specific Phobia

Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation that leads to avoidance behavior.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Fear or anxiety about social situations where one may be scrutinized by others.

Agoraphobia

Fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable in panic-like symptoms.

Developmentally Inappropriate Anxiety

Excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation that is not appropriate for the individual's developmental level.

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Includes restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.

Persistent Distress

Disturbance that causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or important areas of functioning.

Duration for Phobia

The fear, anxiety, or avoidance must persist for 6 months or more.

Avoidance Behavior

Actively avoiding phobic objects or situations or enduring them with intense fear or anxiety.

Fear of Negative Evaluation

In Social Anxiety Disorder, individuals fear acting in a way that will lead to humiliation or rejection.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

Includes headaches, stomachaches, nausea when separation from attachment figures is anticipated.

Excessive Worry

In Generalized Anxiety Disorder, individuals find it difficult to control worry about various activities.

Recurrent Distress

In Separation Anxiety Disorder, involves excessive distress when anticipating separation from home or attachment figures.

Cultural Context of Anxiety Disorders

The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to actual dangers within the individual's sociocultural context.