Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders: disorders that are characterized by persistent worry and maladaptive behaviors to reduce anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Worry and apprehension
- Autonomic arousal (fight or flight)
- Difficulty identifying cause of anxiety
- Sleep disturbance
- Avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations
- Muscle aches
- Irritability
- Associated with depression
Phobias
- Intense unwarranted fear of something specific
Panic Disorder
- Acute and intense episodes of anxiety in short duration (panic attack)
- Fight for flight
- Unpredictable
Social Anxiety Disorder
- Fear of situations where they may be judged negatively
Agoraphobia
- Fear of being in situation where they cannot escape when experiencing anxiety
- Avoidance behavior

Involves anxiety:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Persistent unwanted thoughts, images, and urges that cause distress or anxiety
- Lead to compulsions: senseless and repetitive rituals that rehearse anxiety
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Behavioral

Biological

Cognitive