Week 4 ANXIETY DISORDERS - shorter version (2)

Anxiety Disorders Overview

• Anxiety disorders are characterized by pervasive and persistent feelings of anxiety that are often out of proportion to the actual threat.

• Individuals may experience significant distress or impairment in functioning due to these disorders.

• Major types include:

  1. Specific Phobia

  2. Social Anxiety Disorder

  3. Panic Disorder

  4. Agoraphobia

  5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Fear and Anxiety Components

• Cognitive/Subjective: Thoughts and perceptions about danger.

• Physiological: Bodily reactions like increased heart rate and sweating.

• Behavioral: Actions taken in response to fear, such as escaping or avoiding situations.

Differences between Fear and Anxiety

• Fear:

  • Present-oriented mood state.

  • Elicits immediate fight or flight response.

  • Example thought: "I am in danger!"

• Anxiety:

  • Future-oriented mood state.

  • Involves negative affect and chronic muscle tension.

  • Example thought: "I am worried about what might happen."

Characteristics of Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety results in excessive avoidance or escape behaviors.

• Fears are often unrealistic or irrational.

• Symptoms can lead to substantial distress or functional impairment, commonly resulting in avoidance of feared situations or enduring them with distress.

Panic Attack Symptoms

• Symptoms include:

  1. Palpitations or accelerated heart rate

  2. Sweating

  3. Trembling or shaking

  4. Feelings of choking

  5. Chest pain or discomfort

  6. Nausea or abdominal distress

  7. Dizziness or faintness

  8. Chills or heat sensations

  9. Paresthesias

  10. Derealization

  11. Fear of losing control or going crazy

  12. Fear of dying

• Panic attacks can be cued (expected) or uncued (unexpected) and represent a false alarm activation of the fear circuit.

Biological Theory of Panic, Anxiety, and Agoraphobia

• Panic attacks may be linked to abnormal activity in the amygdala.

• Anticipatory anxiety related to panic attacks is thought to stem from activity in the hippocampus, impacting emotional learning and responses.

Integrated Model of Anxiety

• Biological Vulnerability: Genetic predisposition towards anxiety and negative affect.

• Specific Psychological Vulnerability: Misinterpretation of sensations as threatening.

• Generalized Psychological Vulnerability: Perception of events as uncontrollable.

Panic Disorder

• Symptoms include uncued panic attacks and worry about the implications of future attacks.

• Treatment may involve cognitive-behavioral strategies and medications (e.g., SSRIs).

• Statistics:

  • Lifetime prevalence: 4.7%

  • Female to male ratio: 2:1

Etiology of Panic Disorder

• Behavioral Factors: Interoceptive conditioning related to internal sensations.

• Cognitive Factors: Catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily changes leading to panic (e.g., "I must be having a heart attack!").

Agoraphobia

• Defined by avoidance of situations where escape may be difficult if panic symptoms arise.

• Prevalence: 4.7% with a 2:1 female-to-male ratio.

• Treatment focuses on exposure therapy and cognitive strategies.

Specific Phobias

• Subtypes include animal, blood-injection-injury, and situational phobias (e.g., confined spaces).

• Fear is disproportionate to the actual threat and leads to significant avoidance behavior.

Causes of Phobias

• Learned behaviors via classical and operant conditioning.

• Statistics:

  • Lifetime prevalence: 12.5%

  • Female to male ratio: 4:1.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

• Excessive fear of embarrassment or negative evaluation in social situations.

• Lifetime prevalence: 12.1%, common onset during adolescence.

Etiology of SAD

• Involves both behavioral conditioning factors and negative cognitive biases.

Treatment for SAD

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) including exposure techniques and medications (SSRIs).

Conclusion

• Understanding the components, symptoms, and treatment approaches for anxiety disorders is crucial for effective management and support.