Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety General state of dread or uneasiness that occurs in response to a vague or imagined danger How is anxiety different from fear?

Types of Anxiety Disorders Phobic Disorders Panic Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Stress Disorders

Phobic Disorders Fear leads to avoidance behavior that interferes with one’s life Any object or situation can become a phobia Simple phobia- persistent excessive or irrational fear of a particular object or situation (ex- arachnophobia) Social phobia- persistent fear of social situations, close scrutiny

Panic Disorder Recurring and unexpected panic attacks Panic attack- relatively short period of intense fear or discomfort; shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea… Agoraphobia- fear of being in places or situations is which escape may be difficult Crowds, malls, trains etc.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder An excessive or unrealistic worry about life circumstances that lasts for a least six months Most common anxiety disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obessions- unwanted throughts, ideas or mental images that reoccur Compulsions- repetitive ritual behaviors The compulsions are done to lessen the obsessions Must interfere with one’s life to be diagnosed

Stress Disorders Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Intense, persistent feelings of anxiety that are caused by a traumatic experience Flashbacks, nightmares, numbness, avoidance, increased tension, sleeping problems, irritability… Acute Stress Disorder Similar, but occurs immediately or within 6 months Short term disorder

Causes Genetic? Biochemical? Learned? Interaction of factors

Treatments? Cognitive Therapy Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Medications Psychotherapy (talk therapy)

Tourette Syndrome multiple motor and vocal tics lasting for more than one year usually involuntary movements (tics) of the face, arms, limbs or trunk tics are frequent, repetitive and rapid