Anxiety and Mood Disorders

Anxiety Disorders zPrimary disturbance is distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety zAnxiety - diffuse, vague feelings of fear and apprehension yeveryone experiences it ybecomes a problem when it is irrational, uncontrollable, and disruptive

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) zMore or less constant worry about many issues zThe worry seriously interferes with functioning zPhysical symptoms yheadaches ystomachaches ymuscle tension yirritability

Model of Development of GAD zGAD has some genetic component zRelated genetically to major depression zChildhood trauma also related to GAD Genetic predisposition or childhood trauma GAD following life change or major event Hypervigilance

Phobias zIntense, irrational fear that may focus on: ycategory of objects yevent or situation ysocial setting

Phobias zIt is not phobic to simply be anxious about something Afraid of it Bothers slightlyNot at all afraid of it Being closed in, in a small place Being alone in a house at night Percentage of people surveyed SnakesBeing in high, exposed places MiceFlying on an airplane Spiders and insects Thunder and lightning DogsDriving a car Being in a crowd of people Cats Study of normal anxieties

Specific Phobias zSpecific phobias - fear of specific object yanimals (e.g., snakes) ysubstances (e.g., blood) ysituations (e.g., heights) ymore often in females than males

Some Unusual Phobias zAilurophobia - fear of cats zAlgobphobia - fear of pain zAnthropophobia - fear of men zMonophobia - fear of being alone zPyrophobia - fear of fire

Social Phobias zSocial phobias - fear of failing or being embarrassed in public ypublic speaking (stage fright) yfear of crowds, strangers ymeeting new people yeating in public zConsidered phobic if these fears interfere with normal behavior zEqually often in males and females

Development of Phobias zClassical conditioning model ye.g., dog = CS, bite = UCS yproblems: xoften no memory of a traumatic experience xtraumatic experience may not produce phobia zSeligman’s preparedness theory

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) zObsessions - irrational, disturbing thoughts that intrude into consciousness zCompulsions - repetitive actions performed to alleviate obsessions zChecking and washing most common compulsions zHeightened neural activity in caudate nucleus

Panic Disorder zPanic attacks - helpless terror, high physiological arousal zVery frightening - sufferers live in fear of having them zAgoraphobia often develops as a result

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) zFollows traumatic event or events such as war, rape, or assault zSymptoms include: ynightmares yflashbacks ysleeplessness yeasily startled ydepression yirritability

Mood Disorders zDepressive disorders ydepression of mood zBipolar disorders ycycling between depression and mania (extreme euphoria)

Depression zSymptoms include: ysadness yfeelings of worthlessness ychanges in sleep ychanges in eating yanhedonia ysuicidal behavior

Depression zMajor Depression yprolonged, very severe depression ylasts without remission for at least 2 weeks zDysthymia yless severe, but long-lasting depression ylasts for at least 2 years zCan have both at the same time zWomen diagnosed far more often than men

Biological Bases for Depression zNeurotransmitter theories ydopamine ynorepinephrine yserotonin zGenetic component ymore closely related people show similar histories of depression

Situational Bases for Depression zPositive correlation between stressful life events and onset of depression yIs life stress causal of depression? zMost depressogenic life events are losses yspouse or companion ylong-term job yhealth yincome

Cognitive Bases for Depression zA.T. Beck: depressed people hold pessimistic views of ythemselves ythe world ythe future zDepressed people distort their experiences in negative ways yexaggerate bad experiences yminimize good experiences

Cognitive Bases for Depression zHopelessness theory ydepression results from a pattern of thinking yperson loses hope that life will get better ynegative experiences are due to stable, global reasons xe.g., “I didn’t get the job because I’m stupid and inept” vs. “I didn’t get the job because the interview didn’t go well”

Seasonal Affective Disorder zCyclic severe depression and elevated mood zSeasonal regularity zUnique cluster of symptoms yintense hunger ygain weight in winter ysleep more than usual ydepressed more in evening than morning

Bipolar Disorders zCyclic disorders zMood levels swing from severe depression to extreme euphoria (mania) zNo regular relationship to time of year (like SAD) zBipolar disorder is severe form zCyclothymia is less severe form zStrong heritable component zBipolar disorder often treated with lithium