1. Unit 12/13: Mental Illness and Therapies
CHS AP Psychology
Unit 12/13: Mental Illness and Therapies
Essential Task 12/13.3:Discuss the major diagnostic category of anxiety disorders with specific attention to the diagnoses of panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, specific phobias, OCD, GAD and PTSD, detail the defining symptoms of each and identify the best approach(es) for explaining the cause(es) of each.
Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B= Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184
Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

2. Anxiety Disorders Panic Disorder Agoraphobia Social Phobia
Specific Phobia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
(PTSD & Acute Stress Disorder)

3. Panic Attack (not a diagnosis)
A. Discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which 4 or more of the following develop abruptly and reach a peak within 10 minutes
Palpitations
Sweating
Trembling/aching
Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
Feeling of choking
Chest pain/discomfort
Nausea/abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy/unsteady/lightheaded/faint
Derealization/depersonalization
Fear of losing control/going crazy
Fear of dying
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensation)
Chills/hot flushes

4. Panic Disorder What Causes Panic Disorder?
We don’t really know; many factors.
But: Strong evidence that norepinephrine is involved.
Norepinephrine: neurotransmitter especially active in Locus Ceruleus part of the brain.

5. Biological model: Anatomy (structures)
Models of Abnormality
Biological model: Anatomy (structures)
Neo-Cortex
Corpus callosum
Amygdala
Locus ceruleus (Pons)

6. Agoraphobia (not a diagnosis)
A. Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situationally predisposed panic attack or panic-like symptoms.
B. The situations are avoided or are endured with marked distress
C. Not better accounted for by another mental disorder

7. Social Phobia
A. Marked, persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
B. Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes an anxiety response
C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable
D. The phobic stimulus is avoided or endured with intense anxiety or distress
E. There is significant distress or an impairment in functioning

8. Specific Phobia
A. Marked, persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation
B. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost always provokes an immediate anxiety response
C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable
D. The phobic stimulus is avoided or endured with intense anxiety or distress
E. There is significant distress or an impairment in functioning due to the phobia
F. The phobia is not better accounted for by another mental disorder

9. Subtypes of Specific Phobia
Animal type
Natural environment type
Blood-Injection-Injury type
Situational type
Other type

10. Kinds of Phobias Acrophobia: Heights Aquaphobia: Water
Gephyrophobia: Bridges Ophidiophobia: Snakes
Aerophobia: Flying Arachnophobia: Spiders
Herpetophobia: Reptiles Ornithophobia: Birds
Agoraphobia: Open spaces Astraphobia: Lightning
Mikrophobia: Germs Phonophobia: Speaking
aloud
Ailurophobia: Cats Brontophobia: Thunder
Murophobia: Mice Pyrophobia: Fire
Amaxophobia: Vehicles, driving Claustrophobia: Closed
spaces
Numerophobia: Numbers Thanatophobia: Death
Anthophobia: Flowers Cynophobia: Dogs

11. Good Question… If phobias are learned behaviors,
why don’t they extinguish on their own???

12. Answer to the Good Question…
Avoidance works!
Fear is never tested

13. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Persistence of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (compulsions) that cause distress.
OBJECTIVE 8| Describe the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

14. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessions as defined by 1, 2, 3, and 4
Recurrent, persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images or tries to neutralize them with some other thought or action
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind

15. Typical Obsessions
Doubts (e.g. Did I turn off the stove? Did I lock the door? Did I hurt someone?)
Fears that someone else has been hurt or killed
Fears that one has done something criminal
Fears that one may accidentally injure someone
Worry that one has become dirty or contaminated
Blasphemous or obscene thoughts
NOT just excessive worries about real-life problems

16. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Compulsions as defined by 1 and 2
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
The compulsions are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive

17. Typical Compulsions Checking Cleaning/washing
Doing things a certain number of times in a row
Doing and then undoing things
Doing things in a certain order, with symmetry
Mental acts such as praying, counting, etc.

18. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The person has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable
There is significant distress or an impairment in functioning due to the obsessions or compulsions
If another Axis I disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to the other Axis I disorder
The disturbance is not due to a GMC or substance

19. OCD in Children
Children have an average of 4 obsessions and 4 compulsions at any given time
Often comorbid with Tourette’s syndrome and/or ADHD

20. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events
The person finds it difficult to control the worry
The anxiety and worry are associated with 3 or more of the following symptoms
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep Disturbance

21. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of another disorder and do not occur exclusively during PTSD
E. There is clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning
F. Not due to a GMC or substance

22. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event and have experienced four or more weeks of one or more of the following symptoms:
Haunting memories
2. Nightmares
3. Social withdrawal
OBJECTIVE 9| Describe the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and discuss survivor resiliency.
4. Jumpy anxiety
5. Sleep problems

23. Anxiety Disorders - Overview
Most common mental disorders in the U.S.
At least 19% of the adult population suffer from at least one anxiety disorder in any given year
All are more common in women, except for OCD
Except for Panic Disorder, ages of onset are most likely going to be in childhood or adolescence (but do not have to be)
Anxiety Disorders cost $42 billion each year in health care, lost wages, and lost productivity