1. Anxiety Disorders

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

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

4. 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

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Causes
Genetic?
Biochemical?
Learned?
Interaction of factors

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

11. 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