1. Anxiety Disorders Mr. Koch AP Psychology Forest Lake High School

2. Anxiety Disorders Anxiety – Characterized by ↑ heart rate, ↑ blood pressure, sweating, rapid breathing, dry mouth, sense of dread, uneasiness, trembling, nervousness Some anxiety is normal – when so intense & long-lasting that it impairs functioning, becomes a disorder Most common disorders in North America ~29% will experience ~2/3 are women

3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Excessive & long-lasting (~6 mo.) anxiety, not focused on any particular object or situation (“free-floating anxiety”) – Feel disaster is about to happen, jumpy, irritable, can’t sleep 3.1% of pop. in any given year 5% of pop. In lifetime Onset ~30 y.o. Somewhat more common in women Rarely treated

4. Panic Disorder Recurring, terrifying panic attacks w/o warning or obvious cause Intense heart palpitations, pressure or pain in chest, dizziness or unsteadiness, sweating, feeling faint (may last minutes or hours) Often mistaken for heart attack – Can last for years w/ improvement and recurrence – Strong association w/ agoraphobia – 30% of pop. had panic attack w/in last year – Only 2-3 % developed full-blown panic disorder

5. Phobias An intense, irrational fear of an object or situation that does not objectively justify such a reaction – Usually realize fear is groundless, but anxiety persists – May greatly interfere with daily life – DSM subgroups: specific (9% of pop.), social, agoraphobia Onset: early teens

6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Pattern of adverse and disruptive reactions following a traumatic and threatening event i.e., war, natural disasters, assaults, abuse, accidents, etc. – Characteristic reactions: Anxiety, depression, irritability, jumpiness, inability to concentrate, sexual dysfunction, difficulty getting along w/ others, sleep disturbances, intense startle responses, suppressed immune system, nightmares, flashbacks – May last months, years, decades

7. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Obsessions – plagued by persistent, upsetting, unwanted thoughts i.e., infection, contamination, causing harm to self/others Compulsions – ritualistic, repetitive behaviors i.e., washing, counting, checking, arranging, etc. – Interferes w/ daily life (>1 hr/day) – Derive no pleasure – recognize as irrational Onset: adolescence 2-3% of pop. during lifetime (1 in 40)