Anxiety Disorders

I. What is Anxiety?

A. Anxiety: an emotional state characterized by physiological arousal, unpleasant feelings of tension, and a sense of apprehension or foreboding.

II. Anxiety Disorders

A. Anxiety Disorder: a class of psychological disorders characterized by excessive or maladaptive anxiety reactions.

1) Physical Features

2) Behavioral Features

3) Cognitive Features

B. Panic Disorder: a type of anxiety disorder characterized by repeated episodes of intense anxiety or panic.

1) Diagnosis requires repeated and unexpected attacks followed by one of the following…

a) At least a month ofpersistent fear of subsequent attacks.

b) Worry about theimplications or consequencesof the attack.

c) Significant change inbehavior.

2) Biological Factors…

3) Cognitive Factors…

4) Treatment…

C. Phobic Disorders

1) Phobia: a strong and persistent fear of a specific object or situation that often interferes with daily living.

2) Social Anxiety Disorder: excessive fear of social interactions or situations (a.k.a. social phobia).

3) Agoraphobia: an intense fear of open or public places.

4) Psychodynamic Perspectives...

5) Learning Perspectives...

a) Two-Factor Model: a theoretical model that accounts for the development of phobic reactions on the basis of classical and operant conditioning.

7) Cognitive Perspectives...

6) Biological Perspectives...

8) Treatment... Exposure Therapies: the patient is exposed to the phobic object or situation in some form.

a) Systematic Desensitization: a behavior therapy technique for overcoming phobias by means of exposure to progressively more fearful stimuli (in imagination or by viewing slides) while remaining deeply relaxed.

b) Gradual Exposure: a method of overcoming fears through a stepwise process of exposure to increasingly fearful stimuli in imagination or in real-life situations.

c) Flooding: a behavior therapy technique for overcoming fears by means of exposure to high levels of fear-inducing stimuli.

d) Virtual Reality Therapy: a form of exposure therapy involving the presentation of phobic stimuli in a virtual reality environment.

D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): the experience of almost constant and exaggerated worry.

III. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both.

A. Obsessions: repetitive, unwelcome streams of thought.

B. Compulsions: repetitive, almost irresistible actions.

C. Types of obsessive thoughts and related compulsive behaviors…

1) Contamination fears

2) Harming self or others

3) Lack of symmetry

4) Pathological doubt

5) Sexual obsessions

6) Obsessions with superstitious or religious beliefs

D. Comorbidity…

E. Demographics…

F. Genetic Causes…

G. Treatment…

1) Thought Stopping Therapy (Cognitive Therapy): the individual is instructed to yell “STOP” every time they begin having repetitive thoughts.

2) Exposure Therapy (Behavioral Therapy): the patient is exposed to the situation that brings on the compulsive behavior, but is prevented from engaging in it.

3) Drug Therapy

IV. Body Dysmorphic Disorder: preoccupation with an imagined or exaggerated physical defect in appearance causing individuals to feel they are ugly or even disfigured.

V. Hoarding Disorder: accumulation of and need to retain unnecessary and seemingly useless possessions, causing personal distress or making it difficult to maintain a safe, habitable living space.

VI. Trichotillomania: recurrent hair-pulling that results in serious hair loss. 

VII. Excoriation Disorder: repeated skin picking that produces skin lesions.