Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

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Questions and Answers

What is the minimum number of symptoms required for a panic attack diagnosis?

Five

Two

Seven

Four (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of a panic attack?

Palpitations

Intense fear

Feeling unusually happy (correct)

Derealization

What does persistent concern or worry about additional panic attacks indicate?

It means panic attacks are infrequent

It may lead to a diagnosis of panic disorder (correct)

It should be ignored

It is a common occurrence

Which of the following behaviors could result from a significant maladaptive change related to panic attacks?

Avoidance of certain situations Signup and view all the answers

A diagnosis of panic disorder requires that the symptoms are not attributable to what?

A medical condition or substance effects Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom list includes an example of fear relating to a panic attack?

Fear of losing control Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for one of the panic attacks to initiate concern or change in behavior?

One month Signup and view all the answers

Which disorder is NOT typically associated with panic attacks?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Signup and view all the answers

What is a common behavioral tendency among children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

They frequently blame themselves for their misfortunes. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of cognitive avoidance theory, what function does worry serve for individuals like Elsa?

It enables them to avoid distressing mental images. Signup and view all the answers

What specific cognitive distortion does Elsa exhibit when worrying about her group project?

Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes Signup and view all the answers

What defines obsessions in the context of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

Recurrent thoughts that cause marked anxiety Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a compulsion in OCD?

Repetitively checking locks to feel secure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is most accurate concerning the cognitive processes of children with GAD?

They frequently engage in abstract thinking to manage anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to happen to a child with GAD when faced with a challenging group assignment?

They anticipate a negative outcome and become highly distressed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of OCD symptoms in younger children?

Belief in the reality of their obsessions Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes the time-consuming nature of OCD symptoms?

Behaviors that can take more than an hour daily Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between worry and distress for children with GAD?

Worry can serve as a means to avoid experiencing distress. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the connection between compulsive behaviors and the events they mitigate is correct?

They often have no reasonable connection to the feared event Signup and view all the answers

What might be a consequence of Elsa’s worries while preparing for the science project?

She may disregard important aspects of the project. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is commonly associated with children suffering from GAD?

Tendency to foresee negative outcomes in various scenarios. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated if obsessive-compulsive symptoms are caused by substance abuse?

They are differentiated from OCD symptoms Signup and view all the answers

In terms of the behavioral response to anxiety, what is the primary aim of compulsions?

To decrease anxiety or prevent dreaded events Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following might characterize a person with good insight about their OCD?

They may recognize their compulsions as irrational but still feel compelled to participate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Anxiety is a complex emotional state of psychological distress, reflecting emotional, behavioral, physiological, and cognitive reactions to threatening stimuli.
Psychologists differentiate between two types of anxiety: fear and worry.
Fear is a reaction to an immediate threat, while worry involves anticipating future danger.
Adaptive anxiety helps in dealing with threats to one's well-being and acts as a motivator for preparation.
Maladaptive anxiety is characterized by intensity out of proportion to the threat, chronicity beyond the removal of the threat, and impairment of daily functioning.
Worry can involve chronic psychological distress, such as uneasiness, apprehension, and tension.
Socio-emotional tasks in infancy are critical for developing trust in caregivers. This task depends on natural emergence of object permanence, stranger anxiety, and separation anxiety.
Chronic anxiety can occur beyond developmental norms and affect a child’s ability to master other developmental tasks.
Social competence involves establishing meaningful friendships and participating in activities at school. It can lead to insecurities.

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

SAD emerges in infants at six months of age and peaks between 18 and 24 months.
The emergence of SAD is tied to the increasing fear of separation during toddlerhood.
Symptoms vary across ages and can include intense fear of separation from parents or caregivers, clinging behaviors, tantrums, nightmares, or physical symptoms like sleep refusal.
The fear of separation peaks at ages 7-9 years old.

Selective Mutism

DSM-5 disorder characterized by the consistent failure to speak in social situations, despite speaking in other situations, and lasting for at least one month.
Selective mutism affects less than 1% of children and occurs more frequently in girls (onset between 2.7-4.2 years).
Children with selective mutism may struggle academically and socially due to their inability to communicate in social settings.
Possible causes of this disorder may stem from genetics, behavioral inhibition, and/or learned experiences.

Specific Phobias

Characterized by a marked fear or anxiety about specific objects or situations that persist for at least six months.
This fear often disrupts daily functioning.
Fears associated with specific phobias often involve animals, natural environments, blood, injections, or specific situations.
Young children may express this intense fear through crying, tantrums, or clinginess.

Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations, where the individual fears possible scrutiny by others.
This fear lasts for at least 6 months and causes distress or impairment.
There are some examples of social anxiety, which can include public speaking, social gatherings, or any activity where others might judge the individual or their actions in front of them.
Children with social anxiety often experience problems with attending school or participating in extracurricular activities.
It often appears in adolescents and young adulthood.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks.
Panic attacks involve intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within ten minutes, accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, trembling, chest pain, and dizziness.
Individuals with panic disorder worry about future attacks or how their behavior might change because of the attacks.
It's important to note that symptoms vary depending on the age and gender of the individual but typically last from 23.6 mins to 45 minutes. The median duration is approximately 12.6 minutes.

Agoraphobia

Marked fear or anxiety about two or more situations where escape or help is not possible.
Individuals avoid these situations either because they might have a panic attack or because of thoughts that help would not be available if a panic attack were to arise.
Examples of agoraphobic situations and/or environments include using public transportation, open spaces, enclosed spaces, lines or crowds, being outside of the home alone, and being in a certain environment alone.
Symptoms frequently involve panic or panic-like symptoms.
A critical factor in agoraphobia for children and adolescents is that it can significantly limit their ability to attend school, participate in extracurricular activities, or spend time with peers.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a wide range of everyday life events, lasting for at least six months.
The worry is difficult to control.
Individuals frequently experience various symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems.
Worry is a frequent cognitive activity. Anxiety regarding the future and possible outcomes can have a high impact on the child's daily life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by obsessions (recurrent thoughts, urges, or images) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors or mental acts).
These obsessions and compulsions are often excessive, time-consuming, and cause significant distress or impairment in functioning.
Although the prevalence rates for OCD tend to be similar for children and adults, children's compulsions and obsessions might differ in content, presentation, and intensity.
Children frequently exhibit trouble verbally describing their thoughts and/or obsessions and/or compulsions.

Developmental Considerations

Specific anxiety and/or developmental issues may have strong genetic links.
Some anxiety-related issues may be affected by environmental factors, such as parenting styles, family support, family conflicts, and/or temperament.
There are developmental-related considerations to be applied for specific age groups (e.g., infants, children, adolescents) with various anxiety disorders.

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Description

This quiz explores the nature of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders, emphasizing the distinctions between fear and worry. Learn about adaptive and maladaptive anxiety, as well as the role of socio-emotional tasks in infancy. Test your knowledge on psychological reactions related to anxiety.