Anxiety Clinical Symptoms and Diagnostic Characteristics

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Questions and Answers

What is a common physiologic symptom of loss of control?

Dyspnea (correct)

Appetite increase

Muscle relaxation

Constipation

Which of the following is NOT a psychological or emotional symptom of loss of control?

Irritability

Hypercriticism

Withdrawal

Euphoria (correct)

What is a common behavioral symptom of loss of control?

Sitting still

Sleeping excessively

Pacing (correct)

Eating excessively

What is rumination?

A deep or considered thought about something Signup and view all the answers

What is a common intellectual or cognitive symptom of loss of control?

Decreased interest Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a physiologic symptom of loss of control?

Hyperthermia Signup and view all the answers

What is a common physiologic symptom of loss of control that affects the digestive system?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a psychological or emotional symptom of loss of control that involves negative self-evaluation?

Feelings of worthlessness Signup and view all the answers

What is a behavioral symptom of loss of control that involves repetitive actions?

Ritualistic behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is a cognitive symptom of loss of control that involves a lack of responsiveness to external stimuli?

Non-responsiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is a psychological or emotional symptom of loss of control that involves a lack of emotional expression?

Withdrawal Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between adaptive responses and maladaptive responses in the continuum of anxiety?

Adaptive responses are beneficial while maladaptive responses are harmful Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a client experiencing euphoria?

The client experiences an exaggerated feeling of wellbeing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of mild anxiety on a client's ability to learn?

It increases the ability to learn Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a client experiencing severe anxiety?

The client experiences a decrease in intellectual thought process Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between moderate anxiety and severe anxiety?

Moderate anxiety leads to a sense of purposefulness, while severe anxiety leads to a sense of purposelessness Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of anxiety on a client's personality?

It leads to a disintegration of personality Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a client experiencing a panic state?

The client experiences a complete disruption of the ability to perceive Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of moderate anxiety on a client's ability to communicate?

It leads to verbalization of expected danger Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between normal anxiety and mild anxiety?

Normal anxiety leads to a sense of relaxation, while mild anxiety leads to a sense of restlessness Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of severe anxiety on a client's sense of purpose?

It leads to a sense of purposelessness Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Clinical Symptoms of Anxiety

Classified into physiologic, psychologic, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual or cognitive symptoms
Symptoms vary according to the level of anxiety exhibited by the client

Continuum of Anxiety Responses

Adaptive responses: anticipation, mild, moderate, and severe anxiety
Maladaptive responses: panic, severe, moderate, and mild anxiety, leading back to anticipation

Normal Anxiety Response

Client experiences periodic warnings of threat, prompting them to take necessary steps to prevent or lessen consequences
Euphoria: an exaggerated feeling of wellbeing not directly proportional to a specific circumstance or situation

Mild Anxiety

Increased alertness to inner feelings or the environment
Increased ability to learn, with a motivational force, and may become competitive
Feeling of restlessness and inability to relax

Moderate Anxiety

Inability to concentrate, with focus on only one specific thing at a time
Pacing, voice tremors, increased rate of speech, and verbalization of expected danger

Severe Anxiety

Inability to perceive, with reduced focus or scattered thinking
Inappropriate verbalization or inability to communicate clearly due to decreased intellectual thought process
Lack of determination or inability to perform, with feelings of purposelessness and impending doom

Panic State

Complete disruption of the ability to perceive
Disintegration of personality, with immobilization, difficulty communicating, and inability to focus on reality
Physiologic, emotional, and intellectual changes occur, with a loss of control

Physiologic Symptoms

Dyspnea and hyperventilation
Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting
Frequency of urination
Headache
Diaphoresis
Blurred vision
Elevated pulse, blood pressure, and respiration
Vertigo or light-headedness
Insomnia or sleep disturbance
Weakness or muscle tension
Tightness in the chest
Sweaty palms
Dilated pupils

Psychological or Emotional Symptoms

Withdrawal
Depression
Hypercriticism
Lack of interest or apathy
Anger
Crying
Irritability
Feelings of worthlessness, apprehension, or helplessness

Behavioral Symptoms

Pacing
Inability to sit still
Ritualistic behaviors (e.g. washing hands)
Fingering hair continuously or other nervous habits
Hypervigilance

Intellectual or Cognitive Symptoms

Decreased interest
Inability to concentrate
Rumination
Forgetfulness
Non-responsiveness to external stimuli
Preoccupation
Decreased productivity
Orientation to the past rather than to present or future

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Description

This quiz covers the clinical symptoms of anxiety, including physiologic, psychologic, and emotional symptoms, as well as the adaptive and maladaptive responses to anxiety. It also explores the continuum of anxiety responses.