Anxiety Disorders

Overview of Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by significant and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear that can impair a person's social, occupational, and personal function.
• Anxiety may cause physical and cognitive symptoms, such as restlessness, irritability, easy fatiguability, difficulty concentrating, increased heart rate, chest pain, and abdominal pain.
• Anxiety disorders are different from ordinary fears in that they are excessive or persist beyond the developmentally appropriate period.
• There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, illness anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and selective mutism.
• The individual disorder can be diagnosed using the specific and unique symptoms, triggering events, and timing.
• Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives.
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common disorder, characterized by long-lasting anxiety which is not focused on any one object or situation.
• Specific phobias are the single largest category of anxiety disorders and include all cases in which fear and anxiety are triggered by a specific stimulus or situation.
• Panic disorder is characterized by brief attacks of intense terror and apprehension, often marked by trembling, shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and/or difficulty breathing.
• Agoraphobia is the specific anxiety about being in a place or situation where escape is difficult or embarrassing or where help may be unavailable.
• Social anxiety disorder describes an intense fear and avoidance of negative public scrutiny, public embarrassment, humiliation, or social interaction.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) results from a traumatic experience and affects approximately 3.5% of U.S. adults every year.
• Selective mutism (SM) is a disorder in which a person who is normally capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people.
• Diagnosis is made by symptoms, triggers, and a person's personal and family histories. There are no objective biomarkers or laboratory tests that can diagnose anxiety.Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Types, Prevention, Perception, Discrimination, Treatment, and Epidemiology

Causes:

• Anxiety disorders can be caused by genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.
• Medical conditions and drugs can also cause or worsen anxiety.

Types:

• Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobias, and separation anxiety disorder.
• Anxiety disorders are often comorbid with other mental and physical health conditions.

Prevention:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy are effective prevention methods for anxiety disorders.
• Psychological and educational interventions have a small benefit for the prevention of anxiety.

Perception and Discrimination:

• People with anxiety disorders face stigma and negative social perception, which can make them less likely to seek treatment.
• There are two prevalent types of stigmas: public and self-stigma.
• Stigma can be described in three conceptual ways: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral.

Treatment:

• Treatment options include lifestyle changes, therapy, and medications.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based programs are effective for managing anxiety disorders.
• There is no clear evidence as to whether therapy or medication is most effective.
• First-line choices for medications include SSRIs or SNRIs to treat generalized anxiety disorder.

Epidemiology:

• Globally, as of 2010, approximately 273 million (4.5% of the population) had an anxiety disorder.
• Anxiety disorders are more common in females (5.2%) than males (2.8%).
• Between 10 and 20 percent of all children will develop a full-fledged anxiety disorder prior to the age of 18, making anxiety the most common mental health issue in young people.