16 Questions
What is the most common type of psychological disorder?
Anxiety disorders
How many anxiety disorders does DSM-5 recognize?
9
What percentage of people are estimated to suffer from an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives?
Up to 30%
What is the estimated prevalence of anxiety disorders compared to mood disorders?
Twice that of mood disorders
What are the physical symptoms of a panic attack?
Rapid irregular heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth
What is the biological mechanism behind the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks?
Activation of the Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System (fight-or-flight response)
Which brain circuits control fear responses and the Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System?
The amygdala, which influences the HPA axis and triggers the fear response
What is the role of the amygdala in the fear response?
The amygdala is critical in the fear response, receiving sensory information and activating the hypothalamus and the sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS)
How has the involvement of the amygdala in fear conditioning been demonstrated?
Through recording studies in mice and functional MRI studies in humans
What happens in the brain when fearful faces are seen?
The amygdala is activated
What is the function of the hypothalamus in the fear response?
It decides whether a stimulus is stressful or not, and activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight)
What is the HPA axis and how does it contribute to anxiety and panic attacks?
It involves the release of adrenaline/noradrenaline and cortisol, increasing heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, contributing to the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks
What symptoms are associated with generalised anxiety disorder?
Excessive worry, restlessness, trouble sleeping
What is agoraphobia?
A fear of situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe
What are the most common anxiety disorders mentioned in the text?
Specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia
What triggers panic attacks in specific phobia and social anxiety (and most other anxiety disorders)?
Specific phobia, social anxiety, and most other anxiety disorders can trigger panic attacks, or they can occur spontaneously (panic disorder)
Explore the biological models of anxiety disorders and depression, including fear conditioning, brain circuits, diagnosis, brain changes, and treatments. This quiz covers the topics discussed in Dr. Simon Evans' reading from Pinel, Chandler, Bear et al, or any other appropriate text.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
