Anxiety Disorders in Nursing Education

Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders are the most common of all psychiatric illnesses, resulting in considerable functional impairment and distress.
• Individuals with anxiety disorders have extreme concerns about being exposed to possible scrutiny by others and fear social or performance situations in which embarrassment may occur.

Comorbidities

• Vulnerability to comorbidities includes parental psychiatric history, childhood trauma, and negative life events.
• Common comorbidities include another anxiety disorder, depression, and substance abuse.

Prevalence

• The prevalence of anxiety disorders is estimated at 18.1% for adults and 25.2% for children aged 13 to 18 years old.

Medications

• Benzodiazepines affect the brain chemical Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in anxiety medications.

Nursing Interventions

• Reducing anxiety to a tolerable level should be the nurse's first priority.
• The nurse should convey an accepting attitude to facilitate trust after reassuring the client of their safety and security.
• Levels of anxiety vary, and appropriate interventions are based on the assessed level of anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Validated symptoms of GAD include:
  • Excessive worry about items difficult to control
  • Muscle tension
  • Feeling “keyed up” or “on edge”
• Goals for a client with GAD include:
  • The client will display the ability to cope with mild anxiety.
• The nurse should not expect clients with GAD to:
  • Experience dissociative experiences
  • Relive traumatic events
  • Perform ritualistic behaviors

Panic Attack

• During a panic attack, the nurse should:
  • Not speak loudly and firmly
  • Not restrict the client's physical activity

Test your knowledge on anxiety disorders with this quiz designed for nursing students. Identify the statement that needs correction before presenting to student nurses.