Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
Which of the following medications is currently the indicated drug for panic disorder based on available evidence?
What is a common side effect of SSRIs mentioned in the text?
What is the issue with using high-potency benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax) for panic disorder?
What is the purpose of panic control treatment (PCT) developed at one of the clinics mentioned in the text?
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What is the strategy of exposure-based treatments for panic disorder?
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How does the therapist attempt to create "mini" panic attacks in the office during PCT, according to the text?
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Which of the following treatments is mentioned in the text as being effective in helping patients overcome agoraphobic behavior?
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What can gradual exposure exercises be combined with to help patients overcome agoraphobic behavior?
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Which of the following statements is true about the effectiveness of exposure-based treatments mentioned in the text?
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Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the text regarding the medications discussed?
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Study Notes
Anxiety Disorders Overview
- Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric diagnosis, with approximately 28% of people reporting symptoms at some point during their life.
- Fear and anxiety are not necessarily "bad" and can be adaptive in certain circumstances.
- Anxiety disorders can be classified into specific types, including specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.
Specific Phobias
- Specific phobias can be acquired through direct experience, vicarious experience, false alarm, or being told about danger.
- Causes of specific phobias include experiencing a real danger or pain, observing someone else's fear, or being told about danger.
- Treatment of specific phobias typically involves structured and consistent exposure-based exercises under therapeutic supervision.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
- Social anxiety disorder is a persistent, unrealistically intense fear of social situations that might involve being scrutinized by, or even just exposed to, unfamiliar people.
- Social anxiety disorder can be characterized by a fear of being judged or evaluated by others.
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
- Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, often accompanied by agoraphobia.
- Causes of panic disorder and agoraphobia include psychological vulnerability to interpret normal physical sensations in a catastrophic way, early object loss and/or separation anxiety, and dependent personality tendencies.
- Treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia includes medications affecting the noradrenergic, serotonergic, or GABA-benzodiazepine neurotransmitter systems, and exposure-based therapies such as panic control treatment (PCT).
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
- Exposure-based therapies, such as gradual exposure exercises, are effective in helping patients overcome anxiety disorders.
- Medications, including selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders.
- Anxiety-reducing coping mechanisms, such as relaxation or breathing retraining, can be used in combination with exposure-based therapies to help patients manage anxiety.
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Description
Test your knowledge on anxiety disorders in the second module of Abnormal Psychology. Explore symptoms, common themes in etiology, and specific factors influencing the onset of anxiety disorders. Gain insights from various paradigms contributing to the understanding of these disorders.