Anxiety Symptoms

Physical Symptoms of Panic Attacks

• Pale skin and excessive sweating, particularly from hands, feet, and axillae
• Close to tears, reflecting an apprehensive state

Characteristics of Panic Attacks

• Anxiety builds up quickly
• Symptoms are severe
• Fear of a catastrophic outcome

Symptoms Caused by Hyperventilation

• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Headache
• Feeling of weakness
• Faintness
• Numbness
• Tingling in the hands, feet, and face
• Carpopedal spasms
• Precordial discomfort
• Feeling of breathlessness

Epidemiology of Panic Disorder

• 12-month prevalence rate of 2.7% and a lifetime risk of 4.7% in the general population (DSM-IV panic disorder)
• 50% of cases include panic disorder with agoraphobia
• Women are twice as likely to be affected as men

Developmental Background of Anxiety

• Related to childhood fears of disintegration
• Derived from fear of actual or imagined loss of a love object or fear of bodily harm (e.g., castration)

Neuroimaging Findings

• Increased blood flow in the right parahippocampus in the frontal lobe (PET scan) in generalized anxiety disorder and panic states

Epidemiology of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• The 12-month prevalence of GAD in England is 4.4%, similar to US surveys.
• European countries report a lower prevalence of around 2%.
• Women are more likely to experience GAD, with rates about twice as high as those in men.

Associated Risk Factors

• GAD is linked to social disadvantage, including lower household income and unemployment.
• Divorce and separation are also associated with GAD.

Prognosis of GAD

• According to the DSM-5, GAD symptoms must have been present for at least 6 months.
• GAD is typically a chronic condition, with low rates of remission over the short and medium term.
• Most clinical studies suggest that GAD is a persistent condition.