54 Questions
Which of the following is a common physiological response to fear?
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
In non-pathological anxiety, when does it typically occur?
When anticipating an event that has the potential to go badly
What is the negative emotional and physiological response to real or perceived imminent threat called?
Fear
What happens when fear and anxiety are absent?
Risk-taking behavior increases
Which of the following is NOT one of the lecture learning outcomes for this week?
Recognise commonalities in aetiology across the anxiety disorders, as well as the factors that shape the expression of specific anxiety disorders
What is the title of Mini-lecture 1?
The phenomenology of anxiety disorders
How old is Mabel?
67
Which factor is emphasized in the behaviorist theory of anxiety disorders?
Conditioned fear
What is the role of beliefs in cognitive theories of anxiety?
Beliefs about our vulnerability to threat
Which factor is associated with a perceived lack of control?
Behavioural inhibition
What is a characteristic feature of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Excessive anxiety and worry about a number of different events
Which of the following is a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder?
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
Which anxiety disorder is more likely to be comorbid with major depression?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Which type of therapy focuses on adjusting cognitive processes directly in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder?
Cognitive behavioural therapy
What are the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for panic disorder?
All of the above
Which of the following is a specific aetiology of panic disorder?
Conditioned associations and beliefs related to internal bodily sensations
What is the most successful approach for treating panic disorder?
A combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological treatment
Which of the following is a diagnostic criterion for agoraphobia?
Fear or anxiety about being outside of the home alone
What is the relationship between agoraphobia and panic disorder according to the DSM-5?
Both agoraphobia and panic disorder can be diagnosed together
Which of the following is a characteristic of anxiety disorders according to the ICD-11?
Significant impairment in personal areas of functioning
According to the DSM-5, which of the following is not an anxiety disorder?
Selective mutism
What is the estimated heritability of panic disorder?
More than 50%
Which part of the brain is most associated with anxiety?
Amygdala
Which of the following is a specific criteria for diagnosing specific phobia according to DSM-5-TR?
Fear or anxiety that is out of proportion to the actual danger
What is the first-line psychotherapy for agoraphobia?
Exposure therapy
What is the fear-of-fear hypothesis?
A cognitive model of agoraphobia
What is the main quality of a phobia?
It involves the formation of fear associations with certain stimuli
Which of the following is NOT one of the lecture learning outcomes for this week?
Describe treatment approaches that are common across the anxiety disorders and how treatment approaches are modified for the specific anxiety disorders
What is the estimated heritability of panic disorder?
50%
Which anxiety disorder is more likely to be comorbid with major depression?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Which of the following is a common behavioral response to fear?
Freezing
In non-pathological anxiety, when does it typically occur?
In anticipation of an event that has the potential to go badly
What is the cognitive component of anxiety?
Worry
What is the negative emotional and physiological response to real or perceived imminent threat called?
Fear
Which of the following is a symptom of panic disorder?
Muscle tension
What is the first-line psychotherapy for panic disorder?
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
What is the estimated heritability of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
30-40%
Which anxiety disorder is more likely to be comorbid with major depression?
Generalized anxiety disorder
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of anxiety disorders according to the ICD-11?
Distinctive set of cognitions and bodily sensations
Which of the following neurotransmitters has consistent evidence implicating its dysfunction in anxiety disorders?
Serotonin
Which of the following personality dimensions is NOT associated with an increased risk for anxiety disorders?
Introversion
What is the estimated heritability of specific phobias according to twin studies?
Less than 20%
Which of the following is the most widely used pharmacological treatment for panic disorder?
benzodiazepines (GABA)
What is the relapse rate once medication is discontinued for panic disorder?
70-90%
Which of the following situations is NOT included in the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for agoraphobia?
Being in crowded places
How long does the fear, anxiety, or avoidance need to persist for a diagnosis of agoraphobia according to the DSM-5-TR?
6 months or more
Which factor is associated with the tendency to experience novel/unfamiliar stimuli and situations as potentially threatening?
Behavioural inhibition
What is the underlying cognitive mechanism that causes individuals to believe that they are vulnerable to threats?
Beliefs about vulnerability
Which group of monkeys showed more anxiety when exposed to a stressor at age 3 in the study conducted by Insel et al. (1988)?
Yoked group
What is a risk factor for anxiety that involves attending more to threat information in the environment?
Excessive attention to threat
Which of the following is a specific aetiology of agoraphobia?
Fear of falling in the elderly
What is the first-line psychotherapy for agoraphobia?
Exposure therapy
What are the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for specific phobia?
Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation
What is the main quality of a phobia?
It involves the avoidance of an object or situation
Study Notes
Anxiety Disorders: Overview, Phenomenology, and Risk Factors
- Anxiety disorders are the most common psychological disorder in Australia, affecting 14% of the population over a 12-month period.
- The anxiety disorders covered in this week's lectures include separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder.
- Anxiety disorders share common risk factors, including genetic predisposition, with heritability ranging from 20-50% depending on the specific disorder.
- Having a family member with social anxiety disorder increases the risk of developing other anxiety disorders as well.
- Genetic vulnerability to anxiety disorders is polygenic, meaning it involves multiple genes that contribute to distinct biological and psychological factors.
- The limbic system, particularly the amygdala, is associated with anxiety and fear responses.
- In individuals with anxiety disorders, the medial prefrontal cortex fails to regulate an overactive amygdala, leading to heightened fear responses.
- Neurotransmitter dysfunction, such as deficits in serotonin, higher levels of norepinephrine, and decreased GABA activity, has been implicated in anxiety disorders, although the evidence is inconsistent.
- Fear and anxiety are powerful motivators of behavior due to the asymmetry of possible outcomes, with fear serving as a survival mechanism.
- Non-pathological anxiety occurs in situations where there is anticipation of potential negative outcomes, such as exams, presentations, job interviews, and first dates.
- Pathological anxiety is characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, leading to significant distress and impairment in various areas of functioning.
- Panic attacks, which are a distinct syndrome related to anxiety and fear, can occur in multiple psychological disorders, not just anxiety disorders.
Test your knowledge on panic disorder and its specific etiology. This quiz covers topics such as conditioned associations, beliefs related to bodily sensations, and biological sensitivity to norepinephrine.
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