Psychology: Understanding Anxiety and Panic

Questions and Answers

What is School Phobia?

Fear is clearly focused on something specific to the school situation; the child can leave the parents or other attachment figures to go somewhere other than school.

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

An anxiety disorder involving the extreme and irrational fear of being embarrassed, judged, or scrutinized by others in social situations.

What percentage of university students are affected by Social Anxiety Disorder?

20-50%

What is Performance Anxiety?

A specific stage fright, often associated with musicians, actors, and other entertainers, without a phobia of interaction. Signup and view all the answers

The Diagnostic Criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder includes _____ marked fear or anxiety about social situations.

<ol> <li>Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

The prevalence of Social Anxiety Disorder is _____ and it slightly favours which gender?

13.3%; females Signup and view all the answers

_ cultures show the lowest rates of SAD, whereas and __ samples show the highest rates.

Asian; Russian; US Signup and view all the answers

What is taijin kyofusho?

A form of Social Anxiety Disorder where Japanese individuals fear embarrassing others due to personal presentation issues. Signup and view all the answers

What is olfactory reference syndrome?

Preoccupation with a belief that one is embarrassing oneself and offending others with a foul body odor. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of countries are more accepting toward socially reticent behaviours?

Collectivist countries Signup and view all the answers

The more that attention-avoiding behaviours were accepted in a given culture, the _________ were the levels of social anxiety.

greater Signup and view all the answers

We learn more to fear angry expressions than other facial expressions, and this fear much more slowly than other types of learning.

quickly; diminishes Signup and view all the answers

What are the main causes of SAD?

Biological vulnerability, generalized psychological vulnerability, conditioned responses, real trauma, and attentional bias to social threats. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the face is the most threatening region?

Eye Signup and view all the answers

What do individuals with SAD tend to make during social interactions?

Upward social comparisons. Signup and view all the answers

A combination of ________________ events seem to lead to the development of SAD.

biological, psychological, and interpersonal Signup and view all the answers

What are some treatment methods for SAD?

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy, virtual reality technology, interpersonal psychotherapy, social mishap exposures, drug treatments. Signup and view all the answers

What is Social Mishap Exposure?

Directly targeting patients' beliefs by confronting them with the consequences of social mishaps. Signup and view all the answers

What is Selective Mutism?

A developmental disorder characterized by the consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking in others. Signup and view all the answers

What is anxiety?

A negative mood state characterized by physical tension and apprehension about the future. Signup and view all the answers

Anxiety is a ______________________ mood state.

future oriented Signup and view all the answers

Is anxiety good or bad?

Both, depending on amount Signup and view all the answers

What is fear?

An immediate alarm reaction to danger. Signup and view all the answers

Is fear good or bad?

It depends Signup and view all the answers

What does negative affect refer to?

Unpleasant emotions such as anxiety or fear. Signup and view all the answers

How do fear and anxiety reactions differ?

Physiologically and psychologically. Signup and view all the answers

What is panic?

A feeling of sudden, intense fear. Signup and view all the answers

What is a panic attack?

An abrupt experience of intense fear or acute discomfort, accompanied by physical symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two basic types of panic attacks identified in the DSM-V?

Expected and unexpected Signup and view all the answers

What are expected (cued) panic attacks related to?

Phobias or social anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What are unexpected (uncued) panic attacks related to?

Panic disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What are biological contributions to anxiety?

Polygenic factors and specific brain circuits Signup and view all the answers

What activates the HPA axis and other brain regions related to stress and anxiety?

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF). Signup and view all the answers

What area of the brain is most often associated with anxiety?

Limbic system. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS) do?

Activated by signals from the brain stem in response to unexpected events. Signup and view all the answers

Factors from the environment can change the _______________ of brain circuits.

sensitivity Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between smoking and anxiety disorders?

Teens who smoked 20 or more cigarettes daily were 15 times as likely to develop panic disorder. Signup and view all the answers

What are three psychological contributions to anxiety?

Attachments, anxiety sensitivity, and negative thought patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of worry in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) for adults?

Job and appointments Signup and view all the answers

What are the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Excessive anxiety and worry lasting over 6 months, difficulty controlling this worry, and significant distress. Signup and view all the answers

Which major events become the focus of worry for children with GAD?

Family and academic performance Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common additional diagnosis for anxiety disorders?

Major depression Signup and view all the answers

What causes panic disorder?

Conditioning and cognitive explanations that are hard to separate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the prevalence of Panic Disorder?

3.55%. Signup and view all the answers

How is the treatment for panic disorder typically approached?

Combination of medication and therapy Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?

A child's unrealistic fear about being separated from parents or significant others. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anxiety Overview

Anxiety is a negative mood state characterized by physical tension and apprehension about future events.
Anxiety is future-oriented, promoting awareness and preparedness for potential threats.

Fear vs. Anxiety

Fear is an immediate alarm response to danger, while anxiety reflects a response to anticipated threats.
Both anxiety and fear can serve protective functions but can be detrimental if excessive.

Panic and Panic Attacks

Panic involves sudden, intense fear; panic attacks are abrupt experiences of fear or discomfort accompanied by symptoms like heart palpitations and dizziness.
Expected (cued) panic attacks occur in recognizable situations, while unexpected (uncued) panic attacks occur without warning.

Biological Contributions to Anxiety

Anxiety has a hereditary component, showing polygenic influences.
Brain circuits associated with anxiety involve depleted GABA levels, noradrenergic, serotonergic, and CRF systems.

Important Brain Regions

The limbic system mediates anxiety, connecting the brain stem with the cortex.
The septal-hippocampal system aids memory of anxiety-provoking situations.

Psychological Contributions to Anxiety

Secure attachments foster control and coping abilities; insecure attachments can increase vulnerability to anxiety.
Anxiety sensitivity relates to the fear of bodily sensations and distress tolerance.

Stressful life events can activate vulnerabilities, contributing to anxiety disorders.
The Triple Vulnerability Theory emphasizes interaction between biological, psychological, and specific psychological factors contributing to anxiety.

Comorbidity and Disorder Statistics

High rates of comorbidity exist between anxiety disorders and between anxiety and depression, with major depression being the most common additional diagnosis.
Anxiety can also co-occur with physical disorders like thyroid disease and respiratory issues.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is characterized by chronic excessive worry, accompanied by symptoms like fatigue and irritability.
Prevalence is around 3%, with higher rates in females.

Panic Disorder (PD) and Agoraphobia

PD involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.
Agoraphobia involves fear of situations where escape might be difficult, often linked to PD.

Treatment Options

Short-term treatments for anxiety can include benzodiazepines and antidepressants; long-term strategies incorporate cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques.
Panic control treatment focuses on exposing individuals to feared sensations to adjust perceptions.

Phobias

Specific phobias reflect irrational fears that disrupt daily functioning, with blood-injection-injury phobia being one example.
Phobias derive from direct conditioning or vicarious experiences, with the treatment often involving gradually exposing patients to feared situations.

Characterized by an intense fear of being scrutinized in social contexts, it affects a significant portion of university students.
Treatment includes exposure to social situations and cognitive restructuring techniques.

Cultural Considerations

Different cultures exhibit unique manifestations of anxiety disorders, such as "susto" and "ataque de nervios," reflecting cultural beliefs and practices surrounding anxiety.### Adolescence and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Higher prevalence of SAD in individuals aged 18 to 29, undereducated, single, and of low socioeconomic status, irrespective of cultural factors.

Cultural Influences on SAD

Asian cultures exhibit the lowest rates of SAD.
Russian and US samples report the highest rates of SAD.
Collectivist countries are more accepting of socially reticent behaviors than individualist countries.

Taijin Kyofusho

A specific form of SAD prevalent in Japan characterized by fear of embarrassing others due to personal presentation aspects.
More commonly affects males, with a ratio of 3:2.

Olfactory Reference Syndrome

Involves a preoccupation with the belief that one has a foul body odor, causing embarrassment and concern for offending others.

Greater acceptance of attention-avoiding behaviors correlates with higher levels of social anxiety.
Differences in cultural norms contribute to the prevalence of SAD, particularly in collectivist cultures.

Learning and Fear Responses

Fear responses to angry facial expressions are learned quickly but diminish more slowly compared to fears of other expressions.

Causes of SAD

Includes biological vulnerability, generalized psychological vulnerability, conditioned responses, real trauma (like bullying), and attentional bias toward social threats.

The eye region is identified as the most threatening area of the face in social contexts.
Individuals with SAD have biased perceptions and expectations, leading to maladaptive social behavior.

People with SAD tend to make upward social comparisons, intensifying their anxiety and distress.

Development of SAD

A combination of biological, psychological, and interpersonal events contributes to the development of SAD.

Treatment Options for SAD

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are common treatments.
Virtual reality technology is utilized for exposure therapies.
Social mishap exposures challenge and confront patients' beliefs about social situations.
Drug treatments may also be employed.

This technique directly addresses patients' beliefs by confronting them with the real-life consequences of social mishaps.

Selective Mutism

A developmental disorder marked by consistent failure to speak in specific social contexts, despite the ability to speak elsewhere.
Requires at least one month of non-verbal behavior and often co-occurs with SAD.
Prevalence estimated at 0.5% in children, with a higher incidence in girls.
Treatment involves gradual exposure to speaking situations, paired with a behavioral reward system.

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Description

This quiz explores the concepts of anxiety and panic, differentiating between fear and anxiety, and examining panic attacks and their biological contributions. Gain insights into how these emotions impact mental health and behavior.