Understanding Anxiety and OCD

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Questions and Answers

What is anxiety a natural response to?

Apprehension

Happiness

Fear

Stress (correct)

What is characteristic of anxiety disorders?

Feelings of fear that do not interfere with daily functioning

Feelings of fear that last for less than six months

Feelings of fear that are extreme, out of proportion, and uncontrollable (correct)

Feelings of fear that can be easily controlled

What is OCD characterized by?

Distressing, intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts and repetitive physical or mental acts (correct)

No thoughts or physical acts

Pleasant, controllable thoughts and physical acts

Only physical acts with no thoughts

What causes anxiety disorders?

An interplay of genetics, neuro-endocrine and psycho-social factors Signup and view all the answers

What is a sign of anxiety in children?

Ongoing somatic complaints with no cause Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of generalized anxiety in adults?

Persistent, excessive worry about a number of different things Signup and view all the answers

What is a symptom of panic attacks?

Difficulty breathing and chest pain Signup and view all the answers

What is social anxiety disorder characterized by?

A marked, persistent fear of social situations that require performance Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of a patient's mood in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

It can be euthymic or depressed Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the approach to taking a history in a patient with PTSD?

Showing empathy and using open-ended questions Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of thought content in a patient with PTSD?

Obsessions and pre-occupation with the traumatic event Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of a patient's behavior in PTSD?

Avoidance of triggers that remind them of the traumatic event Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the mental state examination in a patient with PTSD?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of intrusive symptoms in PTSD?

Flashbacks, nightmares, and panic attacks can occur Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of PTSD?

Marked interference with multiple aspects of life Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of the approach to the patient with PTSD?

Establishing a rapport and displaying empathy Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Anxiety

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, characterized by feelings of fear or apprehension about the future.

Anxiety Disorder

An anxiety disorder occurs when feelings of anxiety are extreme, out of proportion, uncontrollable, and last for longer than six months, interfering with daily functioning.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a mental health condition characterized by distressing, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive physical or mental acts (compulsions) to reduce anxiety.

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are caused by an interplay of genetic, neuro-endocrine, and psycho-social factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Varying presentations depending on age and cognitive level
Ongoing somatic complaints with no cause (e.g., tummy pain, headache)
Enuresis and encopresis
Change in behavior
Avoidance
Change in mood (e.g., irritability, labile, low)

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety in Adults

Generalized anxiety: persistent, excessive worry about multiple things, associated with restlessness, tiredness, poor concentration, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep issues
Panic attacks: recurrent, unexpected periods of intense fear/anxiety, usually reaching a peak within 5 minutes and associated with difficulty breathing, chest pain, fear of dying, etc.
Agoraphobia: fear and avoidance of places and situations that may cause panic, entrapment, helplessness, or embarrassment
Social anxiety disorder: marked, persistent fear of social situations, resulting in avoidance

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Caused by experiencing, witnessing, or learning about a traumatic event
Symptoms include:
- Intrusive symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks with triggers)
- Avoidance of people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations that bring up memories of the traumatic event
- Negative changes in thoughts and mood (e.g., shame, anger, fear, self-blame, inability to remember)
- Hyperarousal (e.g., heightened startle response, difficulty concentrating, problems sleeping)

Approach to the History

Establish a rapport with the patient
Attempt to make the patient feel at ease
Empathy and non-judgemental approach
Ask open-ended questions
Explore patient's feelings, experiences, and coping strategies

Approach to the Mental State Examination

Appearance and behavior: patients may appear anxious, display avoidance or compulsions
Speech: usually logical and coherent
Mood: may be euthymic (normal) or depressed
Affect: congruent with mood
Thought form: usually no formal thought disorder
Thought content: obsessions, pre-occupation with traumatic events, etc.
Cognition: generally well-oriented to time, place, person (unless there is an underlying cognitive disorder)
Insight and judgment: vary according to severity