Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders Overview

• Anxiety disorders are characterized by unrealistic and often counterproductive anxiety levels that exceed what is warranted by a person's circumstances.
• Individuals have generalized genetic predispositions to acquiring anxiety disorders.

Specific Phobia

• Specific phobias entail fears of particular objects, excluding those linked with agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder

• Social Anxiety Disorder involves a persistent and intense fear of specific social situations
• These fears stem from beliefs of potential negative judgement, embarrassment, or humiliation.
• Avoiding possible anxiety-inducing social settings is a common symptom, as is enduring them only with intense fear.

Panic Disorder

• Panic disorder, is distinguished from a panic attack, which is characterized by intense fear and autonomic arousal.
• Panic attack symptoms are unpleasant and can last around 10 minutes.
• Intense sensations of fear or discomfort manifest through physical and cognitive symptoms.
• The sympathetic nervous system's activation can lead to symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating and shortness of breath.
• Individuals having such symptoms may think that they are dying or losing their mind.

Explanations for Panic Disorder

• Panic attacks can be triggered by abnormalities in the orexin systems of the brain (biological component).
• They can be triggered by social stressors from parental loss/separation.
• Panic attack triggers can include interpreting physical arousal as an indication of negative or embarrassing events. (cognitive component).
• Cultural expectations that affect cognitions can lead to panic. (cultural component).

Agoraphobia

• Agoraphobia presents as an unrealistic fear of open spaces, being outside alone, or being in crowded places.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• GAD is marked by excessive anxiety and worry over 6 months, not specifically connected to particular objects or situations (APA, 2013).

Explanation for GAD

• GAD is more likely in individuals with a high-reactive temperament and genetic background.
• These individuals typically have the cognitive pattern of believing the world is not safe, resulting in persistent worry.
• Socioeconomic difficulties raise the risk for GAD.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• OCD involves intrusive obsessions with compulsions.
• Obsessions include intrusive, distressing thoughts, images, or urges.
• Compulsions are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors arising from high anxiety.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

• Body dysmorphic disorder is the unrealistic perception of physical flaws.
• Those affected are fixated on perceived flaws in physical appearance unnoticeable, or only slightly noticeable, to others.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• PTSD develops after experiencing trauma, resulting in flashbacks, dreams, hypervigilance, and avoidance of trauma-related stimuli.
• PTSD symptoms include hypervigilance, avoidance, emotional numbing, and re-experiencing trauma through intrusive thoughts.

Explanations for PTSD

• A reduced hippocampal volume is a biological risk factor for PTSD
• Increased generalization to conditioned fear stimuli can also contribute to PTSD
• Social support plays a key role in the development of PTSD.

Dissociative Disorders Overview

• Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in a person’s identity, memory, or consciousness.

Dissociative Amnesia

• Dissociative amnesia involves forgetting specific information after a traumatic event.

Dissociative Fugue

• Dissociative fugue causes confusion over their identity and is associated with sudden travel and adopting a new identity.
• Fugue states usually last a few days.

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

• Depersonalization/derealization disorders is when a person experiences strong feelings of unreality about the self or the surrounding environment.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Dissociative identity disorder is marked by the experience of having two distinct “personality states”
• People with dissociative identity disorder tend to score high on suggestibility tests.

Somatic Symptom Disorder

• Somatic symptom disorder, is diagnosed by one or more chronic somatic symptoms that cause excessive concern, preoccupation, or fear.
• Sufferers tend to visit doctors often, report numerous physical complaints, and risk medication dependency.

Personality Disorders Overview

• Personality disorders involve patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting that deviate from cultural expectations, cause distress, and persist over time.
• These patterns typically emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood and affect social functioning, work, school, and relationships.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by disregard for the rights of others (APA, 2013).
• Individuals tend to show little regard for social norms and conventions.
• They are often irresponsible and form shallow relationships.
• People with ASPD often have reduced activity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is termed “borderline” because the disorder lies on the border between anxiety and psychosis.
• BPD is characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, and emotion.
• Individuals are sensitive to perceived slights, fear abandonment, and may act impulsively or self-destructively.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

• Narcissistic personality disorder is defined by grandiosity, a need for admiration, and a lack of empathy.