Anxiety Disorders & Treatment

Anxiety disorders are a class marked by feelings of excessive apprehension and anxiety There are five main types: 1. Generalized anxiety disorder, 2. Phobic disorder, 3. OCD, 4. Panic disorder, and 5. PTSD Most who develop one type, are likely to develop another, and studies show around 19% of the population are affected by these

Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD is marked by a chronic, high level of anxiety that is not tied to any specific threat “Worry about yesterday’s mistakes and tomorrow’s problems.” Affects 5-6% of the population, includes physical symptoms, and can be prevalent for the lifetime

Phobic Disorder Phobic disorder is marked by a persistent and irrational fear of an object that presents no realistic danger Mild phobias are common, but true phobic disorder interferes with daily life Most common: acrophobia, claustrophobia, brontophobia, hyrdrophobia, animals/insects https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOFVw3di9j8

Panic Disorder & Agoraphobia A panic disorder is classified by recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that usually occur suddenly The expectation of the attack leads to the development of agoraphobia Population affected is 2/3 women and usually happens in late adolescence and early adulthood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RqOVtlp-eU

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD is classified by persistent uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts (O) and urges to engage in senseless rituals (C) Usually compulsions are matched with obsessions, e.g., worried about germs and cleaning ensues Affects 2-3% of the population http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44DCWslbsNM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lvbcShuz14

OCD & Hoarding Hoarding has been put in the ‘spotlight’ lately The hoarding, is the compulsion to the obsessions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvBGNXi1gXs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVg-_e-jPO4

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD involves enduring psychological attributed to the experience of a major event First recognized as a disorder in the aftermath of the Vietnam War Affects about 7% of population, prevalence is twice as high among women Nightmares, flashbacks, emotional numbing, alienation, elevated anxiety and aggression Number one indicator: strength of reaction to the stressful event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFw9C5vEqQY

Biopsychosocial Approach Biological: inherited differences in temperament and susceptibility to anxiety disorders (twin studies), sensitivity, GABA Cognitive: acquired through learning and association, interpretation/perception Social: social pressures, labels, social norms: ‘weakness’

Treatments Biological: Medications, anti-anxiety, alcohol, valium, Xanax, Ativan Cognitive: cognitive therapy, Rational emotive behavior therapy, client-centered therapy Learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning, desensitization Social: Group therapy

Howie Mandel & OCD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=dSZNnz9SM4g&NR=1 Marine and PTSD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z56PE8SpFR8 Anti-anxiety meds & Fish http://www.nature.com/news/anti-anxiety-drug-found-in-rivers-makes-fish-more-aggressive-1.12434