Anxiety Disorders

What is Anxiety?

• A state consisting of

psychological and physical

symptoms brought about
by a sense of apprehension

in response to perceived threat.

Anxiety Disorders

• The fear, worry or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual

danger posed.

• Clinically significant distress or impairment in social,

occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

• Not better explained by a medical condition, medication or

substance abuse.
Duration > 6
months
Social Anxiety
Disorder
 CAUSES
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIAL

1. Genetic 1. Psychodynamic
 Early stressful life
Theory
events e.g. abuse
2. Changes in the brain  Underlying
 HPA Axis – over emotional conflict
 Current stressful
stimulation of the
situations e.g. exams,
hypothalamus & 2. Behavioral
imminent work
pituitary glands & an  Observational
deadlines
increased release of  Classical
stress hormones. Conditioning
 Dysfunctional family
 Structural brain
changes in OCD & 3. Cognitive
 Trauma
PTSD  Specific values,
 Involvement of assumptions or
Noradrenaline, rules learned from
Serotonin, GABA the past

3. Personality Traits
 Introversion,
shyness,
fearfulness,
 TREATMENT
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIAL

1. Psycho-education 1. Social Support

1. Antidepressants  Friends
 Selective Serotonin  Family
2. Self-help books
Reuptake Inhibitors  Colleagues
3. Problem Solving
 Serotonin Nor-
epinephrine 4. Cognitive Behavioral 2. Lifestyle Changes
Reuptake Inhibitors Therapy (CBT)  Healthy Diet
 Tricyclic  Exercise
5. Behavioral Therapy  Adequate sleep
Antidepressants  Systemic
 Meditation
Desensitization
1. Benzodiazepines  Relaxation
 Short-term use
Techniques
 Acute management  Sleep Hygiene
• https://youtu.be/9RYCKd6Ac2U
• https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/video/basics-anxi
ety
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6526963/

• https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-
disorders/index.shtml

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6206399/

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MtLaiCThT0