Psychology & Sociology
Anxiety disorders arise when persistent excessive worry impacts daily functioning. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive worry on most days for at least six months. Panic disorder involves suffering from more than one panic attack and significant anxiety about future panic attacks. Separation anxiety disorder is common in young children and involves excessive fear of being separated from caregivers or their home environment. Social anxiety disorder occurs when individuals feel excessively nervous about being judged or embarrassed and typically avoid social interactions. Selective mutism is when people choose not to speak in certain situations where communication is expected. Lastly, phobias involve irrational fears that drive people to avoid an object or situation, such as agoraphobia, which may co-occur with panic disorder.
Lesson Outline
<ul> <li>Anxiety disorders arise when persistent excessive worry impacts daily functioning.</li> <li>Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) <ul> <li>Excessive worry on most days for at least six months</li> <li>Can cause fatigue and muscle tension</li> </ul> </li> <li>Panic disorder <ul> <li>Stems from panic attacks</li> <li>Physiological symptoms include chest pain, elevated heart rate, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and trembling</li> <li>More than one panic attack and anxiety about future panic attacks is needed for diagnosis</li> </ul> </li> <li>Separation anxiety disorder <ul> <li>Common in young children</li> <li>Characterized by excessive fear of being separated from caregivers or home environment</li> </ul> </li> <li>Social anxiety disorder <ul> <li>Excessive nervousness about being judged or embarrassed in social interactions</li> <li>Causes avoidance of social encounters</li> </ul> </li> <li>Selective mutism <ul> <li>People capable of speech choose not to speak in certain situations</li> <li>Usually occurs in children and is diagnosed before age five</li> </ul> </li> <li>Phobias <ul> <li>Irrational fears causing avoidance of object or situation</li> <li>Examples: claustrophobia, acrophobia, arachnophobia</li> <li>Agoraphobia often co-occurs with panic disorder</li> </ul> </li> </ul>
Don't stop here!
Get access to 51 more Psychology & Sociology lessons & 8 more full MCAT courses with one subscription!
FAQs
Anxiety disorders can be classified into several types, including generalized anxiety disorder (characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life), panic disorder (marked by recurrent panic attacks and fear of future attacks), separation anxiety disorder (excessive distress when separated from attachment figures), social anxiety disorder (intense fear of social situations and scrutiny by others), selective mutism (failure to speak in specific social situations), and phobias (intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as claustrophobia, acrophobia, and agoraphobia).
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent, excessive, and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, such as health, finances, or relationships. This worry is often disproportionate to the actual situations and interferes with daily functioning. In contrast, other anxiety disorders like panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and phobias often focus on specific triggers, situations, or objects. GAD symptoms are more pervasive and don't necessarily need a specific stimulus to provoke anxiety.
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are intense periods of fear or discomfort accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and feelings of impending doom. People with panic disorder often develop a constant fear of having future panic attacks, which can lead to avoidance of places or situations where past attacks have occurred. Agoraphobia is often associated with panic disorder. It is characterized by an intense fear of being in situations where escape or help might be difficult, often leading to avoidance of public spaces and a significant impact on daily functioning.
Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive distress when children are separated from their caregivers or attachment figures. This may present as excessive worry about the safety of loved ones, reluctance to leave home or go to school, and fear of being alone or sleeping away from home. Selective mutism is a disorder in which children consistently fail to speak in specific social situations where speaking is expected, despite having the ability to do so. This can manifest as complete silence, lack of communication, or reduced speaking in settings like school or social events, while the child may speak normally in familiar or comfortable environments.
Specific phobias are intense, irrational fears of particular objects or situations, which cause significant distress and avoidance behaviors. Some common examples include claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), acrophobia (fear of heights), and agoraphobia (fear of situations where escape or help may be difficult). These phobias typically manifest as extreme anxiety, panic attacks, or avoidance when confronted with the feared object or situation, often interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE®) is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB®) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME®). NAPLEX® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. PANCE© is a registered trademark of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. NCLEX® is a registered trademark and service mark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Sketchy or this website.
