10.3 Anxiety disorders

  • A diffuse, vague feeling of fear and apprehension
  • Everyone experience it
  • It is a problem when it is irrational, uncontrollable and disruptive
  • The primary disturbance is distressing, persistent anxiety, or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

  • More or less constant worry about many issues that seriously interferes with functioning.
  • Affects about 5% of people at some time in their lives
  • Physical symptoms: headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, irritability
  • Has some genetic component
  • Related genetically to major depression and childhood trauma

    Genetic predisposition or childhood trauma → Hyper-vigilance → GAD

Phobias

  • Classical conditioning theory: you got bite by a dog. You become afraid of dog.
  • Preparedness theory: you are psychologically “ready” to be afraid of something (often associated with ancestral environment)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • Obsessions are irrational, disturbing thoughts
  • Compulsions are repetitive actions performed to alleviate obsessions
  • drugs that reduce serotonin may often help treat people with OCD