Summary on lecture Anxiety disorder, module Understanding Mental Health, course Psychology. The notes are summarised in preparation for an end of semester MCQ test. I passed the test with 1st (A+).
Fear Versus Anxiety
Fear:
Emotional & physiological reaction to an
immediate threat to wellbeing.
E.g., a potential attacker.
Anxiety:
Emotional & physiological reaction to a
vague sense of threat to wellbeing.
E.g., an upcoming exam.
Both prepare us for ‘fight or flight’…
The Physiological Response
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS; cf. PNS)
‘Fight or flight’ (confrontation or escape)
E.g., increased blood flow, breathing,
heart rate, and adrenaline production.
Fear and Anxiety are Innate
Fear and anxiety have developed through evolution
(e.g., Ohman & Birbaumer, 1993; Tomkins, 1984)
Evidence:
- Most common phobias are for threats relevant to survival (Ohman & Mineka, 2001;
Seligman, 1972).
Anxiety as a Disorder
, Although fear & anxiety can be useful,
some people experience abnormally
high levels → anxiety disorder
In anxiety disorders, the discomfort is:
- Too frequent & persistent
- Unreasonably intense
- Triggered too easily
- Impairing
(e.g., Lader & Marks, 1973)
Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders
• Most common mental illness in the US
• In 2009, prevalence in England was reported as ~8%; in 2016, ~9% (McManus et al.,
2009; McManus et al., 2016)
– nearly half of all adult mental illness
• Nearly twice as common in women (Remes et al., 2016)
• Most with one anxiety disorder (~80%) also experience another
• Anxiety is often co-morbid with depression.
Consequences of Anxiety Disorders
• Anxiety disorders pose significant risk factors for other disorders (e.g., depression,
eating disorders, substance disorders)
• They can lead to the following:
- Low academic achievement
- Impaired social competence
- Unemployment
- Hospitalisation
• Thus, it is crucial to understand, promote and intervene.
Types of Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder
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