Psychopharmacology Exam #2 (Anxiety Disorders)

Psychopharmacology Exam #2 (Anxiety Disorders)
Therapeutic Strategies

> Remove underlying cause



> Treat psychiatric disorder

- Depression ->SSRI. - Psychosis->Neuroleptics



> Do not treat situational anxieties




Anxiety Disorders

> A heterogeneous group of psychiatric disorders



> Have multiple and diverse etiologies



> Currently seen as serious, chronic mental illnesses

> In severe cases:

- High suicide rates

- Up to 30% assoc. w/ alcohol abuse

- Medical services inappropriately overutilized

- Cardiac-death rate higher than average



> Anxiety disorders occur in 30-40% of the population.



> Generalized anxiety occurs in 5% of the population.



> Affects women with twice the frequency of men.

,Etiology of Anxiety Disorders

Intrapsychic (being or occurring within the psyche, mind, or personality.)



Learned



Biochemical:



Due to a General Medical Condition



Substance-related




General Medical Conditions

Associated with Anxiety

• Adrenal tumor

• Alcoholism

• Anemia

• Angina Pectoris

• Asthma

• Cardiac arrhythmia

• Central Nervous System degenerative disease

• Chronic Obstructive

Pulmonary Disease

• Delirium (derived from toxic and metabolic conditions)

• Hyperthyroidism

• Hypoglycemia

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

, • Mitral Valve Prolapsed

• Parathyroid disease

• Post-concussion syndrome

• Pre-menstrual syndrome

• Pulmonary embolism

• Seizure Disorders (partialcomplex ones)

• Vestibular dysfunction




Drugs and Anxiety

- Amphetamines

- Appetite suppressors

- Asthma medications

- Caffeine

- Withdrawal from CNS depressants

- Cocaine

- Nasal decongestants

- Steroids




Diagnosis of Anxiety

Anxiety as part of the normal experience of being alive



Anxiety as a symptom of another mental disorder

(differential diagnosis)



As main symptom of an anxiety disorder