NR 507 Edapt Week 5 Anxiety Disorders questions
and answers with solutions
NR 507 Edapt Week 5 Anxiety Disorders Introduction to Anxiety
Disorders
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting 19.1% or 40 million adults over the age of 18
(Anxiety & Depression Association of America [ADAA], 2022). Anxiety occurs when the amygdala senses trouble. This “trouble”
appears as a real or imagined threat, activating neurotransmitters, flooding the body with stress hormones, and activating the
fight-or-flight response.
While a state of arousal is normal in the presence of a perceived threat, when symptoms of anxiety persist in the absence of
threatening stimuli or become overwhelming to the point of impacting an individual's daily functioning, an anxiety disorder may
develop.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health (DSM-5-TR) is the authoritative publication on mental health disorders
(American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). This manual outlines the criteria that must be present for each mental health
disorder to be diagnosed.
The PDR is a manual that provides information on medications. The ICD-10 is a series of codes for classifying conditions and
billing insurance. The Nursing Diagnosis Handbook contains diagnoses not specific to mental health issues.
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Adrenaline is a neurotransmitter involved in the fight-or-flight response. Stress triggers adrenaline release, which
leads to clinical manifestations associated with anxiety.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone release contributes to anxiety but not fight or flight response. Cortisol is a stress
hormone, and glutamate is released during exercise, excitement, and sex, producing euphoric effects.
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the list of options.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps regulate dopamine levels.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate dopamine levels (not
cortisol or glutamate). Alterations can lead to stress and anxiety.
Adrenaline and acetylcholine are excitatory neurotransmitters, not inhibitory.
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Neurotransmitters
Adrenaline – fight or flight – produced in stressful situations. Increases heart rate and blood flow, leading to physical boost and
heightened awareness.
Noradrenaline – concentration – affects attention and responding actions in the brain. Contracts blood vessels, increasing blood
flow.
Dopamine – pleasure – feelings of pleasure, also addiction, movement and motivation. People repeat behaviors that lead to
dopamine release.
Serotonin – mood – contributes to well-being and happiness. Helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation. Affected by
exercise and light exposure.
Gaba – calming – calms firing nerves in the central nervous system. High levels improve focus, low levels cause anxiety. Also
contributes to motor control and vision.
Acetylcholine – learning – involved in thought, learning and memory. Activates muscle action in the body. Also associated with
attention and awakening.
Glutamate – memory – most common neurotransmitter. Involved in learning and memory, regulates development and creation
of nerve contacts.
Endorphins – euphoria – released during exercise, excitement and sex, producing well-being and euphoria, reducing pain.
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