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
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
