Anxiety and Mood Disorders
Dec 17, 2015
Anxiety Disorders
Primary disturbance is distressing, persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety
Anxiety - diffuse, vague feelings of fear and apprehension everyone experiences it becomes a problem when it is irrational,
uncontrollable, and disruptive
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
More or less constant worry about many issues
The worry seriously interferes with functioning
Physical symptoms headaches stomachaches muscle tension irritability
Model of Development of GAD
GAD has some genetic componentRelated genetically to major depressionChildhood trauma also related to GAD
Genetic predispositionor childhood trauma
GAD following life change or major event
Hypervigilance
Phobias
Intense, irrational fear that may focus on: category of objects event or situation social setting
Phobias It is not phobic to simply be anxious about something
Afraid of it Bothers slightly Not at all afraid of it
Beingclosed in,
in a smallplace
Being alone
ina houseat night
Percentageof peoplesurveyed
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0Snakes Being
in high,exposedplaces
Mice Flyingon an
airplane
Spidersand
insects
Thunderand
lightning
Dogs Drivinga car
Being in
a crowdof people
Cats
Study of normal anxieties
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias - fear of specific object animals (e.g., snakes) substances (e.g., blood) situations (e.g., heights) more often in females than males
Some Unusual Phobias
Ailurophobia - fear of catsAlgobphobia - fear of painAnthropophobia - fear of menMonophobia - fear of being alonePyrophobia - fear of fire
Social Phobias
Social phobias - fear of failing or being embarrassed in public public speaking (stage fright) fear of crowds, strangers meeting new people eating in public
Considered phobic if these fears interfere with normal behavior
Equally often in males and females
Development of Phobias
Classical conditioning model e.g., dog = CS, bite = UCS problems:
often no memory of a traumatic experiencetraumatic experience may not produce
phobia
Seligman’s preparedness theory
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessions - irrational, disturbing thoughts that intrude into consciousness
Compulsions - repetitive actions performed to alleviate obsessions
Checking and washing most common compulsions
Heightened neural activity in caudate nucleus
Panic Disorder
Panic attacks - helpless terror, high physiological arousal
Very frightening - sufferers live in fear of having them
Agoraphobia often develops as a result
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Follows traumatic event or events such as war, rape, or assault
Symptoms include: nightmares flashbacks sleeplessness easily startled depression irritability
Mood Disorders
Depressive disorders depression of mood
Bipolar disorders cycling between depression and
mania (extreme euphoria)
Depression
Symptoms include: sadness feelings of worthlessness changes in sleep changes in eating anhedonia suicidal behavior
DepressionMajor Depression
prolonged, very severe depression lasts without remission for at least 2 weeks
Dysthymia less severe, but long-lasting depression lasts for at least 2 years
Can have both at the same timeWomen diagnosed far more often than men
Biological Bases for Depression
Neurotransmitter theories dopamine norepinephrine serotonin
Genetic component more closely related people show
similar histories of depression
Situational Bases for Depression
Positive correlation between stressful life events and onset of depression Is life stress causal of depression?
Most depressogenic life events are losses spouse or companion long-term job health income
Cognitive Bases for Depression
A.T. Beck: depressed people hold pessimistic views of themselves the world the future
Depressed people distort their experiences in negative ways exaggerate bad experiences minimize good experiences
Cognitive Bases for Depression
Hopelessness theory depression results from a pattern of thinking person loses hope that life will get better negative experiences are due to stable,
global reasonse.g., “I didn’t get the job because I’m stupid and
inept” vs. “I didn’t get the job because the interview didn’t go well”
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Cyclic severe depression and elevated mood
Seasonal regularityUnique cluster of symptoms
intense hunger gain weight in winter sleep more than usual depressed more in evening than morning