Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Specific Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Definition: Persistent and excessive worrying causing significant physical and/or psychological symptoms
• Prevalence: More common in females than males
• Symptoms:
  • Excessive anxiety/worrying lasting more than 6 months
  • Fatigue
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Insomnia
• Diagnosis: Rule out underlying disorders (e.g., hyperthyroidism)
• Treatment:
  • Talk therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Medications:
    • SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
    • SSNRIs (Selective Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
    • Benzodiazepines
    • Atypical anxiolytics (e.g., buspirone)
• Nursing Care:
  • Teach recognition of escalating anxiety
  • Interventions: Deep breathing, exercise
  • For severe/panic-level anxiety, focus on patient safety and physical needs

Specific Anxiety Disorders

Social Anxiety Disorder

• Definition: Anxiety related to social situations due to fear of humiliation or rejection

Agoraphobia

• Definition: Anxiety related to public transportation, crowds, and being outside the home

Other Specific Phobias

• Examples:
  • Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
  • Claustrophobia: Fear of confined spaces
• Treatment: Behavioral therapy (e.g., systematic desensitization), anti-anxiety medications

Quiz Questions

1. Is generalized anxiety disorder more common in females or males?
   • Answer: Females
2. Name one or more drug classes that are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
   • Answers: SSRIs, SSNRIs, benzodiazepines, atypical anxiolytics (e.g., buspirone)
3. What do you call anxiety that is produced by fear of public crowds and being outside the home?
   • Answer: Agoraphobia