PSYC3102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Startle Response, Alprazolam, Exposure Therapy
Document Summary
Fear experienced in response to real, specific dangers, tends to reduced with removal of source of danger. Anxiety a more diffuse, general emotional reaction, prolonged and pervasive uneasiness, more future-focused. Normal reaction to threat stimuli functional, adaptive mechanism, warns of threat and prompts us to take necessary steps to prevent threat (e. g. exams), no qualitative difference between normal and pathological anxiety (difference is one of degree) Course and prevalence chronic if untreated, anxiety most common mental disorder is. Australia, women experience higher rates of anxiety disorders, most prevalent across all age groups though rates decrease with age, ptsd and social phobia most prevalent. Strengths of psychodynamic biological based impulses, learning based on interactions with other, role of cognitive events. Weaknesses effectiveness evidence is based on single case design, theoretical ideas are difficult to assess, treatment long term with high frequency sessions (not cost effective or as practical)
