PSYC 208 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Comorbidity, Substance Abuse, Basal Ganglia
Document Summary
Discrete (beginning and end), recurrent (multiple episodes), sudden (onset is rapid), unexpected (can"t predict occurrence) anxiety attacks. Chest pain, sweating, hyperventilating, trembling, choking, derealisation, etc. Reluctant to leave home because of fear of panic attacks in public. Fear of public places, or anywhere they can"t escape (movie theatre & bus) Primary fear: having a panic attack in the public. Self-fulfilling prophecy: scared to leave because of panic attack has panic attack. Specific (oral presentation) or general social situation (all of them lead to anxiety) Primary fear: exposure to unfamiliar people scrutiny. Imagination is sometimes sufficient enough to provoke anxiety. Preparedness: we"re prepared by evolution to fear something (ex. Persistent, uncontrollable intrusions of unwanted thoughts that produce anxiety (obsessing with contamination, order, etc. ) Urge to engage in ritual behaviours to reduce anxiety (hand-washing 5 times) Onset doesn"t occur immediately delays months or years. Abnormal norepinephrine activity (under-stimulation of alpha, over-stimulation of beta) = so use alpha-agonist, beta-blocker.
