Chapter 97. Explaining Anxiety Disorders

Learning Objectives

amygdala
limbic system structure involved in strong emotions such as aggression and fear
gene
segment of a DNA molecule that can synthesize a protein; located on chromosomes
anterior cingulate cortex
a brain region involved in emotions and emotional memories; located on the inner surface of the frontal lobes
generalized anxiety disorder
an anxiety disorder characterized by a high, constant state of apprehension and dread, with high autonomic nervous system arousal
anxiety disorders
group of psychological disorders involving persistent anxiety and fearfulness, often accompanied by maladaptive behaviors that attempt to reduce the anxiety
hippocampus
limbic system structure involved in forming new memories
behavioral perspective
an approach to psychology that emphasizes observable behaviors and the environmental forces that influence those behaviors
limbic system
group of brain structures that play a role in emotion, motivation, and memory
biological perspective
an approach to psychology that emphasizes the links between biology and behavior, especially the impact of genetic influences, drug and hormonal influences, and unusual brain activity
natural selection
genetic variations that increase survival or reproduction will be passed to future generations
classical conditioning
a simple form of learning that involves forming an association between two stimuli
conditioned association
a learned connection between two events that occur close together in time
natural selection
genetic variations that increase survival or reproduction will be passed to future generations
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, a response that, after conditioning, is triggered by a formerly neutral stimulus
neutral stimulus (NS)
in classical conditioning, an event that produces no response (is ignored)
conditioned stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an initially neutral stimulus that, after conditioning, is able to trigger a response
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
an anxiety disorder in which the main symptoms are unwanted repetitive thoughts, called <i>obsessions</i>, and repetitive compulsive actions that are related to the obsessions
corpus callosum
band of neural fibers carrying messages between hemispheres
panic disorder
an anxiety disorder characterized by unpredictable, short episodes of terror, often accompanied by physical symptoms of chest pain or choking
evolutionary psychology
study of the genetic changes produced by natural selection, and their influence on behavior and mental processes
phobia
a persistent, irrational fear of an object or situation; the fear is out of proportion to the actual danger
frontal lobe
front portion of each hemisphere; initiates speech and muscle movements; involved in planning and decision making
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
an anxiety disorder connected to a specific traumatic experience; characterized by “jumpy” anxiety, haunting memories, and insomnia with nightmares that relive the events
unconditioned stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning, an event that automatically triggers a response; no learning is required
gene
segment of a DNA molecule that can synthesize a protein; located on chromosomes
Explaining Anxiety Disorders
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Learning Objectives:

Distinguish the main types of anxiety disorders.

Contrast the behavioral perspective and biological perspective to explain the development of anxiety disorders.

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1. The chief symptom of anxiety disorders is, of course, anxiety—but it takes different forms. For example, a person with generalized anxiety disorder is constantly tense and apprehensive without knowing why. Because the anxiety is not tied to any specific event, it is called free-floating anxiety.

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2. A person with panic disorder has short but terrifying periods of intense anxiety (a panic attack), usually accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest pain, or choking. People experiencing a panic attack often feel that they are about to die.

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3. A person with a phobia has intense anxiety, but at least understands that the anxiety is tied to specific objects or events that sometimes can be avoided.

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4. A person with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is haunted by “flashback” memories of a specific traumatic experience, often accompanied by insomnia and nightmares. Individuals with PTSD are easily startled by loud noises or unexpected events. The high level of “jumpy” anxiety interferes with daily functioning.

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5. A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is troubled by repetitive obsessive thoughts that generate anxiety and compulsive behavioral rituals that temporarily relieve the anxiety. For example, a person with an obsession about being contaminated with germs might engage in compulsive hand-washing behaviors.

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6. The behavioral perspective claims that anxiety disorders are learned behaviors produced by classical conditioning connected to painful or frightening events in the past. The formerly neutral situation (a neutral stimulus, or NS) that surrounded the original events has become a conditioned stimulus (CS), now capable of producing a conditioned response (CR) of fear, even when no painful unconditioned stimulus (US) is occurring in the present.

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7. The biological perspective is based on evolutionary psychology. It points out that our ancestors survived precisely because they were afraid of dangerous situations (e.g., snakes, spiders, and heights). The “cautious” or “fearful” genes that they passed on to us predispose some people today to high levels of general anxiety and an exaggerated fear response to mildly dangerous events.

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8. Neuroscience research has identified particular areas of the brain that show excessive activity during anxiety episodes. These “fear circuits” include the amygdala (part of the limbic system, located near the tip of the hippocampus) and the anterior cingulate cortex, located in the frontal lobe just above the corpus callosum.

Practice 1: Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

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Practice 1: Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Roll over each image to view a description of that type of anxiety disorder.

The first image represents generalized anxiety disorder and has an image of a man with his head in his hand, looking downward. Generalized anxiety disorder

 The second image represents panic disorder and has a woman grasping her head with both bands, wide eyes, and open mouth. Panic disorder

The third image represents phobia and is a snake. Phobia

The fourth image represents obsessive-compulsive disorder and is a person washing their hands. Obsessive-compulsive disorder

 The fifth image represents post-traumatic stress disorder and is a woman laying in a bed with her eyes and mouth wide. Post-traumatic stress disorder

Symptoms:

constant tension and sense of dread, with free-floating anxiety

brief, terrifying periods of intense anxiety, often with chest pain or choking

persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation

unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions)

haunting memories of a past traumatic event, with insomnia, nightmares, and startle reactions

Practice 2: Anxiety Disorders — Behavioral Perspective

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Practice 2: Anxiety Disorders — Behavioral Perspective

Play the animation to watch the development of a conditioned fear in a single individual.

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What causes anxiety disorders? The behavioral perspective explains anxiety disorders as the result of conditioned associations. Phobias are fears that have been associated with specific objects and events, sometimes leading to obsessive thinking about those events. Compulsive behaviors reduce the anxiety, and this rewards the person for repeating those behaviors.

When bad events happen unpredictably, chronic generalized anxiety may occur.

Practice 3: Anxiety Disorders — Biological Perspective

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Practice 3: Anxiety Disorders — Biological Perspective

Play the animation to watch the development of a biologically-adaptive fear across generations of people.

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What causes anxiety disorders? The biological perspective explains anxiety disorders as the product of evolution through natural selection. The same fearful tendencies that allowed our ancestors to survive may predispose us to phobias or chronic anxiety. Researchers are now beginning to identify the specific areas of the brain where these predispositions influence our behavior.

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Match the terms for anxiety disorders with the descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.
Perhaps you should go back to review anxiety disorders.
obsessive-compulsive disorder
phobia
generalized anxiety disorder
posttraumatic stress disorder
panic disorder
constant tension and apprehension with free-floating anxiety
brief, terrifying periods of intense anxiety, often with chest pain or choking
persistent, irrational fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation
haunting memories, insomnia, nightmares, and startle reactions
unwanted repetitive thoughts and/or actions

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Each scenario is an example of one of the two terms for perspectives on anxiety disorders. Drag an appropriate term to the gray area in front of each scenario. When all the terms have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

A soldier who was wounded in combat four years ago has panic attack symptoms whenever he is startled by a loud noise.
A student raped in her dorm room last year still gets very apprehensive whenever she has to enter that particular dormitory to visit friends.
A young child who has never been around snakes became terrified the first time he saw one.
Two identical twins were separated at birth and raised in different families. When reunited, both of them had an intense fear of heights.
An adult has a phobia about small enclosed spaces because, as a child, he was accidentally locked in a closet for 5 hours.
A student quit school because he was always too tense and anxious to study. A brain scan showed elevated activity in the amygdala.
Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.
Perhaps you should go back to review the two perspectives on anxiety disorders.
behavioral perspective
behavioral perspective
behavioral perspective
biological perspective
biological perspective
biological perspective

Conclusion

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