(Main lecture): Generalized anxiety disorder
64 important questions on (Main lecture): Generalized anxiety disorder
What is the prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
- Peak around 50s for females
- More common in the South compared to depression
- Difficult to differentiate from depression due to shared symptoms and genetic vulnerabilities
Why is it difficult to treat GAD?
- 90% have another disorder, such as major depression
- Due to similar genetic vulnerabilities and symptom overlap
What are worries in GAD characterized by?
- Verbal worries
- Dysfunctional problem-solving
- Worries about health, family, professional concerns, and daily hassles
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What sets people with GAD apart in terms of worrying?
- Worries are predominantly verbal
- Problem-solving abilities are dysfunctional
- Worries can last much longer than in non-GAD individuals
What is the main reason people with GAD often delay seeking help?
- Report sleep problems, stress, and anxiety, rather than excessive worry
- Lack of physiological fight-flight response due to unclear triggers
Why is Generalized Anxiety Disorder challenging to differentiate from depression?
- Similar genetic vulnerabilities lead to some overlap in symptoms
- Difficulty arises in distinguishing between the two disorders
What is the primary focus of worries for people with GAD?
- Relationships, health, finances, religion/politics are commonly worried about
- Daily hassles are the most focused worry category
Why does GAD peak in females around their 50s?
- Life changes like children leaving home lead to empty nest syndrome
- Pregnancy can also be a factor in the peak of GAD
How does the prevalence of GAD compare to depression globally?
- GAD is slightly more common in the South than depression
- Northern regions exhibit more cases of depression due to factors like less light and increased loneliness
What contributes to the difficulty of treating GAD effectively?
- 90% of individuals with GAD have another co-occurring disorder
- Major depression is common in individuals with GAD due to shared genetic vulnerabilities and symptoms
What is the typical starting age for Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
- This is the latest onset among anxiety disorders
- The disorder may peak around the 50s, particularly in females due to various life changes
What are some physical symptoms experienced by individuals with GAD?
- Individuals may feel tense and have difficulty concentrating
How does worry content in GAD differ from non-GAD individuals?
- While the content may be similar, the duration of worries is notably longer in GAD
What are the characteristics of worries in people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
- Unwanted
- Not unrealistic
- Not more triggered
How do worries of people with GAD differ from those in OCD?
- Not usually OCD
Why is it difficult to treat people with GAD?
- Quickly find new things to worry about
What is critical for the maintenance of worries according to the model of GAD?
- Type-II-worries lead to attempts to control worry.
- Controlling worries can increase them.
What is the focus of therapy in the model of GAD by Wells?
- It is on the meta-beliefs about worry.
How does the model of GAD illustrate the process triggered by a son leaving home by car?
- Leads to a series of worries about safety.
- Results in efforts to control these worries.
What are the consequences of trying to control worries in the GAD model?
- Can cause restlessness, panic, anxiety, and discomfort.
What is the sequence of worry types in the GAD model?
- Negative meta-beliefs activate Type 2 Worry (meta-worry).
How does behavior and emotion relate to Type 2 worry in the GAD model?
- It is associated with thought control efforts.
What activates positive meta-beliefs related to worry?
What triggers the activation of negative meta-beliefs?
What are the diagnosis criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Which symptoms are most common in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
What are common symptoms associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
What are some symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
• Tensions
• Fatigue
• Nervousness
• Sleep problems
• Abdominal problems
How are worries in GAD different from worries in Major Depression (MD)?
• Worries in MD involve anhedonia and negative self-thoughts.
What are some symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?
• Fear of negative evaluation
• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Blushing
What are some symptoms of Panic Disorder (PD)?
• Fear of death/loss of control
• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Blushing
What is a key difference between Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
What behavior is common in individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
• Safety behavior such as avoidance actions, often covert.
How are worries often presented in individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
What central processes are involved in uncontrollable worries based on the information?
How can worries be used as a form of cognitive avoidance?
What is a possible reason behind the tendency to intensify unwanted thoughts when suppressing them?
What is the role of worries in downregulating emotions, as mentioned in the provided information?
According to the text, why is it important for individuals to acknowledge and feel their emotions?
What is the significance of understanding the implications of intense emotions according to the provided text?
Why are genetic components less likely to play a significant role in the development of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
What is highlighted as the least researched disorder among Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Major Depression (MD)?
What emotional state do people with GAD avoid by worrying?
- Avoidance of emotional topics
- Reduced emotional load
According to the research, what do people with GAD typically not focus on?
- Avoidance of imagination in pictures
What is shown in the simplified model of the consolidation of the worrying process?
- It results in reduced physiological activity and concrete thinking.
- There is no habituation or emotional processing.
What is the key finding regarding effect sizes in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy?
- Pharmacotherapy had small effect sizes
- Younger patients benefit more
What important factor was highlighted in relation to post-measurements for clients undergoing therapeutic interventions?
Which therapeutic approaches were found to yield the best results based on the meta-analysis?
- Applied relaxation
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
What was the conclusion drawn about the superiority of psychotherapeutic treatments over waiting control groups?
- Cognitive behavioral therapy has the best outcomes
How were the overall results of therapeutic interventions for GAD described in comparison to other anxiety disorders?
How do people with GAD respond to exposure and applied relaxation?
- These therapies are also effective for depression, even without direct targeting.
What should the focus be for targeting within therapeutic interventions for GAD?
- The focus should be on intolerance of uncertainty rather than meta-cognitions.
What other technique is mentioned, and how does it compare to applied relaxation?
- Applied relaxation shows mixed results in its effectiveness.
What is recommended when choosing techniques for therapy?
- Some techniques may contradict each other.
What does the bar chart indicate about the effects of different treatments on measures of anxiety and depression?
- Applied relaxation (AR) and exposure (Exp.) both reduce symptoms.
What is the rationale behind worry exposure in sensu?
- Intensive dealing with worries reduces anxiety permanently
What is an example of a stimulus-script in worry exposure therapy?
What are some key steps in the implementation of worry exposure therapy?
2. Discuss worry exposition
3. Repeat and talk about it
4. Assign homework
5. Create a cassette for home use
How can worry scripts be utilized in worry exposure therapy?
In worry exposure therapy, what is the importance of violating expectancy?
Why is distraction seen as a short-term solution for anxiety and worries?
What is the main objective when working on a worry exposure therapy script?
How can worry exposure therapy help individuals in managing anxiety?
What is the significance of repetition in the implementation of worry exposure therapy?
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