GAD, Panic Disorder,
and Phobias
By: Ayla Buenaventura
Alex Walker
Kyana Robinson
Suve Kouv
Ysabelle Valera
AP Psychology
Ms. Key
February 2, 2012
Period 7
General Anxiety Disorder
O an anxiety disorder in which a person is
continually tense, apprehensive, and in a
state of autonomic nervous system arousal.
GAD
Symptoms/Characteristic
Restlessness or feeling on edge
O Being easily fatigued
O Difficulty concentrating or mind going
blank
O Irritability
O Muscle Tension
O Sleep Disturbance
O
GAD
Possible Causes
Involves naturally occurring brain
chemicals (neurotransmitters), like
serotonin, dopamine, and
norepinephrine
O Genetics
O
GAD
Risk Factors & Treatments
O Risk Factors:
O Treatments:
O Being female
O Medication
O Childhood trauma
O Antidepressants
O Stress
O Buspirone
O Substance abuse
O Benzodiazepines
O Psychotherapy
GAD VIDEO
Panic Disorder
O an anxiety disorder marked by
unpredictable minutes-log episodes
of intense dread in which a person
experiences terror and
accompanying chest pain, choking,
or other frightening sensations.
Panic Disorder
Symptoms/Characteristics
O Sudden attacks of intense fear
O Heart palpitations
O Rapid Breathing or shortness of
breath
O Blurred vision
O Dizziness
O Racing thoughts
Panic Disorder
Possible Causes
Genetics
O Stress
O Certain changes in the way parts of
your brain function
O
Panic Disorder
Risk Factors & Treatments
O Risk Factors:
O Treatments:
O Family history
O Medications:
O Significant stress
O Selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors
O Death or illness of a
loved one
O Serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake
O Big changes in your life
inhibitors
O History of childhood
O Tricyclic antidepressants
physical or sexual abuse
O Benzodiazpines
O Undergoing a traumatic
event
O Monoamine oxidase
inhibitors
Panic Disorder Video
Phobia
O an anxiety disorder marked by a persistent,
irrational fear and avoidance of a specific
object or situation.
O Different Types:
O Specific phobia
O Social Phobia
O Fear of open spaces (agoraphobia)
O Situational phobia
O Animal phobia
Phobia
Symptoms/Characteristics
O Extreme anxiety and fear associated
with the object or situation
O Avoidance of the associated object or
situation
O The symptoms must be disruptive to
every day activity
Phobia
Possible Causes
Link between your phobias and your
parents phobias
O Genetics
O Cultural Factors
O Life experiences
O
Phobia
Risk Factors & Treatments
O Risk Factors:
O Treatments:
O Age
O Medications
O Sex
O Beta blockers
O Family
O Antidepressants
O Traumatic events
O Sedatives
O Behavior therapy
Phobia Video