Name
Western Governors University
C180 Introduction to Psychology
Prof. Name
Date
Anxiety disorders represent a collection of mental health conditions characterized by persistent and excessive fear, worry, or tension. When these emotions persist for six months or more and interfere significantly with daily life, they qualify as anxiety disorders. While occasional anxiety in stressful situations is typical, chronic or severe anxiety often requires therapeutic intervention or medication to control symptoms effectively.
People with anxiety disorders may experience a range of physical and psychological symptoms. Common manifestations include increased heart rate, muscle tension, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. If untreated, these symptoms can severely impair one’s quality of life.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Monophobia | An intense fear of being alone, causing distress or panic when separated from others. |
| Zoophobia | Persistent fear of animals, either specific (e.g., dogs, snakes) or generalized across all animals. |
| Acrophobia | Extreme fear of heights, which may lead to panic attacks or avoidance behaviors. |
| Separation Anxiety Disorder | Excessive anxiety related to separation from attachment figures, common in childhood but problematic if persistent in adults. |
OCRDs involve recurrent, intrusive thoughts or impulses and repetitive behaviors that individuals feel compelled to perform. These compulsions typically serve to reduce distress or prevent feared harm, though the individual often recognizes these actions as irrational.
| Disorder | Description |
|---|---|
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | Characterized by persistent intrusive obsessions and compulsive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety, disrupting daily life. |
| Hoarding Disorder | The uncontrollable need to collect and keep items, often resulting in hazardous living conditions. |
| Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) | Excessive worry about minor or imagined physical flaws, causing distress and impaired functioning. |
Definitions:
Obsession: Recurrent, intrusive thoughts or urges that provoke anxiety or distress.
Compulsion: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts intended to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes.
Somatic symptom disorders occur when psychological distress presents as physical symptoms without an identifiable medical cause. Those affected often experience significant impairment and frequently seek medical care.
| Disorder | Description |
|---|---|
| Somatic Symptom Disorder | Excessive focus on physical symptoms causing distress and disrupting daily activities. |
| Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder) | Sudden neurological symptoms such as paralysis or seizures without medical explanation, often related to psychological conflicts. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Develops after trauma, with symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness lasting over a month. |
| Disorder | Common Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Somatic Symptom Disorder | Excessive concern about physical symptoms, frequent doctor visits, medication overuse, symptoms fluctuating with stress. |
| Conversion Disorder | Motor or sensory impairments such as paralysis, pseudoseizures, blindness, or speech loss without neurological basis. |
| PTSD | Persistent anxiety, intrusive memories, nightmares, emotional numbing, and avoidance of trauma reminders. |
Assessment often includes the use of the PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire-15), a tool designed to screen for common somatic symptoms.
Nursing considerations include:
Prioritizing safety and building therapeutic trust.
Validating the reality of the client’s symptoms.
Encouraging emotional expression while limiting excessive focus on physical complaints.
Teaching relaxation techniques and stress management strategies.
Promoting participation in individual or group therapy.
Treatment often involves antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and anxiolytics to alleviate anxiety and depressive symptoms related to these disorders.
Neurocognitive disorders are characterized by a decline in cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, reasoning, and communication. Depending on the cause, these disorders can be either reversible or irreversible.
Delirium is an acute, severe change in mental status marked by confusion, disorientation, and impaired attention, developing rapidly over hours to days. It often arises secondary to medical conditions such as infections, substance withdrawal, or electrolyte imbalances.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Onset | Sudden, occurring within hours to days. |
| Causation | Medical issues including infections, surgery, or withdrawal. |
| Symptoms | Confusion, disorganized thinking, memory loss, agitation, hallucinations; symptoms often worsen at night. |
| Treatment | Focuses on identifying and treating the underlying cause, ensuring hydration and nutrition, maintaining safety, and avoiding restraints. |
Prompt treatment can reverse delirium, but delays increase risks for serious complications.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting memory, cognition, and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia and develops gradually over months or years.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Genetic | Family history, especially in first-degree relatives. |
| Neurological | Traumatic brain injury or head trauma. |
| Age | Risk increases significantly after 65 years. |
| Cardiovascular & Lifestyle | Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, and high cholesterol. |
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Mild (Early) | Memory lapses, misplaced items, difficulty focusing, but mostly independent in daily activities. |
| Moderate (Middle) | Noticeable cognitive decline, confusion, personality changes, decreased ability to perform ADLs, wandering, and frustration. |
| Severe (Late) | Requires total care, loss of communication, mobility, and swallowing abilities, possibly progressing to coma or death. |
Establishing a calm, structured environment to reduce agitation.
Using simple, clear communication and giving one instruction at a time.
Supporting caregivers and assisting with long-term care planning.
Monitoring nutrition, hydration, and sleep patterns.
| Generic Name | Trade Name | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Donepezil | Aricept | Used in early and moderate stages of Alzheimer’s. |
| Galantamine | Razadyne | Prescribed for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s-related dementia. |
| Rivastigmine | Exelon | For Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s dementia. |
While these medications can improve quality of life, they do not cure the disease.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). APA Publishing.
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Somatic symptom disorder and related conditions. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org
Mayo Clinic. (2024). Anxiety disorders: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov
World Health Organization. (2023). Dementia fact sheet. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
