PH 3113 Unit 5 Exam Study
Guide 2026/2027
what are the 4 categories of anxiety symptoms + examples of each - ANSWER
psychological - disturbed sleep, fear, irritability, sensitive to noise, restlessness, poor
concentration and repetitive worrying thoughts
physical / somatic symptoms - nausea, epigastric pain, palpitations, sweating,
diahorreah, butterflies in stomach
respiratory symptoms - breathless, dizziness, tightness over chest, tingling in hands and
feet.
musculoskeletal - back ache, neck ache headache and shoulder pain
what is thought to be the reason for symptoms of anxiety - ANSWER over activity in the
sympathetic nervous system
what are the affects of excessive anxiety - ANSWER decreased capacity for skilled
motor movement
decreased complex intellectual tasks
decreased perception of new information
maximum amount of anxiety of pressure a person can take
what is the pharmacological process relating to fight or flight which causes some of the
symptoms of anxiety? - ANSWER anxiety involving fight or flight response is due to
internal changes
heart contraction force and rate increase = increased oxygen supply to vessel, there is
also diversion of oxygen and blood from skin to the muscles and sweating in order to
cool the skin
increased rate and depth of respiration to provide more oxygen to tissues and digestion
is shut down so energy can be redirected
sight and hearing is enhanced - this explains some of the symptoms that occur.
what are the causes of anxiety disorder? - ANSWER genetic-trait anxiety - this is a
general level of stress that's a characteristic for that individual
-brain chemistry
,-drugs
-drug withdrawal or misuse
-nicotine
-some medical conditions
what are the 3 main neurotransmitters involved in anxiety ? - ANSWER noradrenaline -
this is involved in arousal, attention, learning and emotional behavior
serotonin (5-HT) - this is involved in coordinating mood, sleep - it isn't fully known how
serotonin levels are responsible for anxiety as it's thought that in some areas of brain it
can cause anxiety and in others it has the opposite affect
GABA - this is the main inhibitory transmitter in the brain - inhibition causes increase in
anxiety and stimulation reduces anxiety.
what are the 5 types of anxiety disorder? - ANSWER generalized anxiety disorder
phobic disorder
obessive compulsive disorder
mixed anxiety and depression
post-traumatic stress disorder.
describe generalized anxiety disorder - ANSWER this is persistent anxiety that's unlikey
to have specific triggers
-it's a chronic condition that has acute on chronic episodes
-patients can't control it easily
-sometimes there's genetic pre-disposition to this or it can be due to other factors
what symptoms are part of categorizing generalized anxiety disorder + when is a
diagnosis made? - ANSWER restless/ on edge
easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbances
a diagnosis is made after more than 6 months of excess worry / anxiety on most days.
, describe phobic disorder? - ANSWER this is excessive fear of specific situations or
objects, avoidance and change in social functioning
describe panic disorder ? - ANSWER this is where patients have unpredictable attacks
of severe anxiety which are unrelated to any other specific situation
-this can only be diagnosed if the attacks reoccur ant and associated with persistant
fear of another attack
what are the characteristic symptoms of panic disorder? - ANSWER escalating,
subjective tension, sweating/chills, tremor, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations,
nausea, dizziness and impending doom.
describe OCD - ANSWER preoccupation with obsessions and compulsions interfering
with day to day functioning
obsessions include thoughts, ideas, impulses, images that are unwelcome e.g. germs,
dirt or the order of things
compulsions are repetitive purposeful and can be behaviors or actions - when the
thought for a compulsion occurs person has to act upon this.
describe post traumatic stress disorder - ANSWER this is a reaction to a traumatic event
-it's continued experience with triggers - this maty trigger them to remember the
traumatic event
-usual onset of symptoms is within a month of traumatic event but it can also occur
years later
-there's high comorbidity with substance abuse and panic disorder
when is PTSD diagnosed ? - ANSWER in order for a diagnosis patients must have 2 or
more of these symptoms for more than 1 month
insomnia, irribaility/ bouts of anger, poor concentration, increased vigilance,
exaggerated response to non-threatening stimuli
increased arousal, numbness, detachment followed by flashbacks and reoccuring
memories and vivid dreams
describe mixed anxiety and depressive disorder ? - ANSWER this is when patients have
symptoms of both anxiety and depression at present - neither set considered separately
and are sufficnently severe to justify a single diagnosis
what is first line for GAD - ANSWER first line for all anxiety disorders is psychotherapy
however the drug treatment indicated for first line is
SSRI e.g. sertraline
Guide 2026/2027
what are the 4 categories of anxiety symptoms + examples of each - ANSWER
psychological - disturbed sleep, fear, irritability, sensitive to noise, restlessness, poor
concentration and repetitive worrying thoughts
physical / somatic symptoms - nausea, epigastric pain, palpitations, sweating,
diahorreah, butterflies in stomach
respiratory symptoms - breathless, dizziness, tightness over chest, tingling in hands and
feet.
musculoskeletal - back ache, neck ache headache and shoulder pain
what is thought to be the reason for symptoms of anxiety - ANSWER over activity in the
sympathetic nervous system
what are the affects of excessive anxiety - ANSWER decreased capacity for skilled
motor movement
decreased complex intellectual tasks
decreased perception of new information
maximum amount of anxiety of pressure a person can take
what is the pharmacological process relating to fight or flight which causes some of the
symptoms of anxiety? - ANSWER anxiety involving fight or flight response is due to
internal changes
heart contraction force and rate increase = increased oxygen supply to vessel, there is
also diversion of oxygen and blood from skin to the muscles and sweating in order to
cool the skin
increased rate and depth of respiration to provide more oxygen to tissues and digestion
is shut down so energy can be redirected
sight and hearing is enhanced - this explains some of the symptoms that occur.
what are the causes of anxiety disorder? - ANSWER genetic-trait anxiety - this is a
general level of stress that's a characteristic for that individual
-brain chemistry
,-drugs
-drug withdrawal or misuse
-nicotine
-some medical conditions
what are the 3 main neurotransmitters involved in anxiety ? - ANSWER noradrenaline -
this is involved in arousal, attention, learning and emotional behavior
serotonin (5-HT) - this is involved in coordinating mood, sleep - it isn't fully known how
serotonin levels are responsible for anxiety as it's thought that in some areas of brain it
can cause anxiety and in others it has the opposite affect
GABA - this is the main inhibitory transmitter in the brain - inhibition causes increase in
anxiety and stimulation reduces anxiety.
what are the 5 types of anxiety disorder? - ANSWER generalized anxiety disorder
phobic disorder
obessive compulsive disorder
mixed anxiety and depression
post-traumatic stress disorder.
describe generalized anxiety disorder - ANSWER this is persistent anxiety that's unlikey
to have specific triggers
-it's a chronic condition that has acute on chronic episodes
-patients can't control it easily
-sometimes there's genetic pre-disposition to this or it can be due to other factors
what symptoms are part of categorizing generalized anxiety disorder + when is a
diagnosis made? - ANSWER restless/ on edge
easily fatigued
difficulty concentrating
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbances
a diagnosis is made after more than 6 months of excess worry / anxiety on most days.
, describe phobic disorder? - ANSWER this is excessive fear of specific situations or
objects, avoidance and change in social functioning
describe panic disorder ? - ANSWER this is where patients have unpredictable attacks
of severe anxiety which are unrelated to any other specific situation
-this can only be diagnosed if the attacks reoccur ant and associated with persistant
fear of another attack
what are the characteristic symptoms of panic disorder? - ANSWER escalating,
subjective tension, sweating/chills, tremor, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations,
nausea, dizziness and impending doom.
describe OCD - ANSWER preoccupation with obsessions and compulsions interfering
with day to day functioning
obsessions include thoughts, ideas, impulses, images that are unwelcome e.g. germs,
dirt or the order of things
compulsions are repetitive purposeful and can be behaviors or actions - when the
thought for a compulsion occurs person has to act upon this.
describe post traumatic stress disorder - ANSWER this is a reaction to a traumatic event
-it's continued experience with triggers - this maty trigger them to remember the
traumatic event
-usual onset of symptoms is within a month of traumatic event but it can also occur
years later
-there's high comorbidity with substance abuse and panic disorder
when is PTSD diagnosed ? - ANSWER in order for a diagnosis patients must have 2 or
more of these symptoms for more than 1 month
insomnia, irribaility/ bouts of anger, poor concentration, increased vigilance,
exaggerated response to non-threatening stimuli
increased arousal, numbness, detachment followed by flashbacks and reoccuring
memories and vivid dreams
describe mixed anxiety and depressive disorder ? - ANSWER this is when patients have
symptoms of both anxiety and depression at present - neither set considered separately
and are sufficnently severe to justify a single diagnosis
what is first line for GAD - ANSWER first line for all anxiety disorders is psychotherapy
however the drug treatment indicated for first line is
SSRI e.g. sertraline
