NR 507 Week 5 Anxiety Disorders Study Guide 2026 | Mental Health Assessment, Panic Disorders &
Nursing Interventions | Complete Solutions PDF
NR 507 Edapt Week 5 Anxiety Disorders
Introduction to Anxiety
Disorders
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting 19.1% or 40
million adults over the age of 18 (Anxiety & Depression Association of America [ADAA],
2022). Anxiety occurs when the amygdala senses trouble. This “trouble” appears as a real
or imagined threat, activating neurotransmitters, flooding the body with stress hormones,
and activating the fight-or-flight response.
While a state of arousal is normal in the presence of a perceived threat, when symptoms of
anxiety persist in the absence of threatening stimuli or become overwhelming to the point
of impacting an individual's daily functioning, an anxiety disorder may develop.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health (DSM-5-TR) is the authoritative
publication on mental health disorders (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). This
manual outlines the criteria that must be present for each mental health disorder to be
diagnosed.
The PDR is a manual that provides information on medications. The ICD-10 is a series of
codes for classifying conditions and billing insurance. The Nursing Diagnosis Handbook
contains diagnoses not specific to mental health issues.
Adrenaline is a neurotransmitter involved in the fight-or-flight response. Stress
triggers adrenaline release, which leads to clinical manifestations associated with anxiety.
, Corticotropin-releasing hormone release contributes to anxiety but not fight or flight
response.
Cortisol is a stress hormone, and glutamate is released during exercise, excitement,
and sex, producing euphoric effects.
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the list of options.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter
that helps regulate dopamine levels.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that
helps regulate dopamine levels (not cortisol or glutamate). Alterations can lead to stress
and anxiety.
Adrenaline and acetylcholine are excitatory neurotransmitters, not inhibitory.
Neurotransmitters
Adrenaline – fight or flight – produced in stressful situations. Increases heart rate and
blood flow, leading to physical boost and heightened awareness.
Noradrenaline – concentration – affects attention and responding actions in the brain.
Contracts blood vessels, increasing blood flow.
Dopamine – pleasure – feelings of pleasure, also addiction, movement and motivation. People
repeat behaviors that lead to dopamine release.
Serotonin – mood – contributes to well-being and happiness. Helps sleep cycle and digestive
system regulation. Affected by exercise and light exposure.
Gaba – calming – calms firing nerves in the central nervous system. High levels
improve focus, low levels cause anxiety. Also contributes to motor control and vision.
, Acetylcholine – learning – involved in thought, learning and memory. Activates
muscle action in the body. Also associated with attention and awakening.
Glutamate – memory – most common neurotransmitter. Involved in learning and memory,
regulates development and creation of nerve contacts.
Endorphins – euphoria – released during exercise, excitement and sex, producing well-
being and euphoria, reducing pain.
Clients with anxiety disorders, compared to those without anxiety disorders, display
significantly decreased spontaneous brain activities in the right putamen, the right orbital
inferior frontal gyrus, and the right temporal pole (Wang et al., 2022). These areas in the brain
are associated with emotional processing. Activation of the limbic system also occurs in
response to stress, which can lead to anxiety (when the amygdala triggers the fight-or-flight
response).
Anxiety disorders have many causes, including neurohormonal imbalances, post-traumatic
stress syndrome (PTSD), or head injuries.
Neurohormonal imbalances include the following:
• Norepinephrine (noradrenaline): This neurotransmitter is involved in the
fight-or-flight response. Stressors trigger an increase in norepinephrine, which
leads to the physical manifestations associated with anxiety, including
tachycardia, increased blood pressure, tremors, and diaphoresis.
• Serotonin (5-HT): This neurotransmitter modulates several anxiety-related factors,
including releasing norepinephrine and corticotropin-releasing hormones.
• Corticotropin-releasing hormone: Through the mechanism of the
hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis, this hormone is released, contributing to
anxiety.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter that
regulates serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels. GABA receptors
located in the neural synapses of the central nervous system (CNS) play a key role in
neuronal firing (e.g., seizure disorders), regulating emotion, and controlling cognition,
pain, sleep, and motor function. GABA decreases neuroexcitability across the brain.
When triggers increase the utilization of GABA, GABA levels decrease, causing anxiolysis
and anxiety. The role of GABA has long been regarded as central to the
regulation of anxiety, and this neurotransmitter is the target of
benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders.
Nursing Interventions | Complete Solutions PDF
NR 507 Edapt Week 5 Anxiety Disorders
Introduction to Anxiety
Disorders
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting 19.1% or 40
million adults over the age of 18 (Anxiety & Depression Association of America [ADAA],
2022). Anxiety occurs when the amygdala senses trouble. This “trouble” appears as a real
or imagined threat, activating neurotransmitters, flooding the body with stress hormones,
and activating the fight-or-flight response.
While a state of arousal is normal in the presence of a perceived threat, when symptoms of
anxiety persist in the absence of threatening stimuli or become overwhelming to the point
of impacting an individual's daily functioning, an anxiety disorder may develop.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health (DSM-5-TR) is the authoritative
publication on mental health disorders (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). This
manual outlines the criteria that must be present for each mental health disorder to be
diagnosed.
The PDR is a manual that provides information on medications. The ICD-10 is a series of
codes for classifying conditions and billing insurance. The Nursing Diagnosis Handbook
contains diagnoses not specific to mental health issues.
Adrenaline is a neurotransmitter involved in the fight-or-flight response. Stress
triggers adrenaline release, which leads to clinical manifestations associated with anxiety.
, Corticotropin-releasing hormone release contributes to anxiety but not fight or flight
response.
Cortisol is a stress hormone, and glutamate is released during exercise, excitement,
and sex, producing euphoric effects.
Complete the following sentence by choosing from the list of options.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter
that helps regulate dopamine levels.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that
helps regulate dopamine levels (not cortisol or glutamate). Alterations can lead to stress
and anxiety.
Adrenaline and acetylcholine are excitatory neurotransmitters, not inhibitory.
Neurotransmitters
Adrenaline – fight or flight – produced in stressful situations. Increases heart rate and
blood flow, leading to physical boost and heightened awareness.
Noradrenaline – concentration – affects attention and responding actions in the brain.
Contracts blood vessels, increasing blood flow.
Dopamine – pleasure – feelings of pleasure, also addiction, movement and motivation. People
repeat behaviors that lead to dopamine release.
Serotonin – mood – contributes to well-being and happiness. Helps sleep cycle and digestive
system regulation. Affected by exercise and light exposure.
Gaba – calming – calms firing nerves in the central nervous system. High levels
improve focus, low levels cause anxiety. Also contributes to motor control and vision.
, Acetylcholine – learning – involved in thought, learning and memory. Activates
muscle action in the body. Also associated with attention and awakening.
Glutamate – memory – most common neurotransmitter. Involved in learning and memory,
regulates development and creation of nerve contacts.
Endorphins – euphoria – released during exercise, excitement and sex, producing well-
being and euphoria, reducing pain.
Clients with anxiety disorders, compared to those without anxiety disorders, display
significantly decreased spontaneous brain activities in the right putamen, the right orbital
inferior frontal gyrus, and the right temporal pole (Wang et al., 2022). These areas in the brain
are associated with emotional processing. Activation of the limbic system also occurs in
response to stress, which can lead to anxiety (when the amygdala triggers the fight-or-flight
response).
Anxiety disorders have many causes, including neurohormonal imbalances, post-traumatic
stress syndrome (PTSD), or head injuries.
Neurohormonal imbalances include the following:
• Norepinephrine (noradrenaline): This neurotransmitter is involved in the
fight-or-flight response. Stressors trigger an increase in norepinephrine, which
leads to the physical manifestations associated with anxiety, including
tachycardia, increased blood pressure, tremors, and diaphoresis.
• Serotonin (5-HT): This neurotransmitter modulates several anxiety-related factors,
including releasing norepinephrine and corticotropin-releasing hormones.
• Corticotropin-releasing hormone: Through the mechanism of the
hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis, this hormone is released, contributing to
anxiety.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter that
regulates serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine levels. GABA receptors
located in the neural synapses of the central nervous system (CNS) play a key role in
neuronal firing (e.g., seizure disorders), regulating emotion, and controlling cognition,
pain, sleep, and motor function. GABA decreases neuroexcitability across the brain.
When triggers increase the utilization of GABA, GABA levels decrease, causing anxiolysis
and anxiety. The role of GABA has long been regarded as central to the
regulation of anxiety, and this neurotransmitter is the target of
benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders.
