Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive anxiety towards specific situations, often leading to avoidance behaviors that interfere with daily life. They are more common in females, with various types including generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder, and can co-occur with other mental health conditions. Treatment options include psychoeducation, relaxation techniques, and medications such as benzodiazepines, β-blockers, and buspirone, with early intervention often leading to better outcomes.

1. Anxiety
disorder
Name - Valamakil Sameer
Group 1527

2. What is an anxiety disorder?
An anxiety disorder occurs when there is excessive anxiety (“fear”) targeted towards a specific
situation
i. The natural tendency for very anxious people is to avoid what they fear.
ii. This may be a “safe way” to manage the anxiety, but it can cause significant dysfunction in day to
day life
Epidemiology - . Many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to persist if not
treated. Most occur more frequently in females than in males (approximately 2:1 ratio).

3. Anxiety disorders differ from developmentally normative fear or anxiety by being excessive
or persisting beyond developmentally appropriate periods. They differ from transient fear or
anxiety, often stress-induced, by being persistent.
Anxiety or Fear-Related Disorders include the following:
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Specific Phobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Selective Mutism
• Other
ICD11 classification of anxiety disorders

4. Diagnostic Criteria:
•Core Symptoms: Excessive fear or anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, or
trembling.
•Duration: Symptoms must persist for at least six months.
•Impairment: The disorder must significantly interfere with daily life.
Other Considerations:
•Comorbidity: Anxiety disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions like depression.
•Cultural Factors: Cultural influences can shape the presentation and experience of anxiety disorders.
ICD 11 differential diagnosis for anxiety disorders

5. • Triggers: Certain situations, events, or thoughts can trigger episodes of anxiety. These triggers may vary from
person to person.
• Panic attacks: Typically last for a few minutes, but can sometimes last for an hour or more.
• Generalized anxiety episodes: Can last for hours, days, or even weeks.
• Phobic episodes: The duration of phobic episodes depends on the length of exposure to the feared object or
situation.
• Social anxiety episodes: Can last for hours or days, especially if the individual is unable to avoid the feared
situation.
• It's important to remember that while anxiety episodes can be distressing, they are manageable with
appropriate treatment and support
Episodes and duration

6. prognosis
Key factors influencing prognosis according to the DSM-5:
• Severity of the disorder: More severe anxiety disorders may have a poorer prognosis.
• Comorbidity: The presence of other mental health conditions, such as depression, can
complicate the prognosis.
• Treatment response: The individual's response to treatment can significantly impact the
prognosis.
• Many individuals with anxiety disorders can improve with treatment.
• Early intervention can often lead to better outcomes.
• The prognosis for anxiety disorders can be influenced by factors such as the individual's
coping skills, support system, and overall mental health.

7. TREATMENT
1. Psychoeducation about the disorder.
2. Sleep hygiene .
3. Relaxation Techniques - In patients with mild to moderate anxiety, relaxation techniques are very useful. These
techniques are used by the patient himself as a routine exercise every day and also whenever anxiety-provoking
situation is at hand.
4. Drug Treatment - The drugs of choice for generalised anxiety disorder have traditionally been benzodiazepines (such
as alprazolam and clonazepam) are useful in short-term treatment of generalised anxiety
5. β-blockers such as propranolol and atenolol are particularly useful in the management of anticipatory anxiety
However, due care must be exercised in the use of propranolol in the patients with history of asthma, bradycardia or
heart block,
6. Buspirone is an anti-anxiety drug which does not have any dependence potential, unlike benzodiazepines. It takes
about 2-3 weeks before its action is apparent. It may be preferable to benzo diazepines for the long-term management
of anxiety disorder.