Chapter 5: GAD

Question 0

What are the 5 symptoms of gad and how long must they be present before diagnosis
-they are accused of?

Answer 0

• restlessness, easy fatigue, irritability, muscle tension and or sleep disturbances
• 6 months
• accused of looking for worries

Question 1

Describe GAD?

“free floating”

Answer 1

• excessive anxiety under most circumstances and worry about practically anything
• danger is not a factor

Question 2

What percent of canada and usa will get this?

Britain?

Answer 2

4% and 3%

Question 3

onset?

Answer 3

-childhood or adolescence

Question 4

which gender is at greater risk?

ratio?

Answer 4

• women

- 2:1

Question 5

Sociocultural Perspective on GAD?
-three mile island 1979?
Poverty?
L> explain why?

Answer 5

• increased risk with people that are faced with social conditions that are dangerous
• poverty = important stressor (three mile island 1978)
• run down communities, increased crime rates, low education and job opport and increased risk for health probs

Question 6

Cognitive Perspective on GAD?

Answer 6

• caused by maladaptive and dysfunctional thinking…excessive worrying = cognition
• maladaptive assumptions are made

Question 7

Albert Ellis (Cognitive Perspective ) 
what are the four maladaptive assumptions he stated for the development of gad

Answer 7

• necessity for humans to be loved by everyone
• catastrophic when things are not as they should be
• if something is dangerous, a person should be terribly concerned and dwell on the possibility it will occur
• should be competent in all domains to be a worthwhile person

Question 8

Aaron Beck (Cognitive Perspective ) -GAD
silent assumptions?(4 of them)

Answer 8

• hold unrealistic silent assumptions that imply immediate danger,
• any strange situation is danger
• a situation/person is unsafe until proven
• assume the worst
• security depends on anticipating and preparing myself at all times for any possible danger

Question 9

Who are more likely to engage in these types of negative assumptions??3

Answer 9

• those filled with unpredictable neg events
• avoid being blindsided, predict events, look everywhere for danger
• see danger always

Question 10

Cognitive therapy??

two kinds

Answer 10

• Changing maladaptive assumptions…cognitive reconstructing
• teaching a person coping skills for use during stressful situations

Question 11

GAD: Bio perspective

genetics?

Answer 11

-supported by fam pedigree
-blood relatives more likely to have gad (15%)
-general pop (4%)
-the closer the relative the higher the likelihood
L> shared environment !

Question 12

GAD: Bio continued 
GABA?
Med solution??
Benzo receptor?
In fear and anxiety what is going on with neurons?
Reason for issue in feedback loop?

Answer 12

• ppl with GAD ave a deficiency in GABA activity
  L>its an inhibitory NT
  L> Benzodiazepines, antipsychotics
  -receive GABA
  -general state of excitability due to rapid firing….experienced as fear or anxiety …..Norm: feedback loop triggers GABA bringing down excitability those with GAD have a disruption in this.
  -low GABA , receptors and dysfunctional receptors.

Question 13

Four distinct cognitive characteristics of those with GAD:

Answer 13

• intolerance of uncertainty
• erroneous beliefs about worry
• poor problem solving
• cognitive avoidance

Question 14

Ppl with GAD are often treated with this drug but caution is needed because it also does what?

Answer 14

• BZD relief for short term BUT they impair both cognitive functioning and motor…also produce psychological and physical dependance
• no more than 2 weeks of use for temp relief..

Question 15

Cogntive Behavioural Treatment for GAD?

Answer 15

• envoke worry during therapy and confront anxiety producing images and thoughts head on…learn coping tech
• 77% no longer meet GAD after treat