GAD

Question 1

GAD

Answer 1

Heighten levels of anxiety or worry that are persistent and not necessarily in response ot a particular context or trigger
- sense of lack of control over the worry, reassurance seeking, both px and cogx

Question 2

Cx GAD

Answer 2

A) excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for at least 6monthts.. about an number of events or activities
B) individual find it difficult to control the worry
C) associated with 3 or more sx
- restlessness and feeling on edge, being easily fatigues, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance

*in children only one of these (C) sx is required

Question 3

Epidemiology

Answer 3

2-2.7% in NZ and Aus
SAD remains the most prevalent anxiety disorder (4-5%)

woman are 2-3x more likely than men to have

typical age of onset is early 30s

Question 4

Comorbidity of GAD

Answer 4

other anxiety disorders, mood disorders, sleep disorders, SUD, Chronic pain

Question 5

Etiology of GAD

Answer 5

Higher emotional, reactivity, high baseline arousal

discomfort with uncertainty, constant what if thinking

worry as avoidance or emotional regulation strategy

skill deficit e.g poor coping and difficulty calming self

distorted beliefs - about threats or coping

Question 6

Avoidance model of worry (Borkovecs)

Answer 6

Worry = cognitive avoidance strategy.

Verbal thought suppresses more distressing mental images + emotions.

Prevents full emotional processing → anxiety maintained.

Question 7

Metacognitive model (WELLS)

Answer 7

Worry is driven by metacognitive beliefs:

Positive beliefs: “Worrying helps me cope/prepare.”

Negative beliefs: “Worry is uncontrollable/dangerous.”

Leads to “worry about worry” (meta-worry), fuelling chronic anxiety.

Question 7

Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) Model

Answer 7

Core feature: inability to tolerate uncertainty.

Worry helps reduce uncertainty by constantly predicting “what ifs.”

IU → excessive reassurance-seeking, avoidance, and chronic worry.

Question 8

Emotion Dysregulation / Emotion Regulation Model

Answer 8

GAD linked to heightened emotional intensity + poor regulation skills.

Individuals struggle to identify, accept, and manage emotions.

Worry = maladaptive attempt at emotion regulation.

Question 9

general gist of models of worry

Answer 9

worry is trying to reduce anxiety by predicating thing - it s not a coping strategy it is an attempt at emotional regulation

Question 10

Tx for GAD

Answer 10

CBT - initial and long term outcomes
- medication and CBT shows no extra gain

psychodynamic therapy - understand conflicts and earlier experiences that could have lead to this, tackle maladaptive thoughts

acceptance communication therapy - accept feelings rather than avoiding them

Medication
- effective ST not LT
- SSRI/SNRI
benzodiazapene - dependence = -
- antopsychotic = - side effects - inly used for treatment resistnet people

Question 11

CBT tx GAD

Answer 11

exposure and response prevention
- worry exposure assignments (show that things don’t lead to catastrophe)
- cognitive restricting (modify maladaptive thoughts)
- relaxation training (recue phsycical arousal linked to anxiety - deep breathing, PMR ot lower tension)