9990 · 1.4.3
Treatment and management of anxiety disorders and fear-related disorders flashcards
Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9990 Treatment and management of anxiety disorders and fear-related disorders (syllabus 1.4.3). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.
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Systematic desensitisation steps?
1) Relaxation training. 2) Fear hierarchy (least to most feared). 3) Gradual paired exposure while relaxed — counter-conditioning.
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Flooding?
Prolonged, intense exposure to feared stimulus without escape until anxiety **habituates** — faster but more distressing.
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CBT for panic?
Challenge catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily sensations ('racing heart = heart attack'); interoceptive exposure to feared sensations.
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Benzodiazepines?
Enhance GABA — rapid anxiety reduction; **tolerance and dependence** risk limits long-term use.
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SSRIs for anxiety?
First-line pharmacological treatment for GAD, panic, social anxiety — slower onset but lower dependency than benzodiazepines.
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SD vs flooding ethics?
Flooding causes high distress and may provoke dropout; SD is **gradual** and more acceptable but **slower**.
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What is 'reciprocal inhibition' in the context of Systematic Desensitisation?
The principle, proposed by Wolpe, that two opposing emotions (like fear and relaxation) cannot be experienced simultaneously. SD works by replacing the fear response with a relaxation response.
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What is the main difference between the exposure in SD and flooding?
SD uses gradual, hierarchical exposure, starting with the least feared situation. Flooding uses immediate, intense, and prolonged exposure to the most feared situation.
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How do Benzodiazepines (BZs) work to reduce anxiety?
They enhance the action of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, so increasing its effects slows down neural activity in the central nervous system, creating a calming effect.
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What is a 'cognitive distortion' in CBT?
An irrational, biased, or inaccurate way of thinking that is believed to cause psychological distress. Examples include catastrophising (expecting the worst) and overgeneralisation (making broad conclusions from a single event).
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Why are SSRIs often preferred over Benzodiazepines for long-term anxiety treatment?
SSRIs are generally considered less addictive than Benzodiazepines and have a more favourable side-effect profile for long-term use. They also treat underlying depressive symptoms which often co-occur with anxiety.