Download Anxiety Disorders Overview (CSMH)

Anxiety Disorders
Developed by the Center for School Mental Health with support provided
in part from grant 1R01MH71015-01A1 from the National Institute of
Mental Health and Project # U45 MC00174 from the Office of Adolescent
Health, Maternal, and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services
Anxiety

Panic Disorder
– Agoraphobia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
 Specific Phobias
 Separation Anxiety Disorder
 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
 Generalized Anxiety Disorder
 Anxiety Disorder NOS

Anxiety
13% of youth ages 9 to 17 will have an
anxiety disorder in any given year
 Girls affected more than boys
 ~1/2 of children and adolescents with
anxiety disorders have a 2nd anxiety
disorder or other co-occurring disorder,
such as depression

Who is at risk?
Youth that have a parent with an Anxiety
Disorder
 Youth with shy or restrained temperaments
 Youth that exhibited an excessive amount
of anxiety between 6 and 8 years

What type of anxiety???

Marcus has come for a follow-up
appointment at the SBHC. He reported
several anxiety symptoms during his
comprehensive risk assessment, and
screened positively for panic attacks
during the Diagnostic Predictive Scales.
Marcus indicates that the panic attacks are
triggered by a fear of being called on in
class. He experiences symptoms of panic
(heart palpitations, nervousness, sweating,
etc) on the way to school, while sitting in
class, and even just thinking about being in
class.
Panic Disorder - Diagnostic Criteria
I. Recurrent unexpected Panic Attacks
Criteria for Panic Attack: A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which
four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak
within 10 minutes:
(1) Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
(2) Sweating
(3) Trembling or shaking
(4) Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
(5) Feeling of choking
(6) Chest pain or discomfort
(7) Nausea or abdominal distress
(8) Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
(9) Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from
oneself)
(10) Fear of losing control or going crazy
(11) Fear of dying
(12) Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
(13) Chills or hot flushes
Panic Disorder - Diagnostic
Criteria
II. At least one of the attacks has been followed by
1 month (or more) of one (or more) of the
following:
(1) Persistent concern about having additional
attacks
(2) Worry about the implications of the attack or its
consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart
attack, "going crazy")
(3) A significant change in behavior related to the
attacks
What type of anxiety???

Philip was referred to the SBHC by his
mother, because she has become
increasingly concerned by his fears of
going outside. Upon interview, Philip
reveals that after being attacked by a
neighborhood dog a few years ago, he has
developed a fear of dogs. His fear is
getting worse, and he is beginning to limit
his outdoor activities. He reports getting
nervous even when seeing dogs on
television, even though he knows they
cannot hurt him.
Specific Phobias





Marked and persistent fear of a
specific object or situation with
exposure causing an immediate
anxiety response that is excessive
or unreasonable
In children, anxiety may be
expressed as crying, tantrums,
freezing, or clinging.
Adults recognize that their fear is
excessive. Children may not.
Causes significant interference in
life, or significant distress.
Under 18 years of age –
symptoms must be > 6 months
Specific Phobias

Animal phobias most
common childhood
phobia.

Also frequently afraid
of the dark and
imaginary creatures

In older children and
adolescents, fears are
more focused on health,
social and school
problems
What type of anxiety???

Sally is brought to the SBHC by her parents, who
are worried about her poor attendance in school.
Sally has had some difficulty leaving her parents
for the past several years, but her concerns have
grown increasingly more intense. She reports
having fears that if she goes to school, her
parents will abandon her or something very bad
might happen to them. She sometimes has
dreams that they have died, and she wakes up in
a panic. Sally has come to the SBHC several
times in the past few months complaining of
headaches and stomachaches, requesting that she
be sent home.
Separation Anxiety
Disorder
Developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety
concerning separation from home or from those to whom
the individual is attached, as evidenced by three (or more)
of the following:
(1)
Recurrent excessive distress when separation from home or major
attachment figures occurs or is anticipated
(2)
Persistent and excessive worry about losing, or about possible harm
befalling, major attachment figures
(3)
Persistent and excessive worry that an untoward event will lead to
separation from a major attachment figure (e.g., getting lost or being
kidnapped)
(4)
Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to school or elsewhere because of
fear of separation
Separation Anxiety
Disorder
(5)
Persistently and excessively fearful or reluctant to be alone or
without major attachment figures at home or without significant
adults in other settings
(6)
Persistent reluctance or refusal to go to sleep without being near a
major attachment figure or to sleep away from home
(7)
Repeated nightmares involving the theme of separation
(8)
Repeated complaints of physical symptoms (such as headaches,
stomachaches, nausea, or vomiting) when separation from major
attachment figures occurs or is anticipated
Separation Anxiety Disorder

Duration of at least 4 weeks

Causes clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, academic
(occupational), or other important areas of
functioning
What type of Anxiety???

James walks into the SBHC for an appointment.
He reports having great difficulty concentrating
in his classes because of his increased worrying.
He cannot pinpoint his worries; Rather, he
reports being nervous about many things in his
life, including his relationships with peers, his
grades, and even his performance in basketball.
His worries are beginning to impact his sleep,
and he is finding himself becoming more irritable
than usual.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder



Excessive anxiety and worry for at least 6
months, more days than not
Worry about performance at school, sports,
etc.
DSM IV criteria less stringent for children
(Need only one criteria instead of three of
six):
(1) Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
(2) Being easily fatigued
(3) Difficulty concentrating or mind going
blank
(4) Irritability
(5) Muscle tension
(6) Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or
staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying
sleep)
What type of anxiety???

Shelley’s teacher brings her down to the SBHC
because he is concerned that her grades have
been declining, and he has noticed that she has
not been completing her homework. Shelley
reports that she is being plagued by distressing
thoughts of doing bad things, including hurting
herself and others. In order to get rid of the
thoughts, Shelley often has to engage in intricate
routines, including counting to 1000 and
backwards, and touching her desk at home in
specific patterns. Although these routines
decrease her anxiety, they are causing her to skip
homework assignments and even lose sleep.
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder




Presence of Obsessions
(thoughts) and/or
Compulsions (behaviors)
Although adults may have
insight, kids may not
Interferes with life or causes
distress
One third to one half of all
adult patients report onset in
childhood or adolescence
What type of anxiety???

Ginny comes to the SBHC for a sports physical.
During her risk assessment, she reveals that her
parents have a history of domestic violence, and
that she witnessed her father attack her mother on
several occasions. In the past few months, Ginny
has been having nightmares about the abuse, and
finds herself having flashbacks even during class.
Ginny has been avoiding certain rooms in her
house that remind her of the incidents. She also
reports having difficult sleeping and
concentrating in class.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of
the following were present:
 (1) The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with
an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or
serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or
others
 (2) The person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or
horror. (Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by
disorganized or agitated behavior.)
Persistent Re-experiencing of event (1+)
(1)
Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including
images, thoughts, or perceptions. (Note: In young children, repetitive
play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.)
(2)
Recurrent distressing dreams of the event. (Note: In children, there may
be frightening dreams without recognizable content.)
(3)
Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a
sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and
dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening
or when intoxicated). (Note: In young children, trauma-specific
reenactment may occur.)
(4)
Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that
symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event physiological
reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or
resemble an aspect of the traumatic event
Avoidance and Numbing (3+)
(1)
Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the
trauma
(2)
Efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of
the trauma
(3)
Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma
(4)
Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities
(5)
Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others
(6)
Restricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings)
(7)
Sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career,
marriage, children, or a normal life span)
Increased Arousal (2+)
(1)
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
(2)
Irritability or outbursts of anger
(3)
Difficulty concentrating
(4)
Hypervigilance
(5)
Exaggerated startle response
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

At least one month duration.

Causes clinically significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning

Note: Many students with PTSD meet criteria for
another Axis I Disorder (e.g., major depression,
Panic Disorder) – both should be diagnosed
Anxiety Disorder NOS

Disorders with anxiety symptoms BUT do not
meet criteria for any specific Anxiety Disorder,
Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety, or
Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and
Depressed Mood

Example: mixed anxiety-depressive disorder

Also used in situations in which clinician has
concluded that an anxiety disorder is present, but
is unable to determine whether it is primary, due
to medical condition, or substance induced
Screening Instrument
The Spence Children’s Anxiety
Scale (SCAS)

38 anxiety items

FREE! – available at
http://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~sues/scas/

Parent and Child versions available
The Spence Children’s Anxiety
Scale (SCAS)

Overall measure of anxiety with 6 subscales tapping
specific aspects of anxiety
– Panic attack/agoraphobia
– Separation anxiety
– Physical injury fears
– Social phobia
– Obsessive compulsive
– Generalized anxiety/overanxious disorder

4-point scale – “never,” “sometimes,” “often,”
“always”
SCAS Norm Data
(Muris et al., 2000)

Age 7-12
– Boys: M = 17.42 ,
– Girls: M = 23.69,

Age 13-19
– Boys: M = 13.54,
– Girls: M = 19.89,

Cutoff = 37
Cutoff = 44
Cutoff = 25
Cutoff = 36
NOTE: Additional Norm information is
available at
– http://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~sues/scas/#Normat
ive_Data
What Works?
MH interventions shown to be
EFFECTIVE for anxious or
avoidant problems
 “Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy,
Exposure, and Modeling continue
to be the interventions of choice”
• Hawaii Department of Health, Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Division. (2004). Evidence Based
Services Committee Biennial Report: Summary of
Effective Interventions for Youth with Behavioral
and Emotional Needs.
MH interventions with little or NO
evidence of effectiveness for Anxiety:




Educational Support
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR)
Play Therapy
Supportive Therapy
• Hawaii Department of Health, Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Division. (2004). Evidence Based Services
Committee Biennial Report: Summary of Effective
Interventions for Youth with Behavioral and Emotional
Needs.
Anxiety: Practice Components
97
Exposure
44
Modeling
% of EBP w/
Practice
Component
39
Cognitive/Coping
31
Relaxation
0
20
40
60
80
100
Anxiety: Practice Components
Exposure
 Modeling
 Cognitive/Coping
 Relaxation

What is Exposure?

Techniques or exercises
that involve direct or
imagined experience
with a target stimulus,
whether performed
gradually or suddenly,
and with or without the
therapist’s elaboration or
intensification of the
meaning of the stimulus
What is Modeling?

Demonstration of a
desired behavior by a
therapist,
confederates, peers,
or other actors to
promote the imitation
and subsequent
performance of that
behavior by the
identified youth
What is Cognitive/Coping?

Any techniques designed to alter
interpretations of events through
examination of the child’s
reported thoughts, typically
through the generation and
rehearsal of alternative counterstatements.

This can sometimes be
accompanied by exercises
designed to comparatively test
the validity of the original
thoughts and the alternative
thoughts through the gathering or
review of relevant information.
What is Relaxation?

Techniques or exercises designed to induce
physiological calming, including muscle
relaxation, breathing exercises, meditation, and
similar activities.

Guided imagery exclusively for the purpose of
physical relaxation is considered relaxation.