Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 148: Line 148:
|}
|}


<br>
<br>
 
Goodman and Snyder state that "Anxiety amplifies physical symptoms." <ref name="Goodman and Snyder">Goodman CC and Snyder TK. Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral. 4th edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2007.</ref> The text also states that anxiety increases muslce tension. This increase in tension can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the tissue and in turn cause a buildup of celluar metabolites. This statement demonstrates that musculoskeletal complaints (headaches, back pain, muslce tension/aches, and fatigue) can be caused from anxiety-caused tension or heightened sensitivity to pain. <ref name="Goodman and Snyder">Goodman CC and Snyder TK. Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral. 4th edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2007.</ref>
 
People who have a general anxiety disorder place an increased attention on physical and emotional pain. This increased focus can be in the form of the person noticing pain more or interpreting the pain as more significant. Goodman and Fuller state that disability, pain behavior ( limping and facial grimacing), and the seeking of medication could develop with anxiety diosrders. Physical, behavioral, cognitive, and/or psychologic symptoms may be present.<ref name="Goodman and Fuller">Goodman CC, Fuller KS. Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist. 3rd edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2009.</ref>
 
The autonomic nervous system can refer pain to the somatic systems of the body. These symptoms incluse chest pain, pelvic pain, dyspnea, palpatations, parasthesia, and possible digestive, bowel, or bladder disorders. <ref name="Goodman and Fuller">Goodman CC, Fuller KS. Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist. 3rd edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2009.</ref> <br>


== Associated Co-morbidities  ==
== Associated Co-morbidities  ==

Revision as of 23:53, 21 February 2010

Welcome to PT 635 Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems This is a wiki created by and for the students in the School of Physical Therapy at Bellarmine University in Louisville KY. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

Original Editors - Students from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.

Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page.  Read more.

Definition/Description[edit | edit source]

According to Goodman and Fuller, anxiety can be defined as a heightened emotional state of concern, worry, or apprehension. It can lead to physiologic arousal causing an increase in heart rate and sweat gland activity.[1]

Anxiety is a normal feeling to encounter; however when one experiences excessive worry, tension, and anxious feelings on a daily basis then he/she may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This disorder is diagnosed with a person demonstrates anxious feelings and constant worry over daily activities for a six-month time frame.[1][2][3]

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects nearly 6.8 million American adults. GAD is a gradually progressing disorder and can occur at any point throughout the lifespan, however is most often occurs between childhood and midlife. Women are two times more likely to develop GAD than men.[4][2]

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]

There are many characteristics/symptoms assosciated with generalized anxiety disorder. The most common include: [1][2][3][4][5]

  • Constant worrying and excessive anxiety (about small or large concerns)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Excessive sweating
  • Palpitations or rapid heart beat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stomach/intestinal symptoms
  • Nausea or diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Muslce tension/ muslce aches
  • Headaches
  • Restlessness/ feeling 'on edge'
  • Trembling or easily startled
  • Sleep disturbance: difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep

Anxiety disocrders are often associated with depression and substance abuse. [5]


This is a complete table from the Goodman and Snyder text: Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: [3]


Goodman and Snyder state that "Anxiety amplifies physical symptoms." [3] The text also states that anxiety increases muslce tension. This increase in tension can reduce blood flow and oxygen to the tissue and in turn cause a buildup of celluar metabolites. This statement demonstrates that musculoskeletal complaints (headaches, back pain, muslce tension/aches, and fatigue) can be caused from anxiety-caused tension or heightened sensitivity to pain. [3]

People who have a general anxiety disorder place an increased attention on physical and emotional pain. This increased focus can be in the form of the person noticing pain more or interpreting the pain as more significant. Goodman and Fuller state that disability, pain behavior ( limping and facial grimacing), and the seeking of medication could develop with anxiety diosrders. Physical, behavioral, cognitive, and/or psychologic symptoms may be present.[1]

The autonomic nervous system can refer pain to the somatic systems of the body. These symptoms incluse chest pain, pelvic pain, dyspnea, palpatations, parasthesia, and possible digestive, bowel, or bladder disorders. [1]

Associated Co-morbidities[edit | edit source]

Generalized anxiety disorder is most often associated with other disorders which can include other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance abuse. GAD can also lead to or worsen pre-existing conditions such as insomnia, digestive or bowel problems, headaches, and bruxism (teeth grinding). [2][4]

Other associated anxiety disorders can include panic disorder, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or adjustment disorder with anxious mood (those with an organic illness).[1][3]

Medications[edit | edit source]

add text here

Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values[edit | edit source]

add text here

Causes[edit | edit source]

add text here

Systemic Involvement[edit | edit source]

add text here

Medical Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]

add text here

Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]

add text here

Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]

add text here

Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

add text here

Case Reports[edit | edit source]

add links to case studies here (case studies should be added on new pages using the case study template)

Resources
[edit | edit source]

add appropriate resources here

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

see tutorial on Adding PubMed Feed

Extension:RSS -- Error: Not a valid URL: Feed goes here!!|charset=UTF-8|short|max=10

References[edit | edit source]

see adding references tutorial.

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Goodman CC, Fuller KS. Pathology: Implications for the Physical Therapist. 3rd edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2009.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Medical Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Mayo Clinic: Generalized anxiety disorder. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/generalized-anxiety-disorder/DS00502. Updated September 11, 2009. Accessed February 21, 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Goodman CC and Snyder TK. Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral. 4th edition. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier, 2007.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 National Institute of Mental Health. Health and Outreach: Generalized Anxiety Disorder. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.shtml. Updated July 7, 2009. Accessed February 21, 2010.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Ballas, Christos, MD. U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus: Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Updated January 15, 2009. Accessed February 21, 2010.