Category: anxiety
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CAN YOU EXPERIENCE PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS WITH AN ANXIETY DISORDER?
The combination of an affective disorder with a superimposed psychotic disorder has long been considered rare. However, it is noteworthy that psychotic symptoms frequently manifest in individuals with affective disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In fact, many individuals initially seeking help due to anxiety or depressive symptoms were found to be at high risk…
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WHAT EXPLAINS THE PRESENCE OF OBSESSIONS IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)?
Negative priming is a cognitive paradigm used in clinical research to study response inhibition and cognitive flexibility. It refers to a phenomenon where there is a delay in response or an increase in errors when individuals are asked to respond to an item that they were previously instructed to ignore. This delay is attributed to…
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A FEW FACTS ABOUT CAFFEINE
A large number of consumed dietary sources contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa beverages, chocolate drinks, and soft drinks. The caffeine content in each of these food items ranges from 2 to 7mg for150ml of cocoa to 40 to 180mg for 150ml of coffee, but the worldwide daily consumption is estimated between 70 to…
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CAN SLEEP DISTURBANCE WORSEN THE COURSE OF PTSD?
Research indicates among all the anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has the highest comorbidity rate with insomnia (i.e., they occur together). Studies with post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on the other hand, reveal a different pattern. SLEEP DISTURBANCES AND PTSD Notably, there is growing evidence that sleep difficulties may contribute to the development of…
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PATTERNS OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES ACROSS ANXIETY DISORDES
Sleep and anxiety are intimately connected, so much so that sometimes we cannot tell which one comes first. In recent studies, findings indicate that in 43.5% cases of insomnia, anxiety symptoms preceded chronic insomnia. By contrast, the percentage of chronic insomnia and anxiety disorders occurring simultaneously was not too far behind at 38.6%, which implies…
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HOW DOES SEPARATION ANXIETY SHED LIGHT ON PANIC DISORDER?
THE OPIOIDERGIC SYSTEM AND PANIC There is compelling evidence suggesting a connection between panic disorder and deficits in endogenous opioids, which are naturally produced by the brain and contribute to our sense of well-being. Studies have indicated that the sensitivity to carbon dioxide (CO2) is modulated by the opioidergic system. Endogenous opioids appear to reduce…
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THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF USING SAFETY BEHAVIORS TO CONTROL ANXIETY
In accordance with cognitive-behavioral theory, anxiety disorders manifest when individuals perceive situations as more perilous than they truly are. This distortion in perception sets off a chain reaction of responses, beginning with a heightened focus on threat-related stimuli, physiological arousal, and the adoption of safety-seeking behaviors, such as avoidance and escape tactics. Paradoxically, these safety-seeking…
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DOES CHARACTER STRENGTH PROMOTE FASTER PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS?
Numerous theories have been proposed to explore the qualities that aid individuals in coping with stressful situations. One such theory focuses on character, which serves as a model for understanding and processing information about oneself, others, and the world. Specifically, character strengths have been identified as protective factors that contribute to a person’s subjective well-being,…
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GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) DISRUPTS SLEEP CONTINUITY
Research findings have documented patterns of decreased sleep efficiency, disrupted sleep continuity, and overall lightening of sleep in generalized anxiety disorders (GAD); however, the presence of comorbidity, especially with mood disorders, is believed to confound the results. As a solution to this conundrum, the current study investigates sleep architecture in a group of otherwise healthy…
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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)
Many patients with a primary psychiatric disorder report sleep disturbances that change across the lifespan and also vary with gender. These alterations in sleep may influence the development and course of a psychiatric disorder, and thus treatment of the psychiatric disorder can significantly improve sleep. Conversely, when the sleep disturbance predominates, its treatment may improve…