Diagnostic Statistical Manual Disorders
Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
There is a large array of more specified disorder types within the general category of anxiety disorders, but which all share a common symptom of increased anxiety (429). These are comprised of not only Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but also Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia, Acute Stress Disorder, Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder, and unspecified conditions that do not meet the conditions of the ones outlined above. Generalized anxiety disorder, and its counterparts, is usually diagnosed through persistent levels of high anxiety within individuals. The DSM IV-TR describes the diagnosis for Generalized anxiety disorders as having six months or more of continuous anxiety which impacts the individual's quality of life (American Psychiatric Association 97). Other, more specific disorders within the larger classification do not have exactly that time necessity, but all require the feelings of anxiety within individuals to have been experienced over a prolonged period of time.
There are a number of biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral elements of Anxiety disorders. In many cases, adults suffering from anxiety disorder are focusing their worries on normal, everyday tasks including what they have to do at work, what they have in their bank, their health and well-being, among many other things. These are all elements that concern the rest of the population; however, those with anxiety disorders tend to worry about them much more, and in unhealthy ways (American Psychiatric Association 473). The worries become obsessive and all consuming, affecting the cognitive ability of the individual experiencing the anxiety. Unregulated anxiety thoughts can lead to cognitive disruptions that can disturb physical functioning. For instance, the occurrence of panic attacks can place the individual in direct physical danger. Anxiety stresses cognitive function, which then has the potential to be shown through physical consequences. Stress, as caused by anxiety, can have negative consequences on biological functioning overall, as well (Hyman & Pedrick 59). Stress is crucial to keeping up biological...
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