Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [2]
Overview The most common symptoms of anxiety disorders is inappropriate worry about multiple factors, restlessness , fatigue , insomnia , and impairment in functioning of the individual. As per DSM-V criteria, these symptoms must be present for a duration of at least six months and not explained by any other mental or medical disorder.
Symptoms The following table enlists symptoms of various anxiety disorders:
Disorder
Symptoms
Generalized anxiety disorders
Excessive worry about multiple life events for a period of at least six months. The worry is disproportionate compared to the actual stressor
The anxiety is associated with three or more of the following symptoms:
Separation anxiety disorder
More common in children
Recurrent excessive worry when anticipating or experiencing separation from home or major attachment figures
Persistent worry about losing major attachment figures or about possible harm to them
Repeated nightmares involving theme of separation
Physical symptoms such as headaches , abdominal pain and other GI symptoms such as nausea and vomiting when separation from major attachment figures is anticipated.
The disturbance has major limitation on functioning in social , occupational or academic setting
The disturbance is not explained by any other mental disorder
Panic disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Excessive anxiety about social situations where the individual is worried about scrutiny by others
Excessive anxiety in social situations such as having a conversation, parties, performing in front of a crowd(e.g.,Public speaking)
Avoidance of social situations
The anxiety significantly impairs functioning in all aspects of life
The anxiety is not due to any other menta l, medical or substance abuse
Agoraphobia
Fear of places or circumstances , where an individual perceives as difficult to escape
Marked fear of the following situations:
Being in open spaces
Being outside alone
Being in closed spaces(e.g., Cinemas, shops), which the individual perceives escape is difficult in case of an emergency
Being in crowded places (e.g., public transportation, buses, trains)
The disorder causes significant disturtbance in important areas of functioning
The disorder is not explained by any other mental disorder
Substance/medication induced anxiety disorder
Selective mutism
Failure to speak in certain situations in which there is an expectation for speaking(e.g., school) but is able to speak at home
The failure to speak is not due to lack of knowledge or language impairment
The duration lasts atleast a month
The disorder does not occur during the course of autism spectrum disorder , schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder
Specific phobia
Persistent fear of a certain object or situation(e.g., fear of heights, fear of animals)
The fear or avoidance behavior lasts atleast for six months
The fear is out of proportion to the actual stressor
The fear causes significant functional impairment
Anxiety due to another medical condition
Unspecified anxiety disorder
References Hamilton JL, Potter CM, Olino TM, Abramson LY, Heimberg RG, Alloy LB (2016). "The Temporal Sequence of Social Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Following Interpersonal Stressors During Adolescence" . J Abnorm Child Psychol . 44 (3): 495–509. doi :10.1007/s10802-015-0049-0 . PMC 4701637 PMID 26142495 . Kouros CD, Quasem S, Garber J (2013). "Dynamic temporal relations between anxious and depressive symptoms across adolescence" . Dev. Psychopathol . 25 (3): 683–97. doi :10.1017/S0954579413000102 . PMC 4586116 PMID 23880385 .