Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes
Jahangir Moini, Matthew Adams, Anthony LoGalbo in Complications of Diabetes Mellitus, 2022
Anxiety and actual anxiety disorders usually respond very well to treatment. Even so, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, only about 36% of people are treated. Since anxiety as well as depression are linked to higher risks for premature death, treatment should occur. Cognitive-behavioral therapy that incorporates relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation is often very effective and can be used along with medications. The individual patient learns to identify and understand his or her anxious thoughts and behaviors, and then change or modify them toward reducing their anxiety and worry. Relaxation strategies can also be very effective in managing physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, breathing rate, and muscle tension. Guided imagery, where a patient imagines a calm and peaceful scene or performs a “body scan” technique while engaging in slow diaphragmatic breathing and focusing on releasing tension in various muscle groups, can be useful in this regard. Medications include antidepressants and antianxiety drugs, most of which are compatible with diabetes medications. It is important that the physician assess the extent of the patient’s diabetes and complications when determining the correct medications that should be used for anxiety.
Neurofeedback in Combination with Psychotherapy
Hanno W. Kirk in Restoring the Brain, 2020
People with anxiety disorders are up to three times more likely to suffer an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder than those without an anxiety disorder. Studies have shown that problem drinking is more prevalent in patients with anxiety disorders. Because the suffering with these disorders is substantial, anxiety disorders should not go untreated. An additional problem is that long-term alcohol abuse usually means building a tolerance to its effects. This results in increased alcohol consumption to get the desired result. Therefore, what begins as a way to cope with anxiety can quickly have the opposite effect of increasing anxiety. Problem drinking leads to alcohol withdrawal, known as a “hangover.” The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include anxiety and panic attacks, besides other possible symptoms such as agitation, nausea, vomiting, elevated blood pressure, elevated heart rate, and increased body temperature. These symptoms tend to create a cycle of heightened anxiety and increased problem drinking.42,43,44
Sleep Disturbances and Mental Disorders
Zippi Dolev, Mordechai Zalesch, Judy Kupferman in Sleep and Women's Health, 2019
There are several types of anxiety disorders: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Continuous and exaggerated worrying about almost every occurrence in life.Panic attacks: Short and strong attacks characterized by an acute sense of fear, loss of control, and at times even the fear of a heart attack or of going crazy. In addition, physical symptoms such as accelerated heartbeat, sweating, and trembling may appear.Phobia: Excessive fear of an object or a situation such as animals, flights, elevators, speaking in public, crowded places, and heights, which leads to avoidance.Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Obsessive thoughts and uncontrolled repetitive behavior, such as extremely long hand washing to prevent contracting a disease, repetitive checks of locked doors or switched off ovens.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy as a Treatment Method Against Anxiety Disorders and Depression-A Structured Literature Review
Published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 2023
Omar Hawajri, Jennifer Lindberg, Sakari Suominen
Anderson et al. (2013) and Carl et al. (2019) have in vivo and VRET shown a reduction in symptoms of anxiety disorders such as social anxiety and PTSD, but VRET has been a more acceptable, preferable, and effective alternative in comparison to in vivo. These may be the treatment methods that work most effectively as a health-promoting measure for adults suffering from anxiety disorders, even if the patient’s disease picture significantly impacts the treatment results. Kampmann et al. (2016) have compared the treatment VRET and in vivo to reduce symptoms of social anxiety; both groups showed significant reductions in symptoms from pre- to post- assessment, but post- and follow-up assessments in vivo therapy resulted in a more substantial decrease in symptoms of social anxiety and improvements that were not achieved with VRET. In vivo exposure also reduced the fear of other people’s negative thoughts about themselves, improved their ability to speak in front of others, and improved general anxiety, depression, and improved quality of life compared to those in WL. Bouchard et al. (2018) have compared the treatment methods VRET and in vivo but have also compared these with CBT, aiming to reduce social anxiety disorders. The results showed that VRET could be beneficial as a treatment method over the standard CBT method; unlike other studies, VRET could be even more beneficial compared to in vivo, as it could be more cost-effective and applicable than in vivo exposure.
The role of vitamin D in depression and anxiety disorders: a review of the literature
Published in Nutritional Neuroscience, 2023
Karisa Renteria, Hien Nguyen, Gar Yee Koh
Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders that affect U.S. adults today [1]. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global prevalence rates of both disorders increased significantly [2]. Individuals struggling with mental illness are at an increased risk of developing a physical health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke [3–5]. Conversely, individuals living with a chronic medical condition are at higher risk of experiencing symptoms of depression, compared to their healthy peers [6]. The debilitating symptoms of depressive disorders include feelings of hopelessness, anhedonia, insomnia and/or oversleeping, appetite/weight changes, and suicidal ideation [7]. Anxiety disorders are characterized by symptoms such as increased sense of nervousness, persistent worrying, fatigue, sleep disturbances, trouble breathing, and chest pain [8]. The use of psychotropic medications, a common treatment option for these disorders, continue to rise among US adults aged 18 and over [9]. Risk of harmful side effects and the inconsistent efficacy of these medications has resulted in a growing number of individuals turning to complementary and alternative medicine, which has prompted rigorous evaluation [10,11]. Some common treatments include St. John's wort, omega-3 fatty acids, physical activity, and light therapy. In addition to these remedies, vitamin D (VD) status and gut microbiota have been linked to depressive and anxiety disorders.
Effectiveness of an Eight-Week Multidisciplinary Selective Mutism Treatment Group
Published in Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 2023
Jaclyn T. Aldrich, Jennifer B. Blossom, Ashley Moss, Brenda Ray, Marcy Couckuyt, Tracey Ward, Andrew R. Fox, Kendra L. Read
Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder typically diagnosed during childhood, characterized as a consistent failure to speak in social situations where speaking is expected (e.g., school) despite speaking in other situations (e.g., home; American Psychological Association [APA], 2013). Children with SM have impairments in educational, occupational, and other social situations that often do not remit in the absence of intervention. Anxiety disorders, as a whole, pose a significant mental health burden if left untreated. SM itself represents a less prevalent disorder requiring further investigation of treatment approaches (Muris & Ollendick, 2015). In recent years however, behavior-focused interventions have emerged as an effective option for treating SM, allowing clinicians to begin exploring optimal methods for care delivery. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief weekly group treatment approach as an option for SM treatment.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Hypochondriasis
- Panic Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Mental Disorder
- Fear
- Specific Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder