Question

Characterize the symptoms associated with: 1) illness anxiety disorder, 2) panic disorder, and 3) somatic symptom disorder. Describe areas of overlap among these three disorders and their distinguishing features. What role does anxiety play in the development and maintenance of each of these disorders? If different, how are the underlying anxiety issues addressed in the treatment of these disorders?

Answer 1

• llness anxiety disorder symptoms-patients become preoccupied with the thought that they are suffering from some medical condition,they would show signs of extreme worry,make frequent visits to the doctor. This disorder involves inaccurate perceptions about ones medical condition.
• Ilness anxiety is different from somatic symptom disorder, with somatic disorder the person may have some physical pain or symptom but no medical cause is found.
• Panic disorder happens when a person experiences a spontaneous panic attack without any reason just out of the blue and becomes preoccupied withthe thought of having another attack.
• Anti anxiety medications help reduce symptoms of anxiety,panic or extreme worry. Benzodiazepines are first line medications for anxiety and with panic they are second line treatments behind antidepressents.
• CBT,stress managemnt techniques,psychotherapy all these techniques are also used to treat anxiety disorders.