AnxietyBy: Alondra Martinez, Evon Pavon, and Brenda Ramirez

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders include disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related

behavioral disturbances.

Diagnostic Criteria

Diagnostic Features• The essential feature of separation anxiety disorder is

excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from home or attachment figures.

• They experience at least three of the following criteria:-recurrent excessive distress when separation from home or major attachment figures is anticipated or occurs-worrying about the well-being or death of attachment figures, particularly when separated from them they need to know the whereabouts of their attachment figures and they want to stay in touch with them-worry about untoward events to themselvesEx. GETTING LOST, BEING KIDNAPPED, OR HAVING AN ACCIDENT…that would keep them from being reunited with the person

Prevalence(prevalence- the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time…you’re welcome.)

The 12-month prevalence of separation anxiety disorder among different age groups in the United States:- Adults: 0.9%-1.9%- Children: 6-12 month prevalence approx. 4%- Adolescents: 1.6% Most prevalent anxiety disorder in children younger than

12 years Community: disorder is more frequent in females

Development and CoursePeriods of heightened separation anxiety from

attachment figures are part of NORMAL early development and may indicate the development of secure attachment relationships

Ex. At 1 year of age when infants may suffer from stranger anxiety

-May be as early as preschool age and may occur at any time during childhood and more rarely in adolescence

Culture-Related Diagnostic Issues/Gender Features

• There are cultural variations in the degree to which it is considered desirable to tolerate separation so that demands and opportunities for separation between parents and children are avoided in some cultures

• There is a wide variation across countries and cultures with respect to the age at which it is expected that offspring should leave the parental home

Girls manifest greater reluctance to attend or avoidance of school

Indirect expression of fear of separation may be more common in males than in females

Risks & Prognostic Features

Environmental- Separation anxiety disorder often develops after life stress especially a lossEx. The death of a relative or pet ..or a change of schoolsYoung Adults: leaving the parental home or entering a romantic relationshipGenetic and Physiological- separation in children may be heritable -heritability was estimated at 73%

Differential Diagnosis

• Separation anxiety disorder is distinguished from generalized anxiety disorder in that the anxiety predominantly concerns separation from attachment figures, and if other worries occur, they do not predominate the clinical picture.

Jessica Alba-Los Angeles, California-Diagnosed at age 25Jessica Alba was born in Pomona, California on April 28, 1981. At the age of 12 she took her first acting class. She’s a smart, beautiful mother and wife. She has a complex mind which most wouldn’t expect.

What Do We Think?• Anxiety is most common in girls and is an

uncontrollable disorder. Having an anxiety disorder is very overwhelming and you must be very careful with how you deal with this disorder.

#ThankYouForListening

#HairFlip