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Anxiety disorders

Separation
Anxiety disorder

Differential diagnosis
Anxiety predominantly concerns separation from
attachment figures in SAD, they do not predominate the
clinical picture as in GAD.
Unlike panic attacks, anxiety concerns the possibility of
unexpected events and being away from attachment figure
rather than anxiety due to unexpected panic attacks.
Unlike agoraphobics, those with SAD are not anxious
about being trapped or incapacitated in situations from
which escape is perceived difficult.
Unlike social phobia, social refusal is due to separation
from attachment figure not due to fear of being judged.

Selective
mutism

Social anxiety and avoidance may be associated with it. In


such cases both diagnosis may be given.
Selective mutism is different from communication
disorders because it is related to specific social situations.

Specific phobia

If individual fears one of the agoraphobic situations then it


will be specific phobia, but if two or more agoraphobic
situations are feared, a diagnosis for agoraphobia is
warranted.
If situations are feared due to negative evaluation then
social anxiety disorder should be diagnosed.
If fear of separation from attachment figure, then
separation anxiety disorder should be diagnosed.

Social anxiety
disorder (social
phobia)

Unlike agoraphobia, fear is about scrutiny by others and


individuals remain calm when left alone.
Individuals with SAD may have panic attacks but the
concern is about fear of negative evaluation not about the
panic attack themselves like in panic disorder.
Unlike separation anxiety, social phobic individuals dont
feel comfortable in social settings even if the closet or
attachment figure is there.
Individuals with selective mutism may fail to speak
because of fear of negative evaluation but not in social
situations like social phobia.
Individuals with specific phobia do not generally fear
negative evaluations.

Panic disorder

Other or specified anxiety disorders are only labeled if


full symptoms (unexpected) have never been experienced.
If panic attacks are due to some intake of medicine then
medicine-induced anxiety disorder is not labeled as
panic disorder

Panic attack
specifier

Repeated unexpected panic attacks are required but should


be enough to fulfill the criteria for panic disorder
If similar condition is due to some physiological condition
then it is related to anxiety due to medical condition
If panic attack is due to some intake of drugs then it is
substance induced anxiety disorder.

Agoraphobia

At least two or more situations should be feared from


amongst the agoraphobic situations or objects to
distinguish it from Specific phobia which requires only
one.
Separation anxiety disorder is separated from
agoraphobia by examining cognitive ideation (thoughts
about separation from attachment figure)
Panic attack disorder will only be diagnosed with attacks
that are for more than one or two agoraphobic situations.

Generalized
anxiety disorder

If medicine is judged to be etiologically related to anxiety


then it is Substance/Medication Induced Anxiety
Disorder

Unlike individuals with social phobia, they feel anxiety


whether or not they are being judged.
Substance/Medic If there are any physiological consequences of medication
then anxiety is due to other medical condition rather than
ation Induced
Anxiety Disorder the drug itself

Anxiety disorder
due to another
medical
condition

If anxiety is due to withdrawal from a drug or exposure to


toxin then a substance/medication-induced anxiety
disorder should be considered.

Other specified
anxiety disorder

When some of the criteria for anxiety disorders are


fulfilled and some are not, reason is ruled out and in this
situation, clinician chooses to communicate the specific
reason.
Full criteria is not met for anxiety disorders but distress in
individuals life is caused, also the clinician chooses not to
specify the reason as it includes insufficient information to
make a more specific diagnoses.

Unspecified
anxiety disorder

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