Anxiety in Adults

Clinical anxiety is defined within the context of feelings experienced by a person (Lane, Terry, & Karageorghis, 1995, pp. 1255-1266). At one level, anxiety is defined as a feeling of mingled dread and apprehension about a person's future where no specific cause for such dread and apprehension is present. At another level anxiety is defined as a chronic feeling of fear by a person. This feeling may be mild in intensity or the feeling fear may be overwhelming for the person so affected. Anxiety also may be a secondary drive involving an acquired avoidance response. In this latter context, when in the presence of the conditioning stimulus, a person will display behavior that may be interpreted as evidence of the presence of anxiety. Such behavior may include spontaneous urination, spontaneous defecation, and an attempt to flee, among other actions.

Four general criteria establish the existence of anxiety (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, pp. 393-444). These criteria are as follows:

1. A person must experience feelings of apprehension or anxiousness to establish the presence of anxiety.

2. To establish the presence of anxiety, a person must not be able to attribute the feelings of apprehension or

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e potential implications or consequences of the panic attacks; or 3) A significant behavioral change related to the panic attacks. c. No physical or medical reason is present to explain the occurrence of the panic attacks. d. The occurrence of the panic attacks is not better accounted for by another mental disorder. e. Panic disorder is further distinguished as "without agoraphobia" or "with agoraphobia." The required conditions for the "without agoraphobia" case are as stated in "a" through "d" above. The required conditions for the "with agoraphobia" case are as stated in "a" through "d" above and the conditions for Agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder stated in the following section. 2. Agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder: a. The presence of incapacitating panic-like symptoms or limited symptom attacks associated with a place from which escape might be difficult; or b. The presence of incapacitating panic-like symptoms or limited symptom attacks associated with a place from which escape might be extremely embarrassing. 3. Specific phobia: a. The presence of a marked and persistent fear of clearly discernible objects or situations; or b. An invariant and immediate anxiety response
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