Psychology of Anxiety and Other Related Disorders

Anxiety is a common human experience, but when it begins to interfere with daily life, understanding its clinical roots becomes essential. This comprehensive course explores the complex world of anxiety disorders, providing learners with an understanding of how these conditions are defined, diagnosed, and treated in the modern world. You will dive deep into the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic frameworks to examine conditions such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, specific phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Beyond simply identifying symptoms, the curriculum investigates the biological foundations of anxiety, including the role of the autonomic nervous system and the four components of anxiety.

This course also emphasizes the human and global side of mental health by discussing the prevalence of anxiety worldwide and how demographic and cultural factors influence diagnosis. You will learn the importance of using person-first language to combat stigma and how to navigate the roles of distress, impairment, and danger in psychological disorders. To ensure a forward-looking perspective, the course covers primary treatment methods and explains how cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality (VR) and mobile health apps are used by therapists to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Whether you are a student of psychology, a healthcare professional, or an individual seeking to understand mental health better, this course provides the scientific foundation and cultural competence necessary to understand the true nature of anxiety-related psychopathology. 

Learning objectives

• Define psychopathology and psychological disorder.

• Explain the role distress, impairment, and danger play in psychological disorders.

• Discuss stigma and the use of person-first language.

• Describe the process of diagnosis using the DSM-5-TR or the ICD-11.

• Discuss cultural issues in diagnosis.

• Identify the global prevalence of anxiety.

• Discuss demographic and cultural factors that influence the prevalence of anxiety.

• List the four components of anxiety.

• Describe the components of the autonomic nervous system.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for each of the disorders that involve anxiety.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for generalized anxiety disorder.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for panic disorder.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for specific phobias.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for social anxiety disorder.

• Discuss the diagnostic criteria, prevalence, contributing factors, and cultural influences for Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Describe the primary treatments for disorders that involve anxiety.

• Explain how technologies such as mobile apps and virtual reality can aid in treating anxiety disorders.