(70) Anxiety

Rating Scales

Anxiety Disorders Self-Test for Family Members

How much anxiety is too much? Ask a family member to answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions by circling the appropriate answer next to each question; show the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s an anxiety disorder?

Yes or No? Are you troubled by:

Yes No Repeated, unexpected panic attacks, during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort for no apparent reason, or the fear of having another panic attack?

Yes No Persistent, inappropriate thoughts, impulses or images that you can’t get out of your mind (such as a preoccupation with getting dirty, worry about the order of things, or aggressive or sexual impulses)?

Yes No Powerful and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people?

Yes No Excessive worrying, for six months or more, about a number of events or activities?

Yes No Fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on a bridge?

Yes No Shortness of breath or a racing heart for no apparent reason?

Yes No Persistent and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, blood, etc.?

Yes No Being unable to travel alone?

Yes No Spending too much time each day doing things over and over again (for example, hand-washing, checking things, or counting)?

More days than not, do you:

Yes No Feel restless?

Yes No Feel easily tired distracted?

Yes No Feel irritable?

Yes No Have tense muscles or problems sleeping?

Yes No Have you experienced or witnessed a traumatic event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury to yourself or a loved one (for example, military combat, a violent crime or a serious car accident)?

Yes No Does your anxiety interfere with your daily life?

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Illnesses that sometimes complicate anxiety disorders include depression and substance abuse. With this in mind, please take a minute to answer the following questions:

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

If you or someone you know would like more information on helping a family member, please go to the ADAA resource page at www.adaa.org.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Self-Test

How much anxiety is too much? If you suspect that you might suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, complete the following self-test by circling “yes” or “no” next to each question, and showing the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s GAD?

Yes or No? Are you troubled by:

Yes No Excessive worry, occurring more days than not, for a least six months?

Yes No Unreasonable worries about a number of events or activities, such as work or school and/or health?

Yes No The inability to control the worry?

Are you bothered by any of the following?

Yes No Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge?

Yes No Being easily tired?

Yes No Problems concentrating?

Yes No Irritability?

Yes No Muscle tension?

Yes No Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or restless and unsatisfying sleep?

Yes No Does your anxiety interfere with your daily life?

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

If you or someone you know would like more information on generalized anxiety disorders, please go to the ADAA resource page on this topic at www.adaa.org.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

If you suspect obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the first step toward regaining control of your life is to seek help. Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions by circling the appropriate answer, and show the test to your health-care professional at your first visit.

Could it be OCD?

Yes or No?

Yes No Do you have unwanted ideas, images, or impulses that seem silly, nasty, or horrible?

Yes No Do you worry excessively about dirt, germs, or chemicals?

Yes No Are you constantly worried that something bad will happen because you forgot something important, like locking the door or turning off appliances?

Yes No Do you experience shortness of breathe?

Yes No Are you afraid you will act or speak aggressively when you really don’t want to?

Yes No Are you always afraid you will lose something of importance?

Yes No Are there things you feel you must do excessively or thoughts you must think repeatedly in order to feel comfortable?

Yes No Do you have “jelly” legs?

Yes No Do you wash yourself or things around you excessively?

Yes No Do you have to check things over and over again or repeat them many times to be sure they are done properly?

Yes No Do you avoid situations or people you worry about hurting by aggressive words or deeds?

Yes No Do you keep many useless things because you feel that you can’t throw them away?

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Illnesses that sometimes complicate an anxiety disorder include depression and substance abuse. With this in mind, please take a minute to answer the following questions:

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Panic Disorder Self-Test

If you suspect you may be suffering from panic disorder, complete the following self-test by circling “yes” or “no” next to each question. Show the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s panic disorder?

Yes or no? Are you troubled by:

Yes No Repeated, unexpected “attacks” during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort, for no apparent reason?

If yes, during this attack, did you experience any of these symptoms?

Yes No Pounding heart

Yes No Sweating

Yes No Trembling or shaking

Yes No Shortness of breath

Yes No Choking

Yes No Chest pain

Yes No Nausea or abdominal discomfort

Yes No “Jelly” legs

Yes No Dizziness

Yes No Feelings of unreality or being detached from you

Yes No Fear of dying

Yes No Numbness or tingling sensations

Yes No Chills or hot flashes

Yes No Do you experience a fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on a bridge?

Yes No Does being unable to travel without a companion trouble you?

For at least one month following an attack, have you:

Yes No Felt persistent concern about having another one?

Yes No Worried about having a heart attack or going “crazy”?

Yes No Changed your behavior to accommodate the attack?

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Phobia Self-Test

Phobias-illogical yet powerful fears-affect more than one in eight Americans at some time. Phobias are the most common kind of anxiety disorder. If you suspect that you might suffer from a phobia, complete the following self-test by circling “yes” or “no” next to each question. Show the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s a phobia?

Yes or no? Are you troubled by:

Yes No Powerful and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people?

Yes No Fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on a bridge?

Yes No Shortness of breath or a racing heart for no apparent reason?

Yes No Persistent and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, blood, etc.?

Yes No Being unable to travel alone, without a companion?

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Uninterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Self-Test

If you suspect that you might suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder, complete the following self-test by circling “yes or “no” next to each question. Show the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s PTSD?

Yes or No?

Yes No Have you experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event that caused intense fear, helplessness or horror?

Do you reexperience the event in at least one of the following ways?

Yes No Repeated, distressing memories and/or dreams?

Yes No Acting or feeling as if the event were happening again (flashbacks or a sense of reliving it)?

Yes No Intense physical and/or emotional distress when you are exposed to things that remind you of the event?

Do you avoid reminders of the event and feel numb, compared to the way you felt before, in three or more of the following ways:

Yes No Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or conversations about it?

Yes No Avoiding activities, places, or people who remind you of it?

Yes No Blanking on important parts of it?

Yes No Losing interest in significant activities of your life?

Yes No Feeling detached from other people?

Yes No Feeling your range of emotions is restricted?

Yes No Sensing that your future has shrunk (for example, you don’t expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal life span)?

Are you troubled by any of the following?

Yes No Problems sleeping

Yes No Irritability or outbursts of anger

Yes No Problems concentrating

Yes No Feeling “on guard”

Yes No An exaggerated startle response

Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnosis and treat the different conditions. Illnesses that sometimes complicate an anxiety disorder include depression and substance abuse. With this in mind, please take a minute to answer the following questions:

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Social Phobia Self-Test

Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, affects more than 13% of Americans. It is a real and serious health problem that responds to treatment. The first step is seeking help. If you suspect that you might suffer from social phobia, complete the following self test by circling “yes” or “no” next to each question. Show the results to your health-care professional.

How can I tell if it’s social phobia?

Yes or no? Are you troubled by:

Yes No An intense and persistent fear of a social situation in which people might judge you?

Yes No Fear that you will be humiliated by your actions?

Yes No Fear that people will notice that you are blushing, sweating, trembling, or showing other signs of anxiety?

Yes No Knowing that your fear is excessive or unreasonable?

Does the feared situation cause you to:

Yes No Always feel anxious?

Yes No Experience a “panic attack,” during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort, including any of these symptoms?

Yes No Pounding heart

Yes No Sweating

Yes No Trembling or shaking

Yes No Shortness of breath

Yes No Choking

Yes No Chest pain

Yes No Nausea or abdominal discomfort

Yes No “Jelly” legs

Yes No Dizziness

Yes No Feelings of unreality or being detached from yourself

Yes No Fear of losing control, “going crazy”

Yes No Fear of dying

Yes No Numbness or tingling sensations

Yes No Chills or hot flashes

Yes No Go to great lengths to avoid participating in the feared situation?

Yes No Does all of this interfere with your daily life?

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs:

Yes No Resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?

Yes No Placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?

Yes No Gotten you arrested?

Yes No Continued despite causing problems for you and/or your loved ones?

Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents: A Self-Test

How much stress or worry is considered too much? Complete the following self-test by circling “yes” or “no” next to each question. Show the results to your health-care professional.

Is it an anxiety disorder?

Yes or No? As a teenager, are you troubled by:

Yes No Repeated, unexpected “attacks” during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort for no apparent reason, or the fear of having another panic attack?

Yes No Persistent, inappropriate thoughts, impulses or images that you can’t get out of your mind (such as a preoccupation with getting dirty or worry about the order of things)?

Yes No Distinct and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people?

Yes No Excessive worrying about a number of events or activities?

Yes No Fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on an elevator?

Yes No Shortness of breath or racing heart for no apparent reason?

Yes No Persistent and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as flying, heights, animals, blood, etc.?

Yes No Being unable to travel alone, without a companion?

Yes No Spending too much time each day doing things over and over again (for example, hand-washing, checking things, or counting)?

More days than not, do you:

Yes No Feel restless?

Yes No Feel easily fatigued or distracted?

Yes No Experience muscle tension or problems sleeping?

More days than not, do you feel:

Yes No Sad or depressed?

Yes No Disinterested in life?

Yes No Worthless or guilty?

Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?

Yes No Do you relive a traumatic event through thoughts, games, distressing dreams, or flashbacks?

Yes No Does your anxiety interfere with your daily life?

Anxiety Disorders in Children: A Test for Parents

If you think your child may have an anxiety disorder, please answer the following questions “Yes” or “No”. Show the results to your child’s health-care professional:

Yes No Does the child have a distinct and ongoing fear of social situations involving unfamiliar people?

Yes No Does the child worry excessively about a number of events or activities?

Yes No Does the child experience shortness of breath or a racing heart for no apparent reason?

Yes No Does the child experience age-appropriate social relationships with family members and other familiar people?

Yes No Does the child often appear anxious when interacting with her peers and avoid them?

Yes No Does the child have a persistent and unreasonable fear of an object or situation, such as flying, heights, or animals?

Yes No When the child encounters the feared object or situation, does he react by freezing, clinging, or having a tantrum?

Yes No Does the child worry excessively about her competence and quality of performance?

Yes No Does the child cry, have tantrums, or refuse to leave a family member or other familiar person when she must?

Yes No Has the child experienced a decline in classroom performance, refused to go to school, or avoided age appropriate social activities?

Yes No Does the child spend too much time each day doing things over and over again (for example, hand-washing, checking things, or counting)?

Yes No Does the child have exaggerated fears of people or events (e.g., burglars, kidnappers, car accidents) that might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on an elevator?

Yes No Does the child experience a high number of nightmares, headaches, or stomachaches?

Yes No Does the child repetitively reenact with toys scenes from a disturbing event?

Yes No Does the child redo tasks because of excessive dissatisfaction with less-than-perfect performance?