Anxiety Disorders for the NCLEX: Types and Nursing Interventions

Levels of Anxiety

• Mild: Increased awareness, enhanced learning. No intervention needed
• Moderate: Narrowed perception, can still learn with guidance
• Severe: Greatly reduced perception, cannot learn, focus on one detail
• Panic: Complete loss of rational thought, may be immobilized or hyperactive. Safety priority

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Excessive worry about everyday things for ≥6 months
• Muscle tension, sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating, irritability
• Treatment: SSRIs, buspirone (non-addictive), CBT

Panic Disorder

• Recurrent unexpected panic attacks: chest pain, palpitations, SOB, dizziness, feeling of impending doom
• Nursing: stay with client, speak in short simple sentences, reduce stimuli, breathing techniques

Phobias

• Irrational fear of specific object or situation
• Treatment: systematic desensitization (gradual exposure), CBT

OCD

• Obsessions (intrusive thoughts) + compulsions (repetitive behaviors to reduce anxiety)
• Do NOT interrupt rituals suddenly - increases anxiety
• Treatment: SSRIs (fluvoxamine, fluoxetine), CBT with exposure and response prevention

Study at Psychosocial study guide and Psychiatric Nursing cheat sheet.