Overview
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State v's trait:
Each individual has typical enduring tendencies to react anxiously or not, and this is referred to as trait anxiety. At times people may experience anxiety because of specific experiences and this is termed state anxiety. Enduring tendencies to experience problematic anxiety may stem from early relationships in childhood, and be understood in terms of personality development or may be a product of genetic/ biological predisposition. High trait anxiety will mean that an individual is particularly vulnerable to experiencing high state anxiety in stressful situations. The perceived threat or danger prompting anxiety can be physical or social, where people experience a threat to their social and/or emotional well being.
Origins:
Anxiety problems are typically found to have physiological, behavioural and cognitive aspects. People tend to avoid situations in which they have become anxious. This avoidance is reinforced (by the principle of negative reinforcement) since anxiety is reduced. However, avoidance increases the likelihood that anxiety will be experienced in similar situations in the future. People also tend to have negative, anxiety provoking thoughts and images (cognitions) about such situations and about their own physiological reactions. Pathological anxiety may occur as a component of specific anxiety disorders, other psychiatric disorders or physical illnesses. The total point prevalence for anxiety disorders is 4.5% (GAD 2.5%; OCD 0.05%). Anxiety problems account for about 27% of GP consultations for emotional difficulties. The overall sex ratio (M:F) for anxiety disorders is between 1:2 and 2:3 with a peak age of onset between the ages of 25 and 44.
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