Fear syndrome

The fear syndrome in this syndrome individuals are hypersensitive to events that signal threat or danger. This behavioural coping style is characterized by the desire to flee and escape the perceived dangers and threats and feelings of anxiety and fear. 

An abstinence syndrome after long-term, low-dose treatment has also been described (Busto et al. 1986a Covi et al. 1973 Petursson and Lader 1981b Tyrer et al. 1981). Reported symptoms include muscle twitching, abnormal perception of movement, depersonalization or derealization, anxiety, headache, insomnia, diaphoresis, difficulty concentrating, tremor, fear, fatigue, lowered threshold to perception of sensory stimuh, and dysphoria. 

Neuropsychiatric diseases Hyperventilation Panic fear attacks Globus hystericus Anaphylaxis factitia Hoigne syndrome Epileptic cramps Apoplectic insult... 

Maier, SF (1993) Learned helplessness, relationships with fear and anxiety. In Stress from Synapse to Syndrome (Eds Stanford, SC and Salmon, P), Academic Press, London and New York, pp. 207-243. 

Most displayed decreased blood cholinesterase activity. Many were observed to have affective syndromes (anxiety, fear, aggression), sometimes accompanied by symptoms of depression. Disruption of memory was noted. Vision problems are also caused by long-term contact with OPPs [A64]. In cotton growing regions with intensive OPP use, the number of spontaneous miscarriages and stillbirths was higher than elsewhere [3]. 

Essentially this is a four-component definition. First, the person has to have panic attacks. Second, these attacks should not be caused by a substance or general medical condition, or be accounted for by another mental disorder. Third, at least two of these panic attacks have to be unexpected. Fourth, they should lead to a clinical syndrome that includes concern about additional attacks, worry about the consequences of panic, or significant behavioral change as a result of fear of panicking. This syndrome is the heart of panic disorder, and taxometric analyses would focus on it. However, an investigator should deal with the other components first. 

Cessation of chronic cannabis use is known to produce a withdrawal syndrome consisting of restlessness, irritability, insomnia, nausea, and muscle cramping (table 10.9) (O Brien 1996). However, this syndrome is only seen in people who use high daily amounts and then suddenly stop (O Brien 1996). These symptoms are not usually seen in clinical populations, and frequent users of cannabis are not driven by a fear to avoid a withdrawal syndrome as seen in opioid addiction. 

Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of panic attacks that occur spontaneously and lead to persistent worry about subsequent attacks and/or behavioral changes intended to minimize the likelihood of further attacks. Sporadic panic attacks are not limited, however, to those with syndromal panic disorder as they do occur occasionally in normal individuals and in those with other syndromal psychiatric disorders. The hallmark of panic disorder is that the panic attacks occur without warning in an unpredictable variety of settings, whereas panic attacks associated with other disorders typically occur in response to a predictable stimulus. For example, a person with acrophobia might experience a panic attack when on a glass elevator. A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with contamination fears may have a panic attack when confronted with the sight of refuse, and a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience a panic attack when a helicopter flies overhead or an automobile backfires. 

Panic disorders are sudden attacks of severe anxiety accompanied or even dominated by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, difficulty in breathing and a constrictive feeling in the chest, which can intensify the anxiety attack and put the subject m fear of his life. Panic attacks often arise spontaneously without detectable cause or are associated with particular situations such as being in a crowd, in a small, enclosed space or on an exposed street. Both syndromes can be treated successfully with benzodiazepines. Alternatives to tranquillizers include certain antidepressants, e.g. SSRIs, and non-drug therapeutic procedures (see below). 

Agoraphobia is fairly common as a side-effect of tranquillisers and also as part of the withdrawal syndrome for those who have been reducing on their own, and may be part of the reason why a client may say that she cannot come for an assessment. Persuasion is rarely effective, but recognition of the fears, reassurance that others have coped with their fears and come, and an invitation to bring a friend or discuss travel arrangements may help the client to make this important step. 

We have had clients who have previously withdrawn too abruptly and sought help in desperation for acute depression or other severe symptoms. The syndrome may be difficult to recognise if the client does not connect her symptoms with abrupt tranquilliser withdrawal. Alternative medication for symptomatic relief may confirm the client s and her family s fears that she is going mad or is about to die. 

These days researchers agree that we should aim to drink roughly eight glasses of water daily. This will increase our urine output, benefiting the kidneys and the bladder. For the few men who suffer from bashful bladder syndrome (the fear of urinating in public), this will pose a problem, but leave it to modern science to come up with an answer. A mathematical... 

T1 Increased fearfulness (both long term and short term) about becoming a victim of violence—often referred to as the mean world syndrome. ... 

Overdose is common amongst users (up to 22% of heavy users report losing consciousness). The desired euphoria and excitement turns to acute fear, with psychotic symptoms, convulsions, hypertension, haemorrhagic storke, tachycardia, arrhythmias, hyperthermia coronary vasospasm (sufficient to present as the acute coronary syndrome with chest pain and myocardial infarction) may occur, and acute left ventricular dysfunction. Treatment is chosen according to the clinical picture (and the known mode of action), from amongst, e.g. haloperidol (rather than chlorpromazine) for mental disturbance diazepam for convulsions a vasodilator, e.g. a calcium channel blocker, for hypertension glyceryl trinitrate for myocardial ischaemia (but not a p-... 

Dependence need not be feared. Both physical and psychological dependence occurs, but the latter to only a small degree compared with drug abuse or other chronic pain syndromes. The... 

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