The PsychProfiler is an online psychology assessment that screens for anxiety disorders in children and adults, including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. The Child and Adolescent PsychProfiler (CAPP) allows for three separate respondents when screening – i.e., the child or adolescent, the parent, and the teacher. The Adult PsychProfiler (APP) allows for two separate respondents when screening – i.e., the adult and an observer (e.g., spouse, parent, etc).
What is anxiety?
Some worry is normal, however, ongoing worry that detrimentally interferes with school, work and/or relationships may be a sign of anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental health conditions in Australia and manifest in many ways.
The PsychProfiler assessment screens for some of the most common types of anxiety disorders, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobia.
Types of anxiety disorders that the PsychProfiler screens for:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is characterised by persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about various domains (e.g., school performance or social activities) that the individual finds difficult to control. This persistent and excessive anxiety and worry leads to the individual experiencing physical symptoms of GAD, such as restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscular tension, and sleep disturbance.
People with generalised anxiety disorder often worry about multiple concerns for a prolonged period. They may worry uncontrollably about something, even if they know it is OK, or will have concerns that reduce their day-to-day function but can’t quite put their finger on what the issue actually is.
Panic Disorder (PanD)
Panic Disorder symptoms often manifest as panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of fear that can come on unexpectedly at any time. Panic Disorder may be diagnosed when a person has had more than one panic attack. Panic attacks tend to present with an increased heart rate, sense of danger, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath or feeling suffocated, dizziness or faintness, fear of losing control, or fear of dying. Generally, a panic attack will last 5-10 minutes, although for some people the symptoms can last hours.
There is a link between panic attacks and phobias, although they can also occur seemingly out of the blue. People with panic disorder may have experienced a big life change such as losing a loved one, having a baby, or separating from a partner. Completing an anxiety test, like the PsychProfiler, is a helpful first step in anxiety diagnosis – get started here.
Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Separation Anxiety Disorder is characterised by developmentally inappropriate excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from home or attachment figures. Generally, children will become accustomed to time away from close caregivers by about age three.
Separation anxiety disorder is diagnosed when an individual’s anxiety seems more intense and prolonged and is interfering with school, work, or the ability to focus on daily activities. Individuals with SAD experience excessive recurrent distress when they anticipate separation from home or major attachment figures. Individuals will often worry about the well-being or death of their attachment figures, and worry about untoward events to themselves (e.g., getting lost, being kidnapped).
Adults and adolescents can also have separation anxiety disorder with similar symptoms to children. When adults with separation anxiety are away from loved ones, it can lead to being an overbearing partner, friend, or parent. It may also manifest in panic attacks, bouts of depression, withdrawal from social situations or physical symptoms such as headaches and/or stomach aches. If individuals go without diagnosis and treatment, these symptoms often have a large impact on everyday life, as well as their personal relationships. If you display symptoms of SAD, the PsychProfiler anxiety test can help you start the journey to diagnosis and treatment, get started here.
Specific Phobia (SP)
Specific Phobia is characterised by clinically significant and persistent anxiety provoked by exposure to a specific feared object or situation. A phobia is an intense or irrational fear reaction. It is likely to be a very specific fear, whereas generalised anxiety disorders are more overarching. The fear could be a certain place, object, or situation. Most people with specific phobia know their fear may be irrational but cannot help feeling panicked, anxious, or frightened anyway. Phobias that interfere with school, work, relationships, and daily activities are a cause for treatment – identify a path toward diagnosis and treatment with the PsychProfiler psychological assessment.
Common phobias include agoraphobia (extreme fear of places you can’t escape from), social phobias (severe social anxiety), acrophobia (extreme fear of heights), claustrophobia (extreme fear of confined spaces) or aviophobia (extreme fear of flying). This can manifest similarly to a panic attack with a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, hyperventilating, and a sense of doom.
What is PsychProfiler?
The PsychProfiler screens for 20 of the most common psychiatric, psychological, and educational disorders in children, adolescents and adults. It is based on the DSM-5 and can be used by individuals, parents, and practitioners to aid in the diagnosis of disorders by professionals.
Learn more about PsychProfiler here.
