Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Section I Schizophrenia
- Section II Mood Disorders
- Section III Anxiety Disorders
- 13 Structural imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 14 Functional imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 15 Molecular imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 16 Structural imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 17 Functional imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 18 Molecular imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 19 Structural imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 20 Functional imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 21 Molecular imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 22 Neuroimaging of anxiety disorders: commentary
- Section IV Cognitive Disorders
- Section V Substance Abuse
- Section VI Eating Disorders
- Section VII Developmental Disorders
- Index
- References
21 - Molecular imaging of other anxiety disorders
from Section III - Anxiety Disorders
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 January 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Section I Schizophrenia
- Section II Mood Disorders
- Section III Anxiety Disorders
- 13 Structural imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 14 Functional imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 15 Molecular imaging of post-traumatic stress disorder
- 16 Structural imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 17 Functional imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 18 Molecular imaging of obsessive–compulsive disorder
- 19 Structural imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 20 Functional imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 21 Molecular imaging of other anxiety disorders
- 22 Neuroimaging of anxiety disorders: commentary
- Section IV Cognitive Disorders
- Section V Substance Abuse
- Section VI Eating Disorders
- Section VII Developmental Disorders
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Neuroimaging research is beginning to define functional anatomical correlates of both normal fear and anxiety as well as the pathological anxiety symptoms found in the anxiety disorders. These studies in humans are guided by molecular biology and behavioral neuroscience research utilizing animal models of fear and anxiety. Anatomical circuits and neurochemicals that may govern normal and abnormal fear and anxiety are beginning to emerge through convergence of both animal and human data. Current research seeks to understand how normal fear systems become dysregulated in clinical anxiety disorders.
This chapter reviews the neurochemical imaging literature in the anxiety disorders, focusing on key findings in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder (PD), social anxiety disorder (SAD; also referred to as social phobia) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). PTSD develops in a subgroup of individuals who experience a traumatic event (for example, a life-threatening situation), and is characterized by re-experiencing phenomena and intrusive memories related to a traumatic event, hyperarousal (for example, exaggerated startle), and avoidance and emotional numbing. Panic disorder is characterized by the recurrence of discrete panic attacks with the development of anticipatory anxiety and avoidance in between attacks. Panic attacks are the unprovoked, sudden onset of a constellation of psychological and physical symptoms that include intense fear or dread, a feeling of the need to escape, rapid heart beat or palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and diaphoresis. Social anxiety disorder consists of excessive embarrassment or humiliation in social situations that leads to behavioral avoidance and occupational or social impairment.
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- Information
- Understanding Neuropsychiatric DisordersInsights from Neuroimaging, pp. 295 - 307Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010