Specifically altered brain responses to threat in generalized anxiety disorder relative to social anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite considerable effort, the neurobiological underpinnings of hyper-responsive threat processing specific to patients suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) remain poorly understood. The current functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study aims to delineate GAD-specific brain activity during immediate threat processing by comparing GAD patients to healthy controls (HC), to social anxiety disorder (SAD) and to panic disorder (PD) patients.

Method

Brain activation and functional connectivity patterns to threat vs. neutral pictures were investigated using event-related fMRI. The sample consisted of 21 GAD, 21 PD, 21 SAD and 21 HC.

Results

GAD-specific elevated activity to threat vs. neutral pictures was found in cingulate cortex, dorsal an

SUBMITTER: Buff C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5065042 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature