Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a chronic state of excessive, uncontrollable anxiety and worry about a number of different events and activities. Generalized anxiety co-occurs with depression at very high rates and shares the same genetic risk factors. After an overview of this disorder, its developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorder within the fast-slow-defense (FSD) model. The author concludes that GAD can be classified as a defense activation (D-type) condition.

Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses social anxiety disorder (SAD) or “social phobia”, a condition marked by persistent fears and/or anxieties about social situations (including public speaking and other types of performance) that expose the person to scrutiny by others. After an overview of this disorder, its developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorder within the fast-slow-defense (FSD) model. The author concludes that SAD can be classified as a defense activation (D-type) condition.


Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a severe, prolonged response to witnessing or experiencing traumatic events that may manifest with a variety of cognitive, affective, and physiological symptoms, from irritability and hypervigilance to recurrent dreams and flashbacks. After an overview of this disorder, its developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorder within the fast-slow-defense (FSD) model. The author concludes that PTSD can be classified as a defense activation (D-type) condition.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 619-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Mather ◽  
Victoria Blom ◽  
Gunnar Bergström ◽  
Pia Svedberg

Depression and anxiety are highly comorbid due to shared genetic risk factors, but less is known about whether burnout shares these risk factors. We aimed to examine whether the covariation between major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and burnout is explained by common genetic and/or environmental factors. This cross-sectional study included 25,378 Swedish twins responding to a survey in 2005–2006. Structural equation models were used to analyze whether the trait variances and covariances were due to additive genetics, non-additive genetics, shared environment, and unique environment. Univariate analyses tested sex limitation models and multivariate analysis tested Cholesky, independent pathway, and common pathway models. The phenotypic correlations were 0.71 (0.69–0.74) between MDD and GAD, 0.58 (0.56–0.60) between MDD and burnout, and 0.53 (0.50–0.56) between GAD and burnout. Heritabilities were 45% for MDD, 49% for GAD, and 38% for burnout; no statistically significant sex differences were found. A common pathway model was chosen as the final model. The common factor was influenced by genetics (58%) and unique environment (42%), and explained 77% of the variation in MDD, 69% in GAD, and 44% in burnout. GAD and burnout had additive genetic factors unique to the phenotypes (11% each), while MDD did not. Unique environment explained 23% of the variability in MDD, 20% in GAD, and 45% in burnout. In conclusion, the covariation was explained by an underlying common factor, largely influenced by genetics. Burnout was to a large degree influenced by unique environmental factors not shared with MDD and GAD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (03) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
TERRIE E. MOFFITT ◽  
AVSHALOM CASPI ◽  
HONALEE HARRINGTON ◽  
BARRY J. MILNE ◽  
MARIA MELCHIOR ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses panic disorder and agoraphobia. Panic disorder is defined by recurring panic attacks, dramatic episodes in which a surge of autonomic activity is accompanied by rapidly escalating levels of fear and distress. Agoraphobia is the persistent fear of open or confined spaces, which often develops as a secondary response to panic attacks. After an overview of these disorders, their developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorders within the FSD model. The author concludes that panic and agoraphobia can be classified as defense activation (D-type) conditions.


Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses specific phobias, one of the most common categories of psychopathology. Phobias are exaggerated fears of particular objects of situations, from animals and heights to flying and being exposed to blood, injections, and injuries. After an overview of these disorders, their developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorders within the fast-slow-defense (FSD) model. The author concludes that phobias can be classified as defense activation (D-type) conditions.


Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice

The chapter discusses autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is defined by a triad of symptoms: impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors and interests. After an overview of this disorder, its developmental features, and the main risk factors identified in the epidemiological literature, the chapter critically reviews existing evolutionary models and suggests new directions for research. The final section applies the criteria developed earlier in the book to classify the disorder within the fast-slow-defense (FSD) model and identify functionally distinct subtypes. The author proposes to distinguish between a slow spectrum subtype with normal or high IQ and a major role of common alleles (S-ASD) and a subtype unrelated to life history variation, with high rates of intellectual disability and a major role of rare and de novo mutations (O-ASD).


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