scholarly journals Neuroimaging in anxiety disorders

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-461 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Functional Neuroanatomy ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
Neuroimaging Techniques

Over the last few years, neuroimaging techniques have contributed greatly to the identification of the structural and functional neuroanatomy of anxiety disorders. The amygdala seems to be a crucial structure for fear and anxiety, and has consistently been found to be activated in anxiety-provoking situations. Apart from the amygdala, the insula and anterior cinguiate cortex seem to be critical, and ail three have been referred to as the "fear network." In the present article, we review the main findings from three major lines of research. First, we examine human models of anxiety disorders, including fear conditioning studies and investigations of experimentally induced panic attacks. Then we turn to research in patients with anxiety disorders and take a dose look at post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Finally, we review neuroimaging studies investigating neural correlates of successful treatment of anxiety, focusing on exposure-based therapy and several pharmacological treatment options, as well as combinations of both.

TMS in the study and treatment of anxiety disorders

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Greenberg ◽  
Sarah H. Lisanby
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Systematic Testing ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Current State ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Disorder Treatment

A few studies of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as an anxiety disorder treatment have been reported. In treatment studies, the focal application of TMS in the treatment of anxiety disorders has been guided by the present understanding of the neurocircuitry underlying these disorders. This article reviews the current state of the literature on the uses of TMS in the study and treatment of anxiety disorders, and discusses the implications for understanding their patho-etiology. Investigation of the possible therapeutic effects of repetitive TMS in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or any anxiety disorder remains at a preliminary stage. There have been promising initial observations in OCD, which require systematic testing in controlled studies. As far as PTSD is concerned, the available data suggest that additional TMS work is required. The observations need to be replicated in controlled settings to determine whether this approach will have value in treating anxiety disorders.

Ketamine’s dose-related effects on anxiety symptoms in patients with treatment refractory anxiety disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1302-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Glue ◽  
Natalie J Medlicott ◽  
Sarah Harland ◽  
Shona Neehoff ◽  
Bridie Anderson-Fahey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Resistant Depression

The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine has rapid onset activity in treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Due to similarities in brain network activity in depression and anxiety disorders, we hypothesized that ketamine might also be active in other refractory anxiety disorders. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of ketamine in 12 patients with refractory generalized anxiety disorder and/or social anxiety disorder who were not currently depressed, using an ascending single dose study design (0.25, 0.5, 1 mg/kg administered subcutaneously) at weekly intervals. Within 1 h of dosing, patients reported reduced anxiety, which persisted for up to seven days. A dose-response profile was noted for anxiolytic effects, dissociative side effects, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate, with minor changes at 0.25 mg/kg, and progressively greater and more durable changes at the higher doses. Ten of 12 patients were treatment responders at 0.5–1 mg/kg. Ketamine was safe and well tolerated in this population. Ketamine may be a potential therapeutic alternative for patients with refractory generalized anxiety disorder/social anxiety disorder. Along with its demonstrated effectiveness in patients with treatment-resistant depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, these data raise the intriguing possibility that ketamine may have broad efficacy in disorders characterized by negative emotional states, and that these disorders may share a common precipitating neurobiology.

scholarly journals Anxiety and DSM-5

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-246 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Clinical Neuroscience ◽  
Developmental Approach ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
Post Traumatic

The DSM-5 process, and the publication of DSM-5 in 2013, have had a considerable impact on the classification of anxiety disorders. Major changes included the reorganization of the chapter structure, individual groupings of disorders within each chapter from a life span viewpoint, and the use of specifiers. The DSM-5 chapter on anxiety disorders does not include obsessive-compulsive disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. The chapter itself now reflects a developmental approach. The text of each disorder has been enhanced with short sections on development and course, risk and prognostic factors, etc. It is expected that the reformulation of anxiety disorders in DSM-5 will lead to greater precision in a variety of ways, as illustrated in the papers in this issue of Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. In summary, these changes in the way we classify anxiety disorders reflect our best view on the clinical empirical data and should prove useful in the assessment of specific anxiety disorders.

Brain blood flow in anxiety disorders

1997 ◽  
Vol 171 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. V. Lucey ◽  
Durval C. Costa ◽  
Gwen Adshead ◽  
Martin P. Deahl ◽  
Geraldo Busatto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Brain Blood Flow ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Caudate Nuclei ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Left Caudate ◽  
Post Traumatic

BackgroundWe compared regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in three groups of patients with DSM–III–R anxiety disorders.MethodFifteen patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), 15 with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PA), and 16 with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a similar group of healthy controls were assessed on brain-dedicated high-resolution SPET.ResultsMANOVA revealed significant rCBF differences between diagnostic groups (F=4.4; d.f.=3, 57; P=0.007) and between cerebral regions (F=6.4; d.f.=1, 57; P=0.01) in OCD and PTSD compared with PA and healthy controls, limited to bilateral superior frontal cortices and right caudate nuclei. Whole brain blood flow correlated positively with anxiety (r=0.24, n=46, P=0.05). Beck depression scores correlated significantly negatively with left caudate rCBF (r= –0.24, n=46, P=0.05) and right caudate rCBF (r= –0.31, n=46, P=0.02). PTSD syndrome severity correlated significantly negatively with the left caudate (r=-0.49, n=16. P=0.03) and with right caudate rCBF (r=-0.7, n=16, P=0.001)ConclusionsFunctional rCBF differences in anxiety disorders could relate to repetitive, intrusive, distressing mental activity, prominent in both OCD and PTSD.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic: A Consequential Global Hazard to Public Mental Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 420-427
Author(s):  
Pravina Mohan ◽  
M. Anusree ◽  
B. Nikitha
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Public Mental Health ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Mass Hysteria

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 infection in humans first reported in Wuhan (China) which has spread around the world and having a significant impact on global health and mental health. It has caused widespread psychosocial and behavioural changes as a result of mass hysteria, economic burden, and financial losses, in addition to its high infectivity and the increased mortality rates. Method: Published articles regarding to mental health related to the COVID-19 outbreak and other previous global infections have been considered and reviewed. Comments: The pervasive fear of COVID-19, named as "coronaphobia," has resulted with a slew of psychiatric manifestations in people from all walks of life.  It has affected people from all the point of life, resulting in a variety of psychiatric issues such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fear and uncertainty, panic attacks, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, xenophobia, and racism. Collective concerns have an impact on daily behaviours, the economy, prevention strategies, and decision-making by policymakers, health organisations, and medical centres, which can weaken COVID-19 control strategies and lead to increased morbidity and mental health needs on a global level.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document