PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Autonomic Nervous System, Cholecystokinin, Panic Attack
Document Summary
Chronic uneasiness, fear of impending doom, bouts of terror or panic that interfere with daily life. Physical symptoms often associated with activation of autonomic nervous system. Anxiety thought of not as a behavioural symptom but rather an internal state that causes the disorders. Ssris (antidepressants) effectively used to treat ocd and other anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder: excessive worry about number of events for a period of 6+ months. Panic disorder: recurring, unexpected panic attacks, subsequent concern about future attacks or meaning of attacks. Neuropeptide found in gut and brain, cholecystokinin cck, plays fundamental role in panic. People with anxiety disorder need lower dose of cck than control subjects to produce a panic attack, suggesting they"re more sensitive to anxiogenic effects of cck. Those with panic disorders are also more sensitive to life events, suggesting higher cck levels in brain. Children of adults with anxiety disorders are at much greater risk of an anxiety disorder than the general population.
