PSYC 2051 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Endophenotype, Systematic Desensitization, Frontal Lobe
Document Summary
**ruling out medical or physical causes of anxiety symptoms is important (i. e. hyperthyroidism, cardiac arrhythmias, asthma medications, stimulants, withdrawal from alcohol) Neuroanatomical basis for panic & other anxiety disorders: the fear network in the brain is centered in the amygdala, which interacts with the hippocampus and areas of the prefrontal cortes, antianxiety medications appear to desensitize the fear network. Some psychotherapies also affect brain processes associated with anxiety. Fear circuitry in the brain: amygdala: plays a central role in triggering state of fear or anxiety; hpa activity triggers. Fight or flight response: sensory signals travel to hippocampus and prefrontal cortex which then process sensory input and evaluate danger. This higher level mental processing may result in signals to stop the hpa response. Psychological dimension: psychological characteristics can interact with biological predispositions which can produce anxiety symptoms, negative appraisal: interpreting events as threatening, skill of reappraisal: looking at a situation from various perspectives; minimize negative responses.
