Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Mathew, S. J. Articles by Gorman, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Mathew, S. J. Articles by Gorman, J. M. Neurotransmitters Phobic Disorders Stress Genetics Neurodevelopment

Neurobiological Mechanisms of Social Anxiety Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The authors critically surveyed several preclinical and clinical neurobiological models of social anxiety disorder. METHOD: The authors reviewed the recent literature regarding three animal models of particular relevance to social anxiety. They then examined the recent literature concerning clinical neurobiological aspects of social anxiety disorder, including the developmental neurobiology of anxiety, the genetics of fear and social anxiety, and challenge and imaging studies. RESULTS: The available animal models are useful paradigms for understanding the features of social subordination stress, attachment behavior, and environmental rearing, but they incompletely account for the known neurobiology of human social anxiety disorder. The clinical neurobiology literature surveyed implicates specific neurotransmitter system abnormalities, most notably of the dopamine system, but largely ignores neurodevelopmental processes and the functional interactions between neurotransmitters. Both heritable factors and environmental stress factors appear to be responsible for the onset of social anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Social anxiety disorder should be conceptualized as a chronic neurodevelopmental illness that might represent a fully compensated state in adulthood. Future investigations from this perspective are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. J. van der Wee, J. F. van Veen, H. Stevens, I. M. van Vliet, P. P. van Rijk, and H. G. Westenberg Increased Serotonin and Dopamine Transporter Binding in Psychotropic Medication-Naive Patients with Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder Shown by 123I-{beta}-(4-Iodophenyl)-Tropane SPECT J. Nucl. Med., May 1, 2008; 49(5): 757 - 763. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Armstrong, L. M. DeVito, and T. A. Cleland One-Trial Associative Odor Learning in Neonatal Mice Chem Senses, May 1, 2006; 31(4): 343 - 349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Liebowitz, A. J. Gelenberg, and D. Munjack Venlafaxine Extended Release vs Placebo and Paroxetine in Social Anxiety Disorder Arch Gen Psychiatry, February 1, 2005; 62(2): 190 - 198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Kent and S. L. Rauch Neurocircuitry of Anxiety Disorders Focus, July 1, 2004; 2(3): 402 - 409. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Charney Discovering the Neural Basis of Human Social Anxiety: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imperative Am J Psychiatry, January 1, 2004; 161(1): 1 - 2. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P Henningsen and H-M Meinck Specific phobia is a frequent non-motor feature in stiff man syndrome J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, April 1, 2003; 74(4): 462 - 465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us