PSYCH 2AP3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Panic Attack
19 Sep 2016
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Panic attack: abrupt experience of intense fear or acute discomfort accompanied by physical symptoms (heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath and possibly dizziness: expected (cued): may have panic attack in one situation but no where else. Specific phobias or social anxiety disorders: unexpected: unsure when or where the next panic attack will occur. Biological contributions: we inherit a tendency to be tense, uptight and anxious, some more than others, genetics, runs in families, no single gene causes anxiety. Contributions from many genes on several areas of chromosomes make us vulnerable when certain psychological and social factors are in place: specific brain circuits and neurotransmitter systems. Depleted levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (gaba) associated with increase in anxiety. Corticotropic releasing factor (crf) system central to anxiety and depression. Affects the hippocampus, amygdala and locus coeruleus in the brain stem, prefrontal cortex and dopaminergic neurotransmitter system. Crf also related to gaba system and the serotonergic and noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems: limbic system.
