Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

What is the definition of anxiety

Answer 1

Diffuse unpleasant vague sense of apprehension in anticipation of a future threat

Question 2

Outline Mowrer’s two-factor theory

Answer 2

• Fear to a stimulus is acquired through classical conditioning
• Light- shock (CS-US) pairings
• Instrumental conditioning (avoidance learning) allows animals to escape aversive stimulus
• Avoidance is critical in maintenance on anxiety because when the subject encounters the CS, they elicit an avoidance response

Question 3

Outline activity of Amygdala and PFC during extinction.

Answer 3

• As extinction progresses, vmPFC signal increases while amygdala signal decreases

Question 4

Outline amygdala and vmPFC activation in high trait anxiety.

Answer 4

• high anxiety individuals showed increased amygdala responsivity to phasic fear cues
• high anxiety individuals showed reduced pre-extinction vmPFC activity

Question 5

Outline amygdala activation in PTSD

Answer 5

• PTSD group showed greater recruitment in right amygdala+hippocampus during construction of emotionally intense negative autobiographical memories.
• Control group showed greater recruitment during construction of emotionally intense positive memories

Question 6

Outline vmPFC activation in PTSD

Answer 6

• PTSD group= greater recruitment of vmPFC during emotionally negative memories
• Control group= greater recruitment during emotionally positive memories

Question 7

What are Benzodiazepines?

Answer 7

• Anxiolytic drug used mainly in GAD and acute stress reactions
• Also used as anti-convulsants and as hypnotics

Question 8

What are some disadvantages of benzodiazepines?

Answer 8

• Induction of dependence and associated withdrawal syndrome
• Impairment or cognitive performance e.g. anterograde amnesia

Question 9

What is D-cycloserine and what effect does it have on fear extinction in rodents?

Answer 9

• Partial agonist for glutamate NMDA receptor
• Dose-dependent effect in facilitation of extinction

Question 10

What effect does DCS and placebo in conjunction with CBT have on symptoms of acrophobia, social phobia and panic disorder?

Answer 10

• Severity of symptoms reduced in DCS condition in comparison to placebo