Fear and Anxiety Flashcards
Which receptor is very important in anxiety related disorders?
GABA
What evidence is there for GABA’s role in anxiety disorders?
Patients with panic disorder have less BDP binding sites and lack inhibitory control in cortical and limbic regions to suppress inappropriate fear responses
Which types of drug increase GABA receptor activity?
Agonists; alcohol, barbiturates
Indirect agonists; BDP
What does increased GABA receptor activity do?
Reduces anxiety
What types of drug decrease GABA receptor activity?
Antagonists; flumazenil
Inverse agonists; beta-CCM
What does decreased GABA receptor activity do?
Increases anxiety
What do BDP’s do?
Increase the effectiveness of GABA at opening Cl- channel
Greater influx of chloride and greater hyperpolarisation
What are the effects of diazepam in mice?
Decreased anxiety about a potentially dangerous environment
How do you switch of BDP binding?
By switching the histidine in the N-terminal for arginine
What is the extracellular trail?
It is a protein structure important for BDP binding
What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?
A malfunction in both the right and left medial temporal lobes
What symptoms are associated with Kluver-Bucy syndrome?
- little or no fear response
- oral and tactile exploration
- hyper sexuality
- bulimia
- inability to recognise objects/faces
What can the effect of bilateral amygdala lesions be?
No fear responses
Where is the amygdala and what does it consist of?
It is found in the temporal lobes and has a complex structure consisting of 22 separate nuclei
What is some evidence for the amygdala’s role in fear?
Activation during public speaking in subjects with social anxiety disorder
Exposure to phobias show activation
High density of BDP