L8 Anxiety Disorders: Neurobiology, Neurochemistry and Treatment

Question 1

Outline the acute stress response

Answer 1

Amygdala excites LC+hypothalamus

1. Hypothalamus releases CRH from posterior pituitary
2. This stimulates release of ACTH from anterior pituitary
3. ACTH stimulates release of cortisol from adrenal cortex

LC releases NE which triggers fight/flight response

Question 2

Outline what happens during chronic stress

Answer 2

Chronic activation of glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus

This leads to increased Ca2+ entry into neurones
leading to excitotoxicity

no feedback to limit cortisol

Question 3

Brain damage caused by stress

Answer 3

Sustained exposure to GC can cause neural degeneration

Question 4

OCD

-treatment

Answer 4

overactivity of the direct pathway
treat with SSRI
Caudate hyperactivity
-The caudate sends GABAergic
inhibitory projections to the GP,
which sends inhibitory projections
to the thalamus, which then 
projects to the OFC. 

Underactivity of OFC