Soyka - Anxiety disorders and SUD

Question 1

Which two impaired neurotransmissions might play a role in both GAD and alcohol?

Answer 1

Serotonic and GABA

alcohol enhances GABA and chronic use associated with serotonin deficit

note that I skipped the majority of neurotransmitter involvements (as most of it is very preliminary and also I am lazy)

Question 2

Difference between anxiety disorders and alcohol abuse vs. dependence?

Answer 2

Odds ratio of anxiety disorders and dependence were much higher (2.8 lifetime) vs. abuse (1.1 lifetime)

pattern is similar across other substances

Again, a lot of numbers reported are not included (lazy)

Question 3

General results for course of comorbidity (anxiety/SUD)? (3)

Answer 3

• Induced anxiety frequently occurs during detoxification (alcohol, bezodiazepines) or intoxication (cannabis, psychostimulants)
• No indication of association of phobias with onset of alcohol use
• Current anxiety disorders significantly predict later alcohol abuse/dependence

tbh research is severely limited

Question 4

What evidence is there for self-medication hypothesis (anxiety/SUD)?

Answer 4

Preceding of anxiety disorders (generally)- although only about 20% of anxious patients used drinking as a coping mechanism

Question 5

Which anxiety disorders are predictive of possible self-medicated substance use?

Answer 5

Social phobia and panic disorder

Question 6

What is a problematic pattern with self-medicating with substances for social phobia specifically?

besides like the obvious negative consequences of substance abuse

Answer 6

That, paradoxally, it is associated with an increase in social phobia