A neuroanatomical hypothesis for panic disorder.
Anxiety disorders, the most common psychiatric conditions in the United States, have generated a great deal of research and scientific debate. Panic disorder, the best-studied anxiety disorder, is often believed to be either a biological disease or a psychological disease. The authors present a neuroanatomical model of panic disorder that attempts to reconcile these views. The model locates the three components of the disease--the acute panic attack, anticipatory anxiety, and phobic avoidance--in three specific sites of the CNS: the brainstem, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex, respectively. The authors suggest experiments to test their model.
Gorman
J M
JM
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.
Liebowitz
M R
MR
Fyer
A J
AJ
Stein
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005239:Fear; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010200:Panic; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology