title: The neurobiology of social phobia.
abstract: Studies in the neurobiology of social phobia have used neuroendocrine, naturalistic and chemical challenges, pharmacological probes, neurotransmitter system measures, peripheral receptor binding and magnetic resonance measures. Studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axes have been largely unrevealing; adrenaline, carbon dioxide, caffeine and yohimbine tests have provided mixed results; probe studies using L-dopa, clonidine and fenfluramine have provided some evidence of post-synaptic serotonergic abnormality; studies on platelet and lymphocyte binding have failed to distinguish social phobia from other groups; magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies suggest possible differences between patients with social phobia and healthy controls in respect of dopamine, serotonin and second-messenger function. In aggregate, these studies have provided some neurobiological basis for separating social phobia from panic disorder and non-psychiatric healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Book
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents