Neuroimaging of serotonin system in anxiety disorders.
A large body of research including animal and human studies has confirmed the crucial role of the serotonin (5-HT) system in the regulation of anxiety-related behaviour and traits. In the past decade, the functional status of the 5-HT system in anxiety disorders has been regularly investigated by novel neuroimaging techniques, such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). Although these studies shed more light on several aspects of the 5-HT functioning in patients with anxiety disorders, the current knowledge about the specific role of the 5-HT system in particular anxiety phenotypes remains fragmentary. In this paper, we review the available data from SPECT and PET imaging studies of the 5-HT system in anxiety disorders, attempt to dissect the involvement of the 5-HT in neural circuits of anxiety and discuss some issues that need to be considered for further research in this area.
Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Molecular Imaging, Imperial College London, London, UK. e.maron@imperial.ac.uk
Eduard
E
Maron
David
D
Nutt
Jakov
J
Shlik
D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin