Attachment and self-consciousness: a dynamic connection between schizophrenia and panic.
BACKGROUND
Attachment theory offers an evolutionary explanation for the occurrence of panic states. The distance between a mother and child causes the sensation of fear. The experience of feared annihilation, an intense fear reaction (panic), is presented as a threat to the individual's cohesiveness, disrupting the mental representation of self-consciousness, specifically self-unity. Alterations in self-consciousness in schizophrenia are so important that they are mostly included among Kurt Schneider's first-ranked symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
Based on clinical trials, case reports, and brain imaging and pharmacological studies, a paradigm is proposed to explain the relationship between panic anxiety and psychosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychosis-anxiety pathophysiology explanation needs further investigation into the brain areas that integrate self-monitoring with fear areas, but it seems possible to note the importance of the anterior cingulate cortex.
Laboratory of Panic and Respiration (LabPR/UFRJ), National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Brazil. Electronic address: barcielaveras@hotmail.com.
André B
AB
Veras
Antonio E
AE
Nardi
Jeffrey P
JP
Kahn
D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D010200:Panic / Q000502:physiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012649:Self Concept