DEFINE PATHOLOGICAL FEAR PLUS

Regardless, both human and animal studies suggest an important role for the amygdala, and subregions within, in mediating fear and anxiety, and in the manifestation of anxiety disorders (Sections 2 and 3). As noted by Sylver et al clinical studies most often examine trait anxiety, whereas experiments involving animal models most often focus on state anxiety and fear, and then relate these findings to concepts associated with trait anxiety. However, one can argue that experimental manipulations (such as early-life stress or amphetamine withdrawal) that drive a group of animals towards greater fear- and anxiety-like phenotypes also examine the underlying basis of trait fear or anxiety. While trait fear is not well-defined by animal studies, trait anxiety is often examined in animal models by the use of selective breeding, resulting in high- and low-anxiety strains and lines of rodents. Notably, these paradigms do not rely on the processes underlying classical conditioning, although McNaughton and Corr caution against defining fear verses anxiety as conditioned versus unconditioned responses.

DEFINE PATHOLOGICAL FEAR PLUS

State anxiety, on the other hand, is most often studied using apparatus such as an open field, elevated plus maze, or light-dark box, which all take advantage of the rodent’s preference for familiar, dark, and/or enclosed areas. State fear within animal models is most often studied by measures of freezing and fear-potentiated startle, both acquired via classical conditioning of rodents. The neurobiological bases of anxiety and fear appear to be very similar across species, thus complementary findings from both animal models (most often rodents) and human studies can contribute to theories of the neurobiological basis of anxiety disorders. sweating, trembling, chest pains, tachycardia).įear and avoidance of situations from which escape would be difficult in the event of having panic-like symptoms.Įxcessive or unreasonable fear in anticipation or in response to a specific object or situation.Įxcessive/unreasonable fear and avoidance of social situations (including performances) in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or possible scrutiny by others.

Thus, it is important to understand the neurobiology of both anxiety and fear to obtain a comprehensive picture of the physiological basis of anxiety disorders.Įxcessive worry occurring more days than not over at least a 6 month period, accompanied by restlessness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, muscle tension or irritability.Ĭharacterized by a history of trauma and symptoms related to avoidance, re-experiencing, and physiological hyperarousal in the face of triggering cue.Ĭompulsions (repeated actions) produced to reduce anxiety associated with obsessions (unwanted, intrusive thoughts).Ĭharacterized by panic attacks a period of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by a variety of physiological symptoms (e.g. However, other anxiety disorders are characterized, at least in part, by excessive and inappropriate fear, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), specific phobias and social anxiety disorder.

As illustrated by Table 1, some anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are characterized by excessive anxiety as defined above. However, when excessive, or pathological, or triggered inappropriately, fear and anxiety form the basis of a variety of anxiety disorders. Both anxiety and fear are emotions experienced by all individuals and can serve to be adaptive in shaping decisions and behaviors related to survival of an organism. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a negatively-valenced emotion that is characterized by sustained hyperarousal in response to uncertainty, is thus future-focused, and aids in defensive approach or risk assessment. Converging theories and evidence from clinical psychology and comparative neuroscience suggest that fear can be considered a negatively-valenced emotion that is brief, focused on the present, occurs in situations of specific threat, and aids in avoidance or escape. Anxiety can be differentiated from fear, both biologically and behaviorally. Trait anxiety defines the affect of an organism over time and across situations, whereas state anxiety is the response or adaptation to a given situation. Anxiety is a term often used to encompass feelings of apprehension, dread, unease or similarly unpleasant emotions.

Define pathological fear