Current status of brain imaging in anxiety disorders
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Purpose of review This study reviews the most recent literature about brain imaging research in anxiety disorders. There is a growing body of evidence that neuroimaging of anxiety disorders contributes to a better understanding of the neurobiology of these disorders, by identifying cerebral modifications occurring previously or subsequent to symptoms of anxiety. A systematic search of the literature (January 1978-July 2008) was performed in MEDLINE using the keywords brain imaging, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorders and agoraphobia. References cited in all trials were searched iteratively to identify missing studies. Our review focused only on the last year's findings. Recent findings There is a consensus on the crucial role of the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex and insula in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Summary Brain imaging research in anxiety disorders has become increasingly important, especially in the last decade, because of the opportunity to validate neurobiological hypotheses for anxiety disorders. Thus, neuroimaging data raise the question of the neurobiological cause of anxiety disorders, opening up new reflections not only on pharmacological treatments but also on the nosology of the anxiety disorders.
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Responses within the insula, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex are linked to the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders.
“In particular, responses within insula, amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex are linked both to the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders (Damsa et al., 2009; Shurick and Gross, 2013).”
From Neuroimaging and psychophysiological investigation of the link between anxiety, enhanced affective reactivity and interoception in people with joint hypermobility (2014) · cites this paper as Damsa et al., 2009
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- Authors
- Damsa, C., Kosel, M., & Moussally, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Damsa, Cristian
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry
- Published
- 2009-01
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 96-110
- ISSN
- 0951-7367 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1990674336
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 1.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- anxiety disorders, neuroimaging, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, neurobiology of anxiety
- MeSH terms
- Agoraphobia, Anxiety Disorders, Brain, Diagnostic Imaging, Humans, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Phobic Disorders, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Panic Disorder
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