Brain imaging in anxiety disorders

Abstract

Animal studies of the effects of stress on the brain have been used as a model for anxietydisorders. There is increasing evidence that brain areas involved in the stress response,including prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdala, play a role in the symptoms ofanxiety. In the past few years, brain imaging studies have been critical to advancing theunderstanding of the neural circuitry of anxiety disorders. Although some anxiety disordersmay fit in with animal models of stress, both conceptually and in terms of imaging findings(eg. post–traumatic stress and panic disorder), other anxiety disorders (eg.obsessive–compulsive disorder) may require a more specific model to understand theneurobiology completely. This article reviews animal models for anxiety disorders, currentbrain imaging findings and outlines future directions for research in this area.