Abnormal Psychology

Anxiety Disorders 257

7.3 • Feedback Loops in Action: Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Figure 7.3g73

Mental Processes and

Mental Contents

Hypervigilance for

threats

Affect

Anxiety

Behavior

Learning worry-related

behaviors through

negative

reinforcement

Stressful Life Events

Problematic

relationships

Work problems

Gender/Culture

Genetics

Inherited

tendency to

be anxious

Neural Communication

NeuroPsychoSocial

GABA

Dopamine

Serotonin

Norepinephrine

Brain Systems

Superior temporal

gyrus

Right frontal lobe

Overresponsive

parasympathetic

nervous system

NeuroPsychoSocial NeuroPsychoSocial

Family

Death in family

No known major

contribution

Treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Treatment for GAD can target neurological, psychological, or social factors, although

neurological or psychological factors are the predominant focus of treatments. As usual,

interventions targeting any type of factor have ripple effects to the other factors.

Targeting Neurological Factors: Medication

The antianxiety medication buspirone (Buspar) effectively reduces the symptoms

of GAD, probably by decreasing serotonin release. Serotonin facilitates changes in