Behavioral correlates of anxiety

Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2010:2:205-28. doi: 10.1007/7854_2009_11.

Abstract

The tripartite model of anxiety includes three response domains: cognitive (most often identified by self report), behavioral, and physiological. Each is suggested to bring a separate element of response characteristics and, in some cases, potentially independent underlying mechanisms to the construct of anxiety. In this chapter, commonly used behavioral correlates of anxiety in human research, including startle reflex, attentional bias, and avoidance tasks, as well as future tasks using virtual reality technology will be discussed. The focus will be in evaluating their translational utility supported by (1) convergent validity with other measures of anxiety traits or anxiety disorders, (2) their use in identifying neural and genetic mechanisms of anxiety, and (3) ability to predict treatment efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Anxiety / therapy
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy
  • Attention* / drug effects
  • Avoidance Learning* / drug effects
  • Behavior Therapy / methods
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests / standards
  • Reflex, Startle* / drug effects
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
  • Benzodiazepines