Brains of Social Phobics Respond Differently

A study published in the October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry examined the brain functioning of 17 individuals with generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD) in comparison with 17 people without the disorder. Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health discovered that people with the disorder experienced increased blood flow in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala when reading negative statements about themselves.

These parts of the brain are tied to self-awareness, fear, emotion and stress response. The results of this study suggest that these brain structures may play a role in the development and maintenance of generalized SAD, which may aid therapeutic treatment plans.

One question that seems not to have been answered is whether this is a case of the chicken or the egg coming first. Are the brain structures of people with SAD the cause of the disorder or a result? Perhaps, as with most mental health issues, it is a combination of the two.

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