Leiden University Scholarly Publications

Persistent URL of this record https://hdl.handle.net/1887/16086

In Collections

This item can be found in the following collections:

Veen, J.F. van (2010)

The embarrassed brain : towards a neurobiology of generalized socal anxiety disorder

Doctoral Thesis
In this thesis, we report on our investigations regarding the involvement of several neurotransmitter and hormonal systems in generalized social anxiety disorder (gSAD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders. We found evidence of the involvement of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline/the autonomic nervous system, but not the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis, in the neurobiology of gSAD. As a result of our studies, we hypothesize that serotonin and dopamine function is decreased in gSAD, that there is hyperfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system, and that the other part of the stress system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis function is not concordant with autonomic nervous system activation, as we saw in basal conditions, and in stress conditions following manipulation of the serotonergic system. We also think that there are indications that the female gonadal hormones also have a modulatory role in gSAD in a subgroup of women. This exploration of the...Show moreIn this thesis, we report on our investigations regarding the involvement of several neurotransmitter and hormonal systems in generalized social anxiety disorder (gSAD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders. We found evidence of the involvement of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline/the autonomic nervous system, but not the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis, in the neurobiology of gSAD. As a result of our studies, we hypothesize that serotonin and dopamine function is decreased in gSAD, that there is hyperfunctioning of the autonomic nervous system, and that the other part of the stress system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis function is not concordant with autonomic nervous system activation, as we saw in basal conditions, and in stress conditions following manipulation of the serotonergic system. We also think that there are indications that the female gonadal hormones also have a modulatory role in gSAD in a subgroup of women. This exploration of the neurobiology of gSAD leads to the conclusion that a variety of brain systems are involved in gSAD in a complex way.involvement of several neurotransmitter and hormonal systems in gSAD.Show less
Autonomic nervous system
Dopamine
Female gonadal hormones
Generalized social anxiety disorder
HPA-axis
Mirtazapine
Noradrenaline
Salivary alpha-amylase
Serotonin
Tryptophan
All authors
Veen, J.F. van
Supervisor
Zitman, F.G.
Co-supervisor
Vliet, I.M. van,; Rijk, R.H. de
Qualification
Doctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
Date
2010-10-28

Funding

Sponsorship
Studies: ZonMw, The Hague Boekje: GGZ leiden e.o., Rivierduinen, MSD, Janssen-Cilag B.V., Lundbeck B.V., Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., Servier Nederland Farma B.V., and Pfizer B.V.