Extremely shy & genetically close : investigating neurobiological endophenotypes of social anxiety disorder

Bas, J.M. (2020)

Doctoral Thesis

Patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) are 'extremely shy': they are afraid of a negative evaluation by others and avoid social situations as much as possible, with negative influence on their lives. It is therefore important to gain insight in the factors that make children and adolescents vulnerable to develop SAD.
SAD often runs in families: being ‘genetically close’ to a patient with SAD substantially increases the risk to develop the disorder. The studies summarized in this thesis aim to broaden our knowledge of this genetic vulnerability to SAD, by focusing on neurobiological endophenotypes as measured with structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used data from the unique Leiden Family Lab study on Social Anxiety Disorder and demonstrated that several structural and functional brain alterations were genetically linked to the disorder. These results offer novel insights in the neurobiological pathways leading to SAD, and provide clues for prevention and intervention.

• Social anxiety disorder
• MRI
• Endophenotypes
• Family study
• Brain structure
• Brain function

• All authors: Bas, J.M.
• Supervisor: Westenberg, P.M.; Wee, N.J.A. van der
• Co-supervisor: Steenbergen, H. van
• Committee: Crone, E.A.; Roelofs, K.; Veltman, D.J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2020-01-14
• ISBN (print): 9789463613453
• Sponsorship: Leiden University Research Profile 'Health, Prevention and the Human Lifecycle'