What are the biological factors of generalized anxiety disorder?

Genetic factors: GAD may run in families. Just as a child can inherit parent’s brown hair, green eyes, and nearsightedness, a child can also inherit that parent’s tendency toward excessive anxiety. Current research suggests that one-third of the risk of experienced GAD is genetic.

Is generalized anxiety biological?

As with many mental health conditions, the cause of generalized anxiety disorder likely arises from a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors, which may include: Differences in brain chemistry and function. Genetics.

How does the biological perspective explain anxiety disorders?

According to the biological perspective, there are three basic conditions which elicit anxiety: overstimulation, cognitive incongruity, and response unavailability. Overstimulation refers to when a person is flooded with information.

Are there also biological and psychosocial factors that may influence anxiety disorders?

Theoretically, people develop an anxiety disorder when they possess both biological and psychological “vulnerabilities,” coupled with a social environment that set-off, or trigger these vulnerabilities. The biological aspect of the biopsychosocial model refers to the body’s physiological, adaptive responses to fear.

Is there a biological explanation of generalized anxiety disorder?

All participants first read a paragraph about the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, which was taken from the National Institute of Mental Health’s online publication titled Anxiety Disorders ( 30 ). Those in the biological condition then read an empirically based biological explanation of generalized anxiety disorder.

Do biological explanations affect prognostic pessimism about generalized anxiety disorder?

By causing prognostic pessimism about generalized anxiety disorder, including among those with symptoms of the disorder, biological explanations could negatively affect treatment seeking and outcomes. Efforts to dispel the link between biological explanations and prognostic pessimism are needed.

Why do people with generalized anxiety disorder feel threatened?

When a person has gone through particularly hard experiences that leave them feeling uncertain, humiliated, or apprehensive to trust others, it is understandable that they may become anxious in a variety of situations in the future. People with GAD have difficulty accurately interpreting threats.

Which genetic variations are associated with comorbid depression and generalized anxiety disorder?

Molina E., Cervilla J., Rivera M., et al Polymorphic variation at the serotonin 1-A receptor gene is associated with comorbid depression and generalized anxiety. Psychiatr Genet.2011;21(4):195–201.