Neurobiology of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is neither an infrequent nor mild condition but an important public health problem that merits further research on treatment and mechanism of illness. This article provides a concise picture of preclinical and clinical research pertinent to the neurobiology of generalized anxiety disorder. The authors cover research on functional neuroanatomy and fear circuitry; animal models relevant to generalized anxiety disorder; research on the genetics of generalized anxiety disorder; and the neurochemistry, neurophysiology, and functional imaging studies relevant to generalized anxiety disorder. Finally, the authors present a critical discussion of several biological models of generalized anxiety disorder and suggest paths for future research.