Many patients with anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder have comorbid depression.
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Among patients with PTSD, 48% will suffer a major depressive episode at some time in their lives. Up to 65% of patients with panic disorder will have a major depressive episode. Among patients with GAD, 42% will have a major depressive episode in their lifetime. Approximately 67% of patients with OCD report at least one episode of MDD. And among social anxiety disorder patients, up to 70% report a history of a depressive order.
Anatomy of Anxiety
Parts of the brain involved in fear response = thalamus, amygdala, hypothalamus, which then instruct the endocrine glands and autonomic nervous system
1. Thalamus receives stimulus and sends to both amygdala and cortex
2. Amygdala registers danger
3. Amygdala triggers fast response
4. More considered response based on cortical processing
