What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
Copyright © 2005, 2008 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Anxiety Disorders: An Information Guide There are no clear-cut answers as to why some people develop an anxiety disorder, although research suggests that a number of factors may be involved. Like most mental health problems, anxiety disorders appear to be caused by a combination of biological factors, psychological factors and challenging life experiences, including: • stressful or traumatic life events • a family history of anxiety disorders • childhood development issues • alcohol, medications or illicit substances • other medical or psychiatric problems Psychological factors The two main schools of thought that attempt to explain the psychological influences on anxiety disorders are the cognitive and behavioural theories. The ideas expressed by these theories help us to understand cognitive behavioural treatment, which will be outlined in the next chapter. A third way of looking at the psychological causes of anxiety is d
The causes vary and it’s not always easy to work out. Some things that are known to contribute to whether a person has an anxiety disorder are: • Heredity: anxiety disorders tend to ‘run in families’ which may be due to genetics, and may be because a child learns anxious behaviours from their family. • Personality: people who are easily upset, very sensitive and emotional, who are shy and inhibited as children are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. • Biochemical differences within the brain may play a part.
Several things seem to play a role, including genetics, brain biochemistry, an overactive fight-flight response, stressful life circumstances, and learned behavior. Someone with a family member who has an anxiety disorder has a greater chance of developing one, too. This may be related to genes that can affect brain chemistry and the regulation of chemicals called neurotransmitters. But not everyone with a family member who has an anxiety disorder will develop problems with anxiety. Things that happen in a person’s life can also set the stage for anxiety disorders. Frightening traumatic events that can lead to PTSD are a good example. Growing up in a family where others are fearful or anxious can “teach” a child to view the world as a dangerous place. Likewise, if a person grows up in an environment that is actually dangerous (if there is violence in the child’s family or community, for example), he or she may learn to be fearful or expect the worst. Although everyone experiences norma
• Answer: Anxiety disorders are real illnesses with real causes and are not the result of personal weakness, a character flaw, or poor upbringing. Ongoing scientific research is making it clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain, environmental stresses, and genetics. Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the balance of chemicals in the brain that control mood. Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in brain structures that control memory or mood. In addition, it has been shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can be inherited from one or both parents. Moreover, certain environmental factors — such as a trauma or significant event — may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder. As with most illnesses, some people are more susceptible than others. Close relatives of
