Anxiety: An Evolutionary Approach

被引:132
作者
Bateson, Melissa [1 ]
Brilot, Ben [1 ]
Nettle, Daniel [1 ]
机构
[1] Newcastle Univ, Inst Neurosci, Ctr Behav & Evolut, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, Tyne & Wear, England
来源
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE | 2011年 / 56卷 / 12期
基金
英国生物技术与生命科学研究理事会;
关键词
anxiety; anxiety disorders; emotions; signal detection theory; behavioural ecology; evolutionary medicine; MENTAL-HEALTH; VIGILANCE BEHAVIOR; NATURAL-SELECTION; COGNITIVE BIAS; TRAIT ANXIETY; DEPRESSION; DISORDERS; RISK; PREVALENCE; ASSOCIATION;
D O I
10.1177/070674371105601202
中图分类号
R749 [精神病学];
学科分类号
100205 ;
摘要
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses, with huge attendant suffering. Current treatments are not universally effective, suggesting that a deeper understanding of the causes of anxiety is needed. To understand anxiety disorders better, it is first necessary to understand the normal anxiety response. This entails considering its evolutionary function as well as the mechanisms underlying it. We argue that the function of the human anxiety response, and homologues in other species, is to prepare the individual to detect and deal with threats. We use a signal detection framework to show that the threshold for expressing the anxiety response ought to vary with the probability of threats occurring, and the individual's vulnerability to them if they do occur. These predictions are consistent with major patterns in the epidemiology of anxiety. Implications for research and treatment are discussed.
引用
收藏
页码:707 / 715
页数:9
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