Year: 2024
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Anxiety disorders are one the most common pathological states in the world today.Studies on anxiety have been increasingly focusing their attention on neuroimaging for biomarkers in the brain.Research on brain regions and neurotransmitters related to anxiety could pave the way for better pharmacological treatment.The current study investigated the associations between anxiety, and 1) GABA/Glx concentrations, 2) activity in the ACC, and 3) approachavoidance behavior, through bivariate correlations and a 5-block hierarchical regression model.Anxiety was measured through the GAD-7 questionnaire.One aim of this study was to assess if there was a negative correlation between either GABA and/or approach behavior and anxiety.Another aim was to see if there was a correlation between activation in the ACC and anxiety.The third aim was to examine whether the predictor variables, either on their own, or together could significantly predict anxiety.Data from 169 participants was analyzed, of which 111 were women and 58 were men.The age interval was 19-59 (M = 38.92,SD = 10.04).The results of this study showed a positive correlation between Glx concentration and anxiety.No significant correlations were found between approachavoidance behavior, activation in the ACC, or GABA concentrations and anxiety.Contrary to the final hypothesis, all predictor variables combined did not result in a significant model for predicting anxiety, when controlling for age and sex.The findings of this study add support to previous research on the relationship between overactive glutamate system and anxiety.
Author: Hjalmarsson, Max
Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Mittuniversitetet
OpenAlex ID: W7024492244