Volume 9: February 5, 2023
Written/Edited by: Fidha and Mana
Anxiety
is a phenomenon that plagues millions of teenagers across the globe, and generalized anxiety disorder (G.A.D.) is one of the most highly reported mental disorders across all age groups. Anxiety is best categorized by the autonomic arousal it causes, and the inducement of fear, and includes disorders such as G.A.D., panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Understanding the causes for anxiety and depression may require multiple perspectives that psychologists have disputes over, such as cognitive, behavioral, and biological; however, this article explains more about the biological perspective, which can explain anxiety from the lens of the brain and its chemical components. Some research suggests that natural selection may favor those with certain phobias, which have been proven with twin studies, such as Davies MN et al (2015).
Additionally, there is typically a decrease in GABA (a major inhibitory neurotransmitter) in the brain among those who experience chronic anxiety. Anxiety can cause one to experience many physiological changes due to variations in hormone levels that are altered by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and autonomic nervous system (ANS). This initiation starts with the amygdala--the control center of emotion in the brain--that interprets stimuli from the outer world as a threat. A signal is then sent to the hypothalamus, which is relayed to the rest of the body by switching to the sympathetic nervous system and the release of epinephrine, or adrenaline, from the adrenal glands quickly forces the brain into a state of alertness and hyper-vigilance. The amygdala also sends this signal to the hippocampus--a repository of memory.
Undeniably, the number of teens suffering from depression is at an all time high, and continues to increase every day; this only means that understanding the science behind it is all the more crucial.
Serotonin (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) and well-known dopamine are the chemicals most strongly tied to depression; as you may be aware of already, they aid in regulating or controlling mood and emotion. However, the two in fact have a lesser known counterpart: norepinephrine, another neurotransmitter revolving around sympathetic nervous system arousal. Low levels of these three chemicals is what ultimately results in depression, and can be described as faulty mood regulation by the brain; specifically, emotional signals from the amygdala overpower the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and it’s capability of controlling said signals. Although this is the major cause, other heavily contributing factors include stressful life events/traumas, genetic vulnerability, and abornamilities in the circadian rhythm. Now regarding the genetic aspect of depression, it’s been proven more than likely that a familial correlation is involved, as has been supported through scientific studies between twins. Now lastly, regarding medication; by far the most popular are antidepressants, which are biomedical means of treatment. In specific, they are “serotonin reuptake* inhibitors.”
Keep in mind that for anybody struggling, aid is always available at the Youth Crisis Hotline (1-800-448-4663), or simply text HOME to 741741 and be matched with a free online counselor.
Data:
1) G.A.D. affects 6.8 million adults (3.1% of the U.S. population); only 43.2% are receiving treatment. [5]
2) G.A.D. is found to often co-occur with major depressive disorder. [5]
3) “One-in-five teenage girls – or nearly 2.4 million – had experienced at least one major depressive episode (the proxy measure of depression used in this analysis) over the past year in 2017. By comparison, 7% of teenage boys (or 845,000) had at least one major depressive episode in the past 12 months.” [6]
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Sources:
Harvard Health. Anxiety. https://www.health.harvard.edu/topics/anxiety. [1]
Davies MN et al (2015, August 14). Generalized Anxiety Disorder – A Twin Study of Genetic Architecture, Genome-Wide Association and Differential Gene Expression. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4537268/. [2]
Psychology Today Staff. The Biology of Anxiety. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety/the-biology-anxiety#what-areas-of-the-brain-are-involved-in-anxiety. [3]
Tomasetti, Carmine (2021, April 17). Biological Markers in Anxiety Disorders. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/8/1744#:~:text=Stress%20and%20anxiety%20cause%20physiological,symptoms%20%5B6%2C7%5D. [4]
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Anxiety Disorders - Facts & Statistics. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics#:~:text=Facts%20and%20Statistics-,Generalized%20Anxiety%20Disorder%20(GAD),co%2Doccurs%20with%20major%20depression. [5]
Geiger, A. W., & Davis, L. (2020, December 23). A growing number of American teenagers – particularly girls – are facing depression. Pew Research Center /. Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/07/12/a-growing-number-of-american-teenagers-particularly-girls-are-facing-depression/ [6]
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