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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffAs with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of anxiety disorders isn't fully understood. It's thought that anxiety disorders may involve an imbalance of naturally occurring brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to becoming anxious. Inherited traits also are a factor.
Medical causes
For a significant number of people, anxiety is linked to an underlying health issue. In some cases, anxiety signs and symptoms are the first indicators that you have a medical illness. If your doctor suspects your anxiety may have a medical cause, he or she may order blood or urine tests or other tests to look for signs of a problem.
Physical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems (such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
- Asthma
- Drug abuse
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Withdrawal from anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines)
- Rare tumors that produce certain "fight-or-flight" hormones
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Tingling, burning or prickling sensations that may have no apparent cause
It's more likely that your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if:
- Your anxiety symptoms started after age 35
- You don't have any blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder
- You didn't have an anxiety disorder as a child
- You don't avoid certain things or situations because of anxiety
- No events have occurred in your life that were triggered by significant anxiety
- Medications used to treat feelings of panic (such as benzodiazepines) don't ease your anxiety symptoms
- Anxiety disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Hollander E, et al. Anxiety disorders. In: Hales RE, et al. Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=335698. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Katon W, et al. Anxiety disorders. In: Rakel R. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202053603-6/0/1481/624.html?tocnode=53395. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Kercher EE, et al. Anxiety disorders. In: Marx JM, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..00110-9--s0025&uniq=202069582&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Hettema JM, et al. The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for anxiety disorders in men and women. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2005;62:182.
- Hoffman EJ, et al. Anxiety disorders: A comprehensive review of pharmacotherapies. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine. 2008;75:248.
- Roy-Byrne PP, et al. Anxiety disorders and comorbid medical illness. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2008;30:208.
- Lee RA. Anxiety disorders. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154207005-3/0/1494/57.html?tocnode=54111716&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50014-4_229. Accessed May 18, 2010.
- Saeed SA, et al. Herbal and dietary supplements for treatment of anxiety disorders. American Family Physician. 2007;76:549.
- Donker T, et al. Psychoeducation for depression, anxiety and psychological distress: A meta-analysis. BMC Medicine. 2009;7:79.
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