Fear Circuits in Panic Disorder: An Update.

OBJECTIVES

Findings from animal models have been instrumental in elucidating the mechanisms and etiology of panic disorder (PD); nonetheless, several aspects of its neurobiological underpinnings remain to be fully clarified. This review aims to consolidate current understanding and recent advances in the neuroanatomical and pathophysiological basis of PD.

METHOD: A narrative review was conducted, drawing on recent literature addressing the neurobiology and neuroanatomy of PD, with a particular focus on fear circuits as elucidated by both preclinical and clinical studies.

RESULTS

This updated review further delineates the fear circuitry implicated in PD, emphasizing the roles of the amygdala, thalamus, hippocampus, insula, and prefrontal cortex in the mediation of pathological fear responses.

CONCLUSION

Continued research involving human populations is essential to refine current models of fear circuitry in PD. Such efforts may yield critical insights that support the development of evidence-based therapeutic strategies aimed at re-establishing disrupted homeostatic processes that have been disrupted by the activation of the brain's fear circuitry.