Genetic factors regarding Social Phobia |
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Posted Date: 6/30/2009 |
Blog by: poost |
Viewed: 3312
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Category: Mental Health Disorders » Social Phobia |
Social phobia is a condition in which a person feels anxious in the presence of other people. It is also termed as social anxiety disorder.
The etiology of social phobias is not clear like many other neurological diseases. The various factors considered to be responsible include environmental factors and genetics. The role of genetics is not completely understood but is still of great importance regarding this disorder. It is also considered to be related on genetic and biological basis with other neurological diseases like major depression, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. All of these diseases are considered to run in families and are thought to be inheritable.
Various studies and researches regarding this disease have shown that it has a definite tendency to run in families. No exact gene has been identified carrying the trait but it is evident from research that the first degree relatives of a person suffering from social phobia or any other anxiety disorder tend to have a greater risk of adopting this illness and also have an increased risk of suffering from major depression. So along with have some genetic basis which makes it a familial disease it shares some common traits with major depression.
Along with the study of familial predisposition to this disease different twin studies have also been carried out to test the hypothesis that whether this disease is distributed genetically or not. The studies show that the genetically identical twins have much greater risk of suffering from this disorder if one of them has also developed this ailment. The risk is much less in fraternal twins as they do have less common genetics but still they are quite high risk individuals. After them the first degree relatives are considered to be high risk as compared to the general population. If someone among the first degree relatives suffers from this disease then the chances of getting this disorder are 4 times higher than the general population.
One out of every four of the first degree relatives of a patient suffering from social phobia also suffers from this ailment or any other co morbid anxiety disorder. This suggests the extremely strong genetic tendency of this disease. This makes the genetic susceptibility of the first degree relatives as high as 25%.Women is more prone to suffer from this disorder as compared to men. The reasons are again genetics affecting the hormonal levels that vary in men and women. Also women are more caring about their health and are much more concerned to talk about their anxiety as compared to men who are relatively carefree.
Various other researchers have been carried out throughout the world regarding genetic factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder. The Finish scientists have according to them identified the gene responsible for anxiety. This research was carried out under the supervision of Academy of Research Fellow liris Howatta. This study had its primary focus on the different genes responsible for human behavior some of the studied genes showed a relationship which was statistical with social anxiety disorder and other specific forms of different anxiety diseases as well. This research was carried out as a part of the Academy of Finland research program on neuroscience. The most interesting fact was that different genes showed different associations with different types of anxiety disorders like manias, social phobias and generalized anxiety disorder. Different counterparts of this research are being carried out internationally as well to see whether the targeted genes have same ratio in other races around the globe as well.
The establishment of the exact genes responsible for social phobia will be of great help to device a better treatment strategy for this disease.
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