Emotion regulation and anxiety disorders

J Anxiety Disord. 2008;22(2):211-21. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.02.004. Epub 2007 Feb 23.

Abstract

Recent attention has been given to the role of emotion regulation in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. Gross [Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (1998). Mapping the domain of expressivity: multimethod evidence for a hierarchical model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 170-191] provided a framework from which to understand emotion regulation processes, and it is within this framework that the literature on emotion regulation/dysregulation in the anxiety disorder population is reviewed, with a focus on possible deficiencies that lead to or maintain the disorders. The present paper aims to: (1) briefly introduce emotion regulation strategies of suppression and reappraisal; (2) summarize the empirical studies of emotion regulation within anxiety disorders; (3) discuss the neurobiological markers of emotion regulation within these disorders; (4) provide future directions for research; and (5) summarize possible treatment implications resulting from this important area of research.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology
  • Affective Symptoms / physiopathology
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Amygdala / physiology
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology*
  • Arousal / physiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Emotions* / physiology
  • Fear / psychology
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological
  • Models, Psychological
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology

Substances

  • Biomarkers