Animal Model of Anxiety

Abstract

Anxiety is defined as state of unpleasant and uneasiness or discomfort experienced on exposure toward threat or painful stimuli both in humans and in animals. It is cumulatively caused by increased activity of neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous system. Also, it is a state of behavioral disturbance, that is, sense of unrealistic worry about everyday life situations. Animal models for anxiety-related behavior are based on the assumption that anxiety in animals is comparable to anxiety in humans. Being anxious is an adaptive response to unfamiliar environmental conditions, especially during unconformity with danger or threat. Human anxiety disorders are broadly grouped according to symptomology and responsiveness to pharmacological and psychological treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder are the two primary classifications of pathological anxiety in humans. In generalized anxiety disorder, the peoples experience unrealistic worry about everyday life situations, which make it different from panic disorder. In contrast, panic attacks mainly indicate the primary symptoms of panic disorder with intense fear, palpitation, and sweating, etc. These events are characterized as sudden, extreme fear accompanied by autonomic nervous system arousal.