The Neuroendocrinology of Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is associated with excessive stress reactivity to and persistent avoidance of feared social situations. Recent findings have additionally suggested that certain hormones, acting centrally, are associated with anxiety and how information is processed to regulate social behavior. This chapter will explore the relationship that endogenous levels of glucocorticoids, neuropeptides, and sex hormones have in the etiology of social fear and anxiety. Further, exogenous administration studies have revealed interesting effects of these hormones in the modulation of behavior underlying social interactions. The potential for some of these hormones as adjuncts in the treatment of social anxiety, in particular to facilitate exposure-based therapies, will be highlighted as an important avenue for future research.