Oxytocin and Social Phobia
Excerpts from article Oxytocin and Social Phobia :
Scientists believe that the amygdala is responsible for the symptoms of social phobia as it is the central site in the brain that controls fear responses and produces the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavior therapy is useful in treating social phobia.
A Swiss study demonstrated the power of oxytocin to help manage these fear responses.. “Oxytocin has a very powerful effect,” says Dr. Baumgartner of the University of Zurich. Oxytocin lowers activity in the amygdala, a region linked with fear and danger. The same brain circuits play a role in social disorders.
Most social phobia sufferers receive talk therapy of some kind but recent studies have shown that oxytocin can speed up the process.
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