The brain, to my mind, is the final frontier that is still being explored and with each exploration we learn more of its incredible secrets. The latest finding on social phobia is brought to us through SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) scans which have now verified the biological basis of this problem. We know that two specific neurotransmitters (serotonin and dopamine) seem to be related to the disorder and a small study in Europe has now confirmed an imbalance in the functioning of these chemicals in the brain. The study was published in the May issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Some 15 million adults in the US suffer from social anxiety disorder. The researchers point out that this is an important first step to making a connection between the disorder and a biological basis for it. They do, however, caution that they can’t say whether the people in the sample had the imbalance prior to the appearance of the disorder. So it would seem that this is yet another example supporting a biologic, genetic, environmental basis for some anxiety disorders and to treat them as medical disorders. Related Topics:

• Understanding Phobias
• The Truth About Phobias

Image Credit: SNM.org Technorati Tags: SPECT , social phobia , neurotransmitters , anxiety , imaging