Anxiety, Stress, and Cortical Brain Function

Much has been written about the survival value of panic and the benefits of anxiety for various aspects of human performance (e.g., Barlow, 1991; Lang, 1985; Miller & Kazak, 1993). Anxiety can be maladaptive, however, disrupting performance and interfering with both psychological and physical well-being. Consequently, the current, 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) distinguishes 11 different diagnoses it classifies as anxiety disorders.