Brain-Behavioral Systems in Patients with Comorbid Anxiety -Depression vs. Healthy Individuals

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> According to the brain-behavioral systems theory, behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems contribute to the development of many psychopathological conditions. Given that anxiety and depression are the most common emotional disorders and the fact that they are highly overlapping, the aim of this study was to compare the brain-behavioral systems in the patients with comorbid anxiety-depression and healthy individuals. <strong>Method:</strong> This study was cross-sectional. Sample includes Sixty-four patients with comorbid anxiety and depression attending to the community health centers of Jiroft city and 64 healthy individuals. They were selected using purposive sampling and matched for age and gender. After obtaining informed consent, they were asked to fill Jackson-5 scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data are analyzed by MANOVA. <strong>Results:</strong>The resuls showed that the two groups had significant differences in behavior inhibition system, fight, flight and freeze. However, there was no difference in behavioral activation system. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Given the observed differences in the brain-behavioral systems between patients with comorbid anxiety-depression and healthy individuals, this theory may explain the comorbidity of anxiety and depression.