Mechanisms of behavioural defence in neurotic anxiety

Psychophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of neurotic anxiety were analysed in 102 patients treated for various forms of anxiety disorder. Data were collected in repeated structured interviews and in tests of reactions of patients to identified threat stimuli. The parallel development of neurotic symptoms and a long-lasting state of threat was demonstrated in 95 patients. Patterns of behaviour resulting from the states of threat, reinforcing stimuli, mechanisms of the formation acid fixation of the long-lasting threat state are described. The present results imply that the system of behavioural defence represents a substratum on which the majority of anxiety disorders evolves.