abstract
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This chapter provides a broad overview of the state of current research in the genetics of the major anxiety disorders. In addition tosummarizing findings regarding the individual clinical syndromes, we present data supporting genetic hypotheses that explain their comorbidity with each other and with related phenotypessuch as anxious personality traits and depression. We conceptually divide the chapter into three main sections based upon methodology: (1) genetic epidemiology of adult and pediatric anxiety (twin and family studies), (2) human molecular genetics (linkage and association), and (3) animal genetic models. These approaches provide complimentary and concurring evidence supporting the genetic basis underlying anxiety disorders as well as preliminary insight into the genetic mechanisms involved in their expression.