Perfusione miocardica e cerebrale indotta dalla respirazione nei disturbi d'ansia (B-GLAD)

The study will recruit patient participants who are identified as having Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), as well as age-similar healthy volunteer participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient population:

Age 18-55,

• Confirmation of an anxiety disorder as identified by the PSWQ,
• No known, current or history, of significant medical conditions that may affect or directly involve the neurological, cardiovascular or respiratory system (except anxiety and depression)
• Non-smoker

Healthy Volunteers:

• Age 18-55
• No known, current or history, of significant medical conditions that may affect or directly involve the neurological, cardiovascular or respiratory system
• Non-smoker

Exclusion Criteria:

• General MRI contraindications: pacemakers, defibrillating wires, implanted defibrillators, intracranial aneurysm clips, metallic foreign bodies in the eyes, pregnancy
• History of significant neurological disease or illness that is not anxiety (e.g. Dementia, stroke)
• Hemodynamically unstable conditions
• Significant or uncontrolled arrhythmias
• Severe pulmonary disease
• Recent (<90 days) myocardial infarction
• Recent (<90 days) surgery or coronary intervention
• Consumption of caffeine (caffeinated beverages, coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate) within 12h of the exam
• Use of benzodiazepines or other short-acting anxiety medications (<1 day)