Data_Sheet_1_A Systematic Review of Thermosensation and Thermoregulation in Anxiety Disorders.docx

Objectives: Sweating, hot flushes, and blushing are symptoms frequently reported by individuals with anxiety disorders. They represent important reinforcers of anxiogenic cognitions and behaviours. One system that may be involved in the manifestation of these symptoms is the thermosensory/thermoregulatory system. The aim of the present study was to investigate to what extent individuals with anxiety disorders are characterised by alterations in this system.Methods: PubMed and PsycINFO were systematically searched. Studies were eligible if they (i) assessed individuals with anxiety disorders, (ii) thermosensation or thermoregulatory effectors/outcomes, and (iii) used a case-control design.Results:N = 86 studies were identified. There was no evidence of altered thermosensation in individuals with anxiety disorders. Regarding thermoregulatory effectors, individuals with social anxiety disorder exhibited altered cutaneous vasodilation upon pharmacological challenge; individuals with specific phobia showed increased sweating upon confrontation with phobic stimuli; individuals with panic disorder showed increased daily sweating as well as increased sweating in response to non-phobic and phobic stimuli. Regarding thermoregulatory outcomes, there was evidence for altered skin temperature in all subtypes of anxiety.Conclusion: Whereas there was no evidence of altered thermoregulation in specific phobia, a subgroup of individuals with social anxiety and panic disorder appears to exhibit altered vasodilation and sweating, respectively. Longitudinal research is warranted to investigate whether this represents a vulnerability to anxiety/panic.

研究目标：出汗、潮热以及脸红是焦虑症患者常见的主诉症状。这些症状作为焦虑性认知和行为的重要强化因素，具有显著意义。可能参与这些症状表现的系统之一为体温感觉/体温调节系统。本研究旨在探究焦虑症患者在该系统中的改变程度。研究方法：对PubMed和PsycINFO数据库进行了系统检索。符合纳入标准的研究包括：（i）评估焦虑症患者，（ii）体温感觉或体温调节效应器/结果，（iii）采用病例对照设计。研究结果：共纳入86项研究。未发现焦虑症患者存在体温感觉改变的证据。关于体温调节效应器，社交焦虑症患者在接受药物挑战时表现出皮肤血管扩张的改变；特定恐惧症患者在与恐惧刺激对峙时出汗增加；恐慌症患者表现出日常出汗量增加，以及对非恐惧和恐惧刺激的反应性出汗增加。关于体温调节结果，所有焦虑症亚型均存在皮肤温度改变的证据。结论：尽管在特定恐惧症中未发现体温调节改变的证据，但社交焦虑症和恐慌症患者亚组似乎表现出血管扩张和出汗的改变，分别。为进一步探究这代表对焦虑/恐慌的易感性，有必要进行纵向研究。