Neurologic disorders anxiety symptoms

Certain systemic medical illnesses and primary neurologic disorders can dys-regulate CNS neurotransmitters and cause or contribute to anxiety symptoms (see figure 7-D). Note that most anxiety symptoms associated with these medical conditions present in the form of generalized anxiety, generally not panic attacks. 

Although the etiology of autism is not understood, the defining or core symptoms of autistic disorder are considered to be impaired social interaction, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, and restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior. In addition, most patients with a primary diagnosis of autism exhibit other neurological or psychiatric symptoms, which may include seizures, sleep disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, attention deficit/hyperactivity, self-injury, and cognitive impairment (Simonoff et ah, 2008). It is not known to what extent these comorbidities reflect the primary pathology of autism and to what extent they represent unrelated vulnerabilities that are exacerbated by the impaired social interaction and communication that is characteristic of the disorder. 

Language and speech. Speech spontaneity, articulation, vocabulary, and prosody should be noted. Pedantic speech may be a symptom of Asperger s disorder or of a nonverbal learning disorder. Diminished speech may be the result of depression or autism. Excessive speech may be the result of anxiety, ADHD, or hypo-mania. Unusual speech may be an early sign of neu-rodevelopmental vulnerability to psychosis. Slurred speech may be evidence of a neurologic abnormality or a medication side effect. 

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