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Childhood Temperament of Behavioral Inhibition and Anxiety

Yi-Ling Chien, M.D. 1, Wen-Che Tsai, M.D. 2, 3

The concept of "behavior inhibition" is a temperamental trait established by Kagan in 1988 and describes the fear of reticence associated with unfamiliar situations, events or strangers in children around 2 years old. Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that behavior inhibition in toddlers influences future psychopathology, including higher risks of social anxiety and multiple anxiety disorder. Although the trait of behavior inhibition is defined by laboratory observation, there has also been evidence presented of a biological basis for the trait, including activation of the autonomous nervous system, hyperactivity of the hypothalamus- pituitary-adrenal axis, increased amygdalar activity, etc. Dimensions similar to behavior inhibition have also been noted in other paradigms of temperament, especially Gray's behavior inhibition system. From the viewpoint of cognitive psychology, several paradigms have been developed to help the investigation of relatedness between behavior inhibition and psychopathology. Using these, many factors have been shown to be correlated with behavior inhibition, including environmental factors such as parenting style and genetic factors such as genetic polymorphism of the 5-HTT gene and of the gene encoding corticotropin-releasing hormone. These preliminary genetic results need to be verified further. Finally, the temperament trait of behavior inhibition would seem to be necessary for the internalization of self-control and thus plays an important part in the development of socialization. (Full text in Chinese)
Key Word behavioral inhibition, temperament, social phobia, social anxiety
Editorial Committe, Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry
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