In almost half the patients seeking advice for anxiety, panic and phob
ias the cause was alcohol or benzodiazepines. In the remainder it was
psychological, usually a state of conflict or a traumatic event. When
symptoms are persistent following a distressing event it is often the
case that alcohol or benzodiazepines are keeping them going. There is
a large variation in individual vulnerability and the mechanism respon
sible for these symptoms is rebound arousal.