MUSCLE TENSION IN GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER - ELEVATED MUSCLE TONUS OR AGITATED MOVEMENT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the amplitude characteris tics of frontalis and gastrocnemius electromyographic (EMG) activity i n clinically anxious and nonanxious populations. Eighteen women with g eneralized anxiety disorder (GAD) and 19 nonanxious women were compare d during baseline, laboratory stressor, and recovery conditions. EMG m ean levels were greater for the GAD group, but there were no group dif ferences in EMG skewness. During the stressor the GAD group had a sign ificant reduction in frontalis EMG variability. Gastrocnemius muscle a ctivity for both groups during the stressor condition increased in mea n levels and variability while decreasing in skewness. These results i ndicate that clinically anxious individuals have elevated muscular ton us and have reduced variability in frontalis activity during stressful tasks. Also, the gastrocnemius muscle exhibited a stressor reactivity , whereas the frontalis did not. This study presents an approach to EM G analysis that could be useful in distinguishing unique features of a nxiety as well as other emotional disorders.