LAUSR

Key Points Question Do individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) show abnormal physiological, perceptual, or neural responses during peripheral β-adrenergic stimulation that may indicate interoceptive dysfunction? Findings In this crossover randomized clinical trial, female patients with GAD exhibited hypersensitivity to adrenergic stimulation as well as greater interoceptive sensation and diminished ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity compared with healthy participants. Meaning This study provides evidence of dysfunctional autonomic and central nervous system contributions to the pathophysiology of GAD and suggests that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex may be a treatment target.