It is not seen as a distinct type of anxiety but rather plays a part in many variations and can be found in numerous disorders and is strongly connected to panic attacks, often following them.
[7][8] Increased activity of the amygdala can lead to wrongfully processing threats, which could then be the reason for overly worrying about the future.
The main symptom is an extensive fear of an imagined event or situation that lays in the future, which the person thinks of as an "unpredictable threat".
[1][5][8] Other symptoms include:[2][5] A person suffering from anticipatory anxiety may also experience fear of having a panic attack.
[12] Anticipatory anxiety has higher chances of occurring in the context of situations where the result of stress-inducing events is unpredictable.
[8][7] Prior knowledge, anticipation, and understanding of potential consequences of the stressful event may significantly decrease the level of the anxiety.
[14] Anticipatory anxiety is a symptom of panic disorder, playing a role in its onset, maintenance and impairment.
[4][5][6] The severity of this anxiety might be modified by cues assumed to trigger panic attacks, including bodily symptoms.
[5] The freezing symptom, characteristic for panic disorder, is related to the lessened mobility associated with anticipatory anxiety.
[15] The Panic and Agoraphobia Scale scores on the basis of five elements, including the frequency and severity of anticipatory anxiety.
These expectations cause a feedback loop where anxious individuals become increasingly more vigilant and attentive towards perceived threats.
Hyperactivity of the anterior insula can be observed in anticipation of negative events connected to absent decision-making or threat uncertainty.