A large-scale trial found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduced symptoms of health anxiety in medical patients, with improvements sustained at 2 years. The treatment was delivered by non-specialist staff with minimal training and cost-effectively reduced healthcare costs.
A study of over 32,000 participants found that traumatic life events are the biggest cause of anxiety and depression. The research highlights the importance of a person's thinking style in determining their level of stress and anxiety.
A University of Missouri researcher has found that individuals genetically predisposed to anxiousness are less likely to volunteer and help others. Helping such individuals cope with their anxiety may increase their prosocial behavior, improving their overall health and well-being.
A new UNL study reveals a genetic pathway that connects social anxiety to prosocial behavior, finding carriers of a dominant gene are less likely to help others. The study suggests this pathway can influence an individual's level of social anxiety and their willingness to engage in pro-social behavior.
A meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials found that Transcendental Meditation (TM) practice reduced trait anxiety in people with high anxiety levels. Studies showed significant reductions in anxiety, especially in those with elevated anxiety levels.
Research suggests brain activity and hormone fluctuations play crucial roles in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Women with PMDD exhibit hyper-responsive amygdala activation in response to emotional stimuli, particularly low progesterone levels. The study aims to develop new treatment strategies for affected women.
Researchers discovered that neuroactive stress steroids trigger changes in the brains of methamphetamine-dependent rats during withdrawal. Flumazenil reversed these changes and prevented anxiety by reducing expression of a4βδ GABARs, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for stress-triggered anxiety.
Researchers discover how anxiety affects olfactory processing, linking emotional centers of the brain. Neutral smells become distasteful under anxiety, leading to a vicious cycle that can heighten distress and lead to conditions like anxiety and depression.
Girls report higher levels of math anxiety in general surveys, but their actual math class performance reveals no significant difference from boys. Lower self-reported competence may be the underlying cause of this discrepancy.
Researchers found that immune cells called monocytes are recruited to the brain in response to stress and promote anxiety-like behavior. Monocytes travel to specific regions of the brain, generating inflammation that causes anxiety.
Researchers at MIT have identified a key brain circuit that controls anxiety levels, providing new insights into the development of effective treatments. The study found that manipulating this circuit can boost or reduce anxiety in mice, suggesting a promising avenue for future research.
A new study found that depressed adolescents are more likely to develop anxiety if they have a pessimistic outlook, poor family relationships, or a mother with an anxiety disorder. Mental health professionals may be able to target these high-risk youth and provide early intervention to prevent anxiety from developing.
Research suggests that early-life stress exposure increases adulthood anxiety, hormonal stress responses, and a preference for comfort foods. These changes may be used as self-medication to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
Researchers found that bipolar patients who binge eat are more likely to experience mental health issues such as suicidal thoughts, psychosis, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. In contrast, obese bipolar patients without binge eating were more prone to serious physical problems like arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.
Regular exercise reduces brain's stress response and anxiety by strengthening mechanisms that prevent excited neurons from firing. The study finds that physical activity enhances local inhibitory mechanisms in the ventral hippocampus, leading to a boost of activity in inhibitory neurons.
Researchers found that sleep deprivation triggers excessive anticipatory anxiety by activating the amygdala and insular cortex. Innate worriers are more vulnerable to this impact, suggesting that sleep therapy could be a potential treatment for anxiety disorders.
The University of Houston has received a $675,000 grant to investigate the effectiveness of transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy for smoking cessation among individuals with anxiety disorders. The study aims to reduce tobacco use and develop an effective smoking cessation treatment that targets people with anxiety disorders.
A new study finds that estrogen replacement therapy decreases anxiety symptoms in girls with anorexia nervosa, which may help prevent relapse. The treatment also appears to prevent worsening attitudes toward body image and food.
A pioneering study demonstrates the benefit of MRI in identifying mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder. The advanced imaging technique was able to correctly distinguish patients from healthy individuals with a high degree of accuracy, promising a new approach to diagnosis.
A recent study published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found that meditation can significantly reduce normal everyday anxiety in healthy individuals. The study used arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain activity before and after four 20-minute mindfulness meditation sessions.
A recent study reveals that cancer survivors are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, with partners experiencing even more anxiety than survivors. The findings highlight the need for improved screening and follow-up support for both survivors and their families.
A recent study found that anxious men experience significantly greater impairments from anxiety during job interviews compared to women. The researchers suggest that societal stereotypes and expectations may contribute to this disparity. Strategies for reducing interview anxiety, such as preparation and practice, are also discussed.
A study published in JAMA Network found that patient-preferred music significantly reduced anxiety and sedation frequency and intensity in critically ill patients receiving acute ventilatory support. The intervention resulted in a 19.5-point lower anxiety score compared to usual care.
Researchers discovered that individuals who use an emotional regulation strategy called reappraisal tend to experience less anxiety than those who suppress their emotions. Reappraisal involves reframing a problem in a positive light, finding the positives and focusing on challenging situations.
A world-first clinical study by an Australian team has found Kava significantly reduced symptoms of people suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorders. The study revealed Kava could be an alternative treatment to pharmaceutical products, with no significant adverse reactions or differences in liver function between the groups.
The Lancet Series on bipolar disorder offers a comprehensive overview of the condition, including its genetic basis, diagnostic challenges, and treatment limitations. The series highlights the need for more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatments, with neuroimaging research potentially transforming bipolar diagnosis.
A CU-Boulder study found that rats forced to exercise by mechanized wheels showed reduced anxiety levels compared to sedentary rats. Humans who feel forced to exercise may also benefit from the mental health benefits of physical activity.
Researchers from UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health discovered a core circuit responsible for the variability in symptoms shown by patients with severe anxiety. The study identified two distinct brain circuits: one shared among all anxious individuals and another specific to particular symptoms.
New research reveals that heart disease patients with anxiety are twice as likely to die from any cause compared to those without anxiety. Those with both anxiety and depression face a tripled risk of death. The study suggests that anxiety may underlie the risk previously attributed solely to depression.
A study of over 800 children found that those who avoided scary situations had stable anxiety scores after a year and were more anxious later. The approach may enable identifying kids at risk for anxiety disorders, which cognitive behavior therapy can help address.
A study found that family-focused treatment improved mood symptoms in children and adolescents at risk for bipolar disorder, with significant benefits for those from high expressed emotion families. The treatment showed promise in stabilizing symptoms and improving long-term outcomes.
A study by Columbia University researchers found that selectively activating the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus can reduce anxiety without affecting learning. This suggests that targeting this brain region could be used to treat certain anxiety disorders with minimal cognitive side effects.
A new study suggests that scopolamine can help boost the effectiveness of exposure therapy for anxiety disorders by disrupting contextual processing. Researchers found that administering scopolamine to rats during anxiety-extinction led to fear-recovery being thwarted, suggesting a potential breakthrough in preventing relapse.
Adults undergoing bariatric surgery who are more physically active are less likely to have depressive symptoms and treatment for depression or anxiety. Moderate-intensity physical activity, such as one hour a week or 4,750 steps a day, was associated with lower odds of these conditions.
A new study suggests that high levels of attachment anxiety in married couples can compromise their immune systems, leading to higher cortisol levels and fewer T cells. This chronic stressor may be related to inconsistent care during infancy, but it is also possible for individuals with attachment anxiety to change.
Researchers find that broken molecular motors cause stress and anxiety in mice, potentially leading to new anti-anxiety drug candidates. The discovery highlights the critical role of these motors in transporting serotonin receptors, which regulate mood and behavior.
Tel Aviv University scientists discovered that lab mice do not actually experience chronic anxiety, but instead exhibit temporary responses to new environments. This finding could explain why most candidate drugs have poor therapeutic value in treating human brain disorders.
Patients with depressive disorders and borderline personality disorder have significantly higher unemployment rates than those without the condition. Persistent unemployment poses a significant public health burden, with 13.4% of patients missing up to two years or more from work.
A new study from Concordia University found that for individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), anger is a major exacerbating factor, contributing to symptoms and potentially hindering treatment. The research suggests that internalized anger expression may be a stronger predictor of GAD than other forms of anger.
A study by Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found that genetic variants of the FKBP5 gene can influence epigenetic alterations caused by early trauma, leading to lifelong dysregulation of stress hormones. This can result in increased risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders in adulthood.
Rhode Island Hospital researcher Kristy L. Dalrymple explores the variances between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and normal shyness, discussing differing opinions on diagnosis and treatment. SAD affects up to 30% of those seeking mental health treatment, with significant economic costs and impact on daily life.
Pediatric patients with noncardiac chest pain exhibit higher levels of anxiety and depression compared to those with innocent heart murmurs. The UGA research found a statistically significant increase in anxiety and depression among these patients.
A study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that anxiety sensitivity significantly impeded the quitting efforts of smokers with asthma. Participants with higher anxiety sensitivity reported increased self-control as a motivation to quit, but also experienced temporary increases in anxiety symptoms, making it harder for them t...
A study examines parental behaviors that create anxious children, revealing a link between parents' social anxiety and their offspring's angst. The research identifies specific behaviors, including lack of warmth and criticism, which can increase anxiety in children.
Research found that math anxiety activates regions of the brain associated with physical pain, while anticipation of math increases neural activity. Individuals with high math anxiety tend to avoid math-related situations due to a potential neural basis for this avoidance.
Research at the University of Chicago shows that math anxiety can prompt a brain response similar to physical pain. The anticipation of doing math activates the same brain areas as registering bodily harm or experiencing pain.
Researchers found that people in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, particularly for schizophrenia. Creative fields were also associated with higher rates of bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety syndrome, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior.
A large genetic replication study found compelling evidence that the chromosome 3p21.1 locus contains a common genetic risk for bipolar disorder, specifically the PBRM1 gene. This replication distinguishes the heritable risk for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, contrasting with previous studies.
Researchers have identified genetic variations in genes associated with bipolar disorder I and II, providing new insights into the complex biochemical pathway involved. The study found associations between variants in PDE10A, DISC1, and GNAS genes and an increased risk of developing the mental illness.
McGill researchers identified a small region in the genome linked to psychiatric disease and obesity, specifically through BDNF deletion. The study found that individuals with BDNF deletions exhibited major depression, anxiety, and obesity, with weight gain associated with age.
A University of Maryland School of Public Health kinesiology researcher suggests that moderate exercise can help people cope with anxiety and stress for an extended period after the workout. The study found that exercise not only reduces anxiety but also helps maintain that reduced anxiety when confronted with emotional events.
Research at the University of Chicago found that high-achieving students experience math anxiety from an early age, which can disrupt their working memory and negatively impact their math performance. The study suggests that reframing anxiety through writing or expressive picture drawing can help alleviate this effect.
Research shows that nearly 20% of young children with cancer develop posttraumatic stress disorder, exhibiting symptoms such as flashbacks and anxiety. The study highlights the need for child-friendly treatment procedures and psychological support to prevent prolonged disorders that impair development.
A new study found that brain scans can predict patients' responses to cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder. The researchers measured brain activity while patients looked at faces before treatment and found those with greater activity in high-level visual processing areas showed the most improvement after therapy.
Researchers found that 88% of asthmatics had moderate or intense anxiety levels, compared to 46% in the control group. Balance control was also impaired in asthmatic patients, suggesting a link between balance abnormalities and asthma symptoms.
A new study suggests pregnancy could have a positive impact on bipolar disorder, with fewer and shorter episodes in pregnant women. The study's findings call for large, multicenter, prospective studies to better understand the natural course of the disorder.
A new study by Dr. Inti Pedroso and colleagues has identified key genes and neural signaling pathways involved in the development of bipolar disorder. The findings, published in Biological Psychiatry, provide insight into the complex biology of the disorder and highlight potential new avenues for treatment.
Researchers found anxiety is a stronger risk factor for prolonged and frequent sick leave than depression alone. The study, which followed 13,436 participants over six years, also showed that pain can impact the association between common mental disorders and sick leave.
A novel intervention called Emotion Detectives Treatment Protocol (EDTP) has shown significant reductions in anxiety and depression severity after treatment. The program adapts age-appropriate techniques from adult and adolescent protocols to educate children about emotions, problem-solving skills, and behavior activation.
A neuroeconomic review investigates how anxiety disorders impact everyday decision-making processes. The study highlights the overlap between neural systems underlying anxiety and decision-making, suggesting that fear and anxiety can alter choice patterns. Anxious individuals exhibit specific biases in decision making, which may be med...