Articles tagged with Anxiety Disorders
A global review of systematic reviews found that people under 35, particularly women, are disproportionately affected by anxiety disorders. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding how common these disorders are and which groups are at greatest risk, especially those with chronic health conditions.
Researchers at Concordia University have discovered a more effective way to treat anxiety disorders by incorporating safety behaviors into therapy. The study found that patients who used new safety behaviors during exposure therapy had better outcomes than those who relied on traditional safety behaviors.
A third of global burden of disease for mental disorders occurs in India and China, with significant treatment gaps. Community engagement, traditional medicine practitioners, and increased support are key to bridging this gap.
Researchers at York University found that integrating motivational interviewing (MI) into cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective in treating severe generalized anxiety disorder. This approach helps patients overcome conflicting feelings and enhances motivation for change, leading to improved long-term outcomes.
Researchers found that integrating motivational interviewing (MI) with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves long-term patient improvement rates for severe generalized anxiety disorder. MI helps patients address ambivalence and resistance, leading to better outcomes over a one-year follow-up period.
A new Northwestern University and UCLA study found that young people with high neuroticism are highly likely to develop both anxiety and depression disorders. Researchers suggest a single intervention could help prevent the development of both conditions.
Research suggests that women with lower incomes than their male counterparts are more likely to experience major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Women who earn equal or higher wages have similar odds of depression and anxiety.
An international survey of mental health disorders and their association with chronic physical conditions found a significant link between the two. The study identified 16 mental health disorders and 10 chronic physical conditions, suggesting that mental disorders can increase the risk of developing these conditions.
A large-scale survey found that African-Americans who did not exercise frequently had nearly twice the odds of abusing alcohol. Regular physical activity was associated with lower odds of alcohol misuse, suggesting a potential link between exercise and decreased risk.
A study of over 6,500 teenagers found that those with mental disorders are more likely to experience chronic pain. The researchers identified connections between various types of mental disorders and chronic pain, suggesting that mental health issues may be an underlying risk factor for chronic pain in young people.
A new study of over 20,000 men and women in the UK found that women living in poor areas are almost twice as likely to develop clinical anxiety disorder as those in richer areas. In contrast, men's levels of generalized anxiety disorder remain unaffected by their socio-economic status.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that individuals with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are twice as likely to develop generalized anxiety disorders. Women with IBD have four times the odds of anxiety compared to men, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Mark Zimmerman, a clinical researcher at Rhode Island Hospital, suggests that accurate diagnosis of psychiatric disorders is not as crucial as effective treatment outcomes. Prescription medications and therapy are often effective for various conditions, reducing the need for precise diagnosis.
A recent study published in Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that what was previously grouped as anxiety disorders may not be homogeneous in terms of the functioning of the serotonergic system. The researchers found that acute tryptophan depletion caused worsening symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders more related to fear, ...
Nonfatal diseases and injuries are increasingly affecting global health, with back pain, depression, and mental disorders among the leading causes of years lived with disability. The study found that YLDs increased by 52% between 1990 and 2013, with population growth and aging contributing to the growing burden.
MIT researchers discovered a neural circuit that underlies approach-avoidance conflict, a type of decision-making that elicits anxiety. By manipulating this circuit in rodents, they showed that it can transform preferences for lower-risk choices into those for bigger payoffs despite their costs.
A study by King's College London found that mood instability occurs in a wide range of mental disorders and is not exclusive to affective conditions. The research also identified that mood instability was associated with poorer clinical outcomes, such as longer hospital stays and increased use of antipsychotic medication.
A study by Case Western Reserve researchers found that low-intensity service participation can reduce relapse rates among socially anxious youths with substance addiction. Service activities, such as setting up chairs or making coffee, facilitate the transition back into the community and cut the risk of relapse approximately in half.
A study found that extremely low birth weight babies are more likely to develop psychiatric problems like depression and ADHD as adults. However, those who received steroids during pregnancy were not protected against these issues.
People with social anxiety disorder tend to think their friendships are worse than they really are, but a new study reveals this perception may be misplaced. The study found that friendships of people with social anxiety disorder were not significantly worse than those without the disorder, contrary to their self-reported experiences.
A large study found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more effective and can have lasting effects than medication for social anxiety disorder. CBT helps people challenge irrational fears and overcome avoidance of social situations.
A Baylor University researcher found that individuals with a secure attachment to God experience fewer symptoms of anxiety-related disorders. Those who pray but do not expect comfort or protection from God are more likely to show symptoms of anxiety.
Exercise and relaxation techniques have been found to alter how people perceive their environment, making it less threatening for those with mood and anxiety disorders. This breakthrough could explain why these treatments are successful in managing symptoms.
A study by University of Iowa researchers found that pathological gambling runs in families, with first-degree relatives eight times more likely to develop the problem. The study also identified connections between pathological gambling and other psychiatric disorders, such as social anxiety disorder and PTSD.
Researchers found that a revised version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire, shortened from 87 to 20 items, can also assess symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study's findings suggest that the questionnaire may be a useful tool for understanding mental health disorders beyond OCD.
Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that people living with depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions are twice as likely to have tried e-cigarettes and three times as likely to be current users. They also face a higher risk of trying e-cigarettes in the future.
A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that 80% of youth responders to CBT and sertraline maintained positive treatment response over a 6-month follow-up period. The study also showed that combined therapy had greater benefits, with fewer youth failing to achieve responder status.
A study of 26 studies found that quitting smoking is associated with improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological quality of life. The findings suggest that smokers can be reassured that stopping smoking has mental health benefits.
Researchers at UCLA have identified the medial prefrontal cortex as a key player in how anxious youths interpret neutral information. Increased activity in this brain region is observed when teenagers with anxiety disorders view faces that might be perceived as threatening, highlighting the importance of context in shaping their percep...
A recent 12-country study found that binge-eating disorder is associated with substantial lifelong impairments, including depression, anxiety disorders, and work disability. The study suggests that early detection and treatment of eating disorders during adolescence may help prevent subsequent mental and physical disorders.
The US is losing ground in health outcomes to other countries, with mental and behavioral disorders, musculoskeletal problems, and neurological conditions causing significant disability. Chronic disability now accounts for nearly half of all health loss in the US.
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.
OCD researchers discovered a mechanism underlying compulsive behaviors in mice, suggesting potential treatments. The study's findings could lead to novel drug development and direct stimulation techniques, including deep brain stimulation.
The new series aims to help achieve a Grand Challenge in Global Mental Health by redesigning health systems to integrate mental, neurological, and substance use disorders with other chronic-disease care. Integration is essential for achieving desired outcomes for priority health programs.
A Swedish-US study found that people with any mental disorder are five times more likely to be homicide victims than those without. The risk is highest among those with substance use disorders, but also affects individuals with depression, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
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.
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.
Researchers found that the order of symptoms matters more for clinicians' descriptions of disorders that are different than those that overlap. This contradicts the assumption that order doesn't matter in psychiatric diagnoses. The study's findings have implications for bringing classification and clinical practice closer together.
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.
Researchers found that stress-related problem drinking is linked to a specific combination of neural circuit functioning, including highly reactive reward circuits and hypo-reactive threat circuits. This imbalance can lead to excessive drinking in response to stress, as the brain struggles with opposing drives for pleasure and fear.
New research found that lithium-responsive patients exhibit increased expression of anti-apoptotic genes like Bcl2 and IRS2, while those who don't respond show decreased Bcl2 levels. This study provides insight into personalized treatment for bipolar disorder.
A Rutgers University study suggests that poor mothers are more likely to be classified with generalized anxiety disorder due to poverty rather than mental illness. The research found no evidence of a link between anxiety and parenting stress in these mothers.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have found a causal link between unconscious conflicts and conscious anxiety disorder symptoms. The study used subliminal and supraliminal presentations of words related to unconscious conflicts and conscious symptom-related stimuli, revealing an inhibitory effect on brain activity.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida's Anxiety Disorders Clinic have developed a new computer simulation program to help children with social anxiety disorders. The program, designed for ages 8-12, allows clinicians to play the roles of avatars while children practice greetings, compliments, and assertiveness in a realistic...
Researchers at Michigan State University found that anxious girls' brains respond more intensely to mistakes, suggesting a potential link between worrying and brain function. The study may help identify girls prone to anxiety problems.
A study by University of Copenhagen researchers found that only 5.7% of Danish children with anxiety disorders were diagnosed between 2004 and 2007, compared to 27-45% in Western countries. The low diagnosis rate indicates a lack of reporting and inadequate treatment options for children suffering from the most common anxiety disorders.
A UBC researcher has developed a two-question screening test to identify anxious kindergarten children, showing 85% effectiveness in predicting future anxiety disorders. The test asks parents about shyness and worrying in their children, and can help intervene early to prevent mental health issues.
A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute shows that 75% of mental illnesses emerge by age 25. The First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP) provides direct access to specialized services for youth ages 16-26, leading to improved outcomes.
The University of Houston has opened a new sleep and anxiety center for kids, offering empirically-based evaluation and treatment services. The center provides top-of-the-line treatment at no cost to participating families, including polysomnography and actigraphy assessments.
Researchers found that African Americans experiencing racial discrimination had higher odds of developing generalized anxiety disorder, while Afro-Caribbeans did not. Non-Hispanic whites also showed an association between non-racial discrimination and GAD.
A Canadian psychological scientist team found improvements in brain activity after group cognitive behavior therapy for patients with social anxiety disorder. The study used EEGs and found that changes in brain electrical interactions paralleled clinicians' and patients' reports of easing symptoms.
A study published in Neuron reveals that individual differences in amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex function are independently associated with anxiety vulnerability. High trait anxiety individuals show enhanced amygdala response and faster fear acquisition, while vmPFC recruitment is linked to reduced fear responses in fear-...
A brain scan can predict which children with anxiety disorder will respond to talk therapy, potentially avoiding psychiatric medication. The study found that children who show fear when looking at happy faces on a screen have the least success with cognitive behavioral therapy.
A new study published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention found that patients with anxiety disorders are more likely to have undetected heart problems during electrocardiogram tests. The study suggests that administering a brief questionnaire before conducting ECGs can help identify patients at risk.
A systematic review of research on herbal supplements for anxiety found strong evidence for extracts of passionflower, kava, and combinations of L-lysine and L-arginine. The study pooled results from 24 studies involving over 2,000 participants.
A study by UC Davis researchers has demonstrated the effectiveness of asynchronous telepsychiatry in assessing patients' mental health, using store-and-forward technology. The approach allows psychiatrists to provide opinions to primary-care doctors quickly and efficiently, with high accuracy and feasibility.
Research finds that anxiety disorders in heart patients are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events and death. A study of 1,015 outpatients with stable coronary heart disease found that those with generalized anxiety disorder had a 74% increased risk of cardiovascular events.
A large clinical study found Omega-3 supplementation to be effective in improving depression symptoms among patients with unipolar depression unaccompanied by anxiety. The study used high-quality EPA supplements and demonstrated efficacy comparable to conventional antidepressant treatments.
Researchers at the University of Granada identified different effects of nervous disposition and anxious moments on attention processes. The study found that high trait anxiety values resulted in deficient attentional performance, while high state anxiety led to overfunctioning of alerting and orienting networks.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that chamomile extract therapy significantly reduced the severity of GAD in patients with mild-moderate symptoms. The study's findings suggest that chamomile may be a potential treatment option for those who are averse to traditional pharmacotherapy.