http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/anxiety/ Information and current medical research on the causes of anxiety and panic attacks. Learn the symptoms and treatment options for anxiety attacks, depression and related anxiety disorders. Learn techniques for managing stress and understand medications to treat anxiety. en-us Mon, 12 May 2008 23:05:01 EDT Mon, 12 May 2008 23:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/anxiety/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512105719.htm Using single-photon emission computed tomography, researchers in The Netherlands were able to detect biochemical differences in the brains of individuals with generalized social anxiety disorder, providing evidence of a long-suspected biological cause for the dysfunction. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512105719.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080511190834.htm Women and men tend to have different types of stress-related psychological disorders. Women have greater rates of depression and some types of anxiety disorders than men, while men have greater rates of alcohol-use disorders than women. A new study of emotional and alcohol-craving responses to stress has found that when men become upset, they are more likely than women to want alcohol. Mon, 12 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080511190834.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508100721.htm Wouldn't it be nice if our doctors could predict accurately whether we would respond to a particular medication? This question is important because research studies provide information about how groups of patients tend to respond to treatments, but inevitably, differences among groups of patients with the same diagnosis mean that findings about groups of patients may not apply to individuals from those groups. Sat, 10 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508100721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162801.htm Breast cancer patients who have a prior history of mood and anxiety disorders are at a much higher risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder following their diagnosis, new research suggests. A study of 74 breast cancer patients at the Ohio State University Medical Center found that 16 percent of them suffered from PTSD 18 months after diagnosis. Tue, 06 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162801.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162858.htm Although most adopted American teens are psychologically healthy, adoptees appear to be at greater risk for emotional and behavioral problems than non-adoptees, according to a new report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. They are also more likely to have contact with a mental health professional. Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162858.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162849.htm Children who had a parent who died suddenly have three times the risk of depression than those with two living parents, along with an increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder according to a new article. Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162849.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422143529.htm Children who are shunned or targeted by social attacks in school may experience depression and anxiety in young adulthood, a new study shows. In a study of college students, researchers discovered a link between what psychologists call relational victimization in adolescence and depression and anxiety in early adulthood. Rather than threatening a child with physical violence, these bullies target a child's social status and relationships by shunning them, excluding them from social activities or spreading rumors. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422143529.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080418154959.htm Right now, about half of all people who take medicine for an anxiety disorder don't get much help from it. And doctors have no definitive way to predict who will, and who won't, benefit from each antianxiety prescription they write. Scientists are working to bring more certainty to anxiety treatment, by probing the connection between brain activity, genetics and medication. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080418154959.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422171452.htm An analysis of NESARC's Wave 2 identifies predictors of first episodes of DSM-IV substance, mood and anxiety disorders. One-year incidence was highest for alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Incidence was significantly greater among men for most substance use disorders, greater among women for most mood and anxiety disorders, decreased among Blacks for alcohol abuse, and decreased among Hispanics for GAD. Age was related inversely to all disorders. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422171452.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407195349.htm The performance pressures from end-of-semester exams and papers can take a toll on students, even leading them to turn to potentially harmful substances to keep them awake and alert. Recent studies show that a growing number of high school and college students are turning to stimulants like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) drugs and energy drinks to help them through their stress -- particularly during exam time, says an adolescent medicine specialist. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407195349.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409170339.htm Depression and anxiety are more prevalent in Tibetan refugees than they are in ethnic Tibetans born and raised in the comparative stability of exile communities in Northern India and Nepal. The study's author concludes that there is a need for continued support for refugee communities, even after prolonged periods of what seems to be successful adaptation in an exile environment. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080409170339.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407160745.htm Children who sleep less may be more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, depression and aggression later in life, according to a new report. Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407160745.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408160631.htm Post traumatic stress disorder is commonly thought to effect victims of major trauma and those who witness violence, but a new study finds that it also can effect children who have lost a parent expectedly to diseases such as cancer. The finding has major implications for helping children cope with grief. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408160631.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407160751.htm Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder appear likely to experience sleep problems, according to a new report. Sleep problems in these children may be associated with poorer child psychosocial quality of life, child daily functioning, caregiver mental health and family functioning. Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080407160751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080406153354.htm Having a lower social standing increases the likelihood that a monkey faced with a stressful situation will choose cocaine over food, according to a new study. More dominant monkeys undergoing the same stressful situation had fewer changes in brain activity in areas of the brain involved in stress and anxiety and were less likely to choose cocaine. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080406153354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402131150.htm Scientists identified gene variants that affect the expression of neuropeptide Y, a molecule that regulates emotional responses and other functions. Inherited variations in the amount of NPY help explain why some people can withstand stress better than others. Since stress response is an important variable in vulnerability to alcohol dependence and other addictions, the finding could advance our understanding of individuals' vulnerability to these disorders. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402131150.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403104350.htm Anxiety gets a lot of bad press. Dwelling on the negative can lead to chronic stress and anxiety disorders and phobias, but evolutionarily speaking, anxiety holds some functional value. In humans, learning to avoid harm is necessary not only for surviving in the face of basic threats (such as predators or rotten food), but also for avoiding more complex social or economic threats (such as enemies or questionable investments). Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080403104350.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402194355.htm Mental health problems in childhood blight adult working life, suggests new research. And problems in working life are associated with mid-life depression and anxiety. Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402194355.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402084340.htm Reshaping of the DNA scaffolding that supports and controls the expression of genes in the brain may play a major role in alcohol withdrawal symptoms, particularly anxiety, that makes it so difficult to stop using alcohol by alcoholics, researchers report in the Journal of Neuroscience. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402084340.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401081930.htm In addition to being a risk factor for a depressive episode, persistent insomnia may perpetuate the illness in some elderly patients, and especially in those receiving standard care for depression in primary care settings. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401081930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401081937.htm A new study confirms the persistent nature of insomnia and the increased risk of subsequent depression among individuals with insomnia. Seventeen to 50 percent of subjects with insomnia lasting two weeks or longer developed a major depressive episode. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401081937.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331151958.htm As obesity and inactivity among North America's youth becomes a growing concern, new research is asking why some high school boys are reluctant to participate in physical education classes. And while much of the research being publicly debated links the inactivity to television and computer use, one professor is examining the relationship between perceived masculinity, body image, and health. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331151958.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223834.htm In the first study in the Arab world to document mental illness and treatment on a national level, researchers from Lebanon have described the prevalence of mental disorders and their relation to exposure to war. Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223834.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172124.htm Researchers have found post-traumatic stress disorder is associated with more hospitalizations, longer hospitalizations and greater mental healthcare utilization in urban primary care patients. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080327172124.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325111800.htm If you are "frightened stiff", not only does the intense fear seem to paralyze the body, it may even retard the blood flow. A study by medical scientists has shown that people with an acute anxiety disorder tend to suffer from higher levels of blood clotting than the psychologically healthy population. This finding may explain why patients with anxiety problems are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325111800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325083318.htm A longitudinal study found that individuals with social problems in childhood and adolescence were at increased risk for anxiety and depression in young adulthood. Researchers followed 205 8- to 12-year olds for 20 years and conducted detailed interviews to examine how anxiety and depression related to social competence over time. The relationship between decreased social competence and "internalizing problems" remained the same when explanations including intellectual functioning, quality of parenting, social class, were accounted for. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325083318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320192339.htm Chronic insomnia is costing adolescents more than sleep. It's been linked to a wide range of physical, psychological and interpersonal problems, according to public health researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, who completed the first prospective study of adolescents with persistent sleep problems. Documenting a "twofold to fivefold" increase in personal problems among adolescents with persistent sleeplessness, public health researchers say they have completed the first prospective study demonstrating the negative impact of chronic insomnia on 11 to 17 year olds. More than one fourth of the youths surveyed had one or more symptoms of insomnia and almost half of these youngsters had chronic conditions. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320192339.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080318151746.htm Spring training for parents isn't a bad idea because as cries of "play ball" ring out this spring, they surely will be followed by complaints of anxiety and stress from young athletes wanting to quit sports. Parents and coaches can make youth sports a fun, learning experience or a nightmare, according to sport psychologists. Sat, 22 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080318151746.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320105550.htm In workplaces where nurses are bullied, the quality of patient care declines, the health of nurses suffers, and the retention of quality nurses becomes difficult. A new article reviews the psychological and social issues related to bullying in the workplace and strategies for creating a respectful work environment. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080320105550.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304173356.htm Doctors may one day be able to control alcohol addiction by manipulating the molecular events in the brain that underlie anxiety associated with alcohol withdrawal, researchers report in the Journal of Neuroscience. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304173356.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303190630.htm Scientists have discovered perhaps the strongest evidence yet linking variation in a particular gene with anxiety-related traits. Particular versions of a gene that affect the activity of important neurotransmitter receptors were more common in both children and adults assessed as being inhibited or introverted and also were associated with increased activity of brain regions involved in emotional processing. It has long been recognized that the tendency to anxiety disorders can run in families and is believed to be influenced by the interaction of several genes. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303190630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304214437.htm Up to one-half of those seeking help for substance-abuse disorders also have post-traumatic stress disorder. New findings show that the frequency of a PTSD is greater among those dependent on drugs rather than alcohol, and that having a PTSD tends to predict a more severe course and worse outcome for an SUD. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304214437.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226155537.htm A brain circuit that underlies feelings of stress and anxiety shows promise as a new therapeutic target for alcoholism, according to new studies. Relapse to uncontrolled drinking after periods of sobriety is a defining characteristic of alcoholism and is often triggered by stress. Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226155537.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225103914.htm Acne patients who are highly anxious about their skin condition say they are less likely to participate in sport or exercise, according to new research. Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225103914.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206162301.htm Very young brains process memories of fear differently than more mature ones, new research indicates. The work significantly advances scientific understanding of when and how fear is stored and unlearned, and introduces new thinking on the implications of fear experience early in life. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206162301.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080217214547.htm Patients with fibromyalgia treated with a synthetic form of marijuana, nabilone, showed significant reductions in pain and anxiety in a first-of-its-kind study. Fibromyalgia syndrome has no cure, is difficult to diagnose, and effective pain management strategies are a must to help patients cope with the disease. An estimated 12 million Americans have fibromyalgia, which is characterized by widespread muscle and joint pain and myriad other symptoms. The condition is far more prevalent in women and the incidence increases with age, reaching 7 percent among women 65 years and older. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080217214547.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213111043.htm The brain's serotonin system differs between men and women. The scientists who conducted the study think that they have found one of the reasons why depression and chronic anxiety are more common in women than in men. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that is critical to the development and treatment of depression and chronic anxiety. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213111043.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213160851.htm People with multiple sclerosis who smoke marijuana are more likely to have emotional and memory problems, according to new research. The study found marijuana smokers performed 50 percent slower on tests of information processing speed compared to MS patients who did not smoke marijuana. There was also a significant association between smoking marijuana and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080213160851.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208172104.htm Gazing into your lover's eyes isn't only romantic; it may also mimic early attachments that forever alter your brain and body. Researchers are studying whether the brain hormone released with touches, hugs, or when a mother and her newborn baby bond might help patients with schizophrenia, social anxiety and a variety of other disorders. Oxytocin is a brain chemical associated with pair bonding, including mother-infant and male-female bonds, increased paternal involvement with children, and monogamy in certain rodents, according to a psychiatry professor involved with the study. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080208172104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080212155727.htm Long after Sept. 11, 2001, Americans' terrorism-related thoughts and fears are associated with increased depression, anxiety, hostility, post-traumatic stress and drinking, researchers have found. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080212155727.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080212165415.htm Elevated levels of anxiety may cause women with ductal carcinoma in situ, the most common form of non-invasive breast cancer, to overestimate their risk of recurrence or dying from breast cancer, suggests a new study. Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080212165415.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204111812.htm Patients with insomnia who are diagnosed with accompanying mental health ailments often are not prescribed medication that will help them sleep -- which could then make related anxiety or depression worse, new research suggests. Scientists examining treatment patterns for insomniacs say that their findings suggest that many doctors appear to be reluctant to prescribe sleep aids, even those that pose no risk of dependence, if patients also have depression, anxiety or mood disorders. Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204111812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204094507.htm Mood disorders could be caused by a loss of our inherent, reflexive avoidance of aversive events, according to a new study. Researchers have used computational modeling techniques to integrate what appeared to be blatant contradictions between serotonin's roles in different states of health. Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204094507.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124140952.htm A stressed-out mouse tends to be a bit timid, tentative, even fearful. For that matter, so does a stressed-out human. Our ability to learn from frightening situations is part of what helps us avoid them in the future. When that learning process goes awry, it can lead to depression and a decreased ability to recognize dangerous situations. Now, research by Rockefeller scientists has pinned down a protein in the hippocampus -- a part of the brain that controls memory, learning and fear -- that's essential for maintaining this stress response. Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124140952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123100328.htm Acute and chronic stress can have devastating effects on the brain, and researchers have now pinpointed one receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle. Uncontrollable stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, which have been linked to cellular changes in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is particularly susceptible to stress. Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123100328.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080121115422.htm The dominant model of disease today is, as 30 years ago, still biomedical, with molecular biology being the basic scientific discipline. However, there is evidence for the role of stressful life events and repeated or chronic environmental challenge in modulating individual vulnerability to illness. Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080121115422.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117164133.htm In a study that may significantly advance the understanding of how cognitive-behavioral therapy affects the brain, researchers have shown that significant changes in activity in certain regions of the brain can be produced with as little as four weeks of daily therapy in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The discovery could have important clinical implications. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117164133.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117203458.htm The term 'posttraumatic embitterment disorder' (PTED) was recently introduced to describe a subtype of adjustment disorders, characterized by prolonged embitterment, severe additional psychopathological symptoms and great impairment in most areas of life in reaction to a severe negative but not life threatening life event. The aim of this study is an empirical description and validation of the clinical concept of PTED, by comparing clinically defined PTED patients with patients suffering from other mental disorders on measures of posttraumatic stress and psychopathological distress. Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117203458.htm