http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/anxiety/ Current medical research news on the causes of anxiety and panic attacks. Learn techniques for managing stress and understand medications to treat anxiety. en-us Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:05:02 EST 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/2012/02/120215143120.htm Scientists have provided the first evidence of a link between a traumatic brain injury and increased susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:31:31 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215143120.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132709.htm People who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers. People also are more likely to report feelings of excitement and enthusiasm on days when they are more physically active than usual. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:27 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132709.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125132605.htm Scientists now have a better understanding of the way that stress impacts the brain. New research reveals pioneering evidence for a new mechanism of stress adaptation and may eventually lead to a better understanding of why prolonged and repeated exposure to stress can lead to anxiety disorders and depression. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125132605.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123124201.htm Increasing the involvement of workers through job design does affect employees' satisfaction and in turn organizational performance. But increasing the involvement of employees in the wider organization and encouraging them to be more proactive and flexible may reduce satisfaction and increase anxiety, even though it may increase organizational performance. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:42:42 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123124201.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120183040.htm The solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) widely used in industry and to dry clean clothes is a neurotoxin known to cause mood changes, anxiety, and depression in people who work with it. To date the long-term effect of this chemical on children exposed to PCE has been less clear, although there is some evidence that children of people who work in the dry cleaning industry have an increased risk of schizophrenia. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120120183040.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111134056.htm According to a new study, workers who witness incivility towards colleagues feel negative emotions -- especially when the incivility is aimed at workers of the same sex. The work is the first to look at the relationship between employees' observations of incivility towards same gender coworkers and negative emotions. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:40:40 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111134056.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109132606.htm Tuning in to tune out may be just what's needed for men undergoing a prostate biopsy, according to researchers. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120109132606.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120105161750.htm Distraction is an effective pain reliever, and a new study concludes that listening to music can be effective for reducing pain in high-anxiety persons who can easily become absorbed in cognitive activities. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:17:17 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120105161750.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103135323.htm Use of torture around the world has not diminished but the techniques used have grown more complex and sophisticated, according to new research. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:53:53 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120103135323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111227093059.htm Women with celiac disease -- an autoimmune disorder associated with a negative reaction to eating gluten -- are more likely than the general population to report symptoms of depression and disordered eating, even when they adhere to a gluten-free diet, according to researchers. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111227093059.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111220133707.htm Anxious study participants aren't as physiologically sensitive to subtle changes in their environment as less fearful individuals, new research shows. Researchers reason that anxious people could have a deficit in their threat evaluation capacities, which are necessary for effective decision-making and fear regulation. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:37:37 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111220133707.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213190158.htm Researchers find that mood and anxiety disorders are highly associated with non-medical prescription opioid use. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213190158.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209150152.htm New research underlines the power of an endogenous anti-stress peptide in the brain to prevent and even reverse some of the cellular effects of acute alcohol and alcohol dependence in animal models. The work could lead to the development of novel drugs to treat alcoholism. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209150152.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209105129.htm Children who suffer from persistent or recurring chronic pain may miss school, withdraw from social activities, and are at risk of developing internalizing symptoms such as anxiety, in response to their pain. In the first comprehensive review of chronic pain in children and adolescents in 20 years, a group of researchers found that more children now are suffering from chronic pain and that girls suffer more frequently from chronic pain than boys. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111209105129.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207113006.htm The effect of the messenger substance neuropeptide Y depends on the behavior of the mother during infancy. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:30:30 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111207113006.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140406.htm Children exposed to family violence show the same pattern of activity in their brains as soldiers exposed to combat, new research has shown. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:04:04 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140406.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140400.htm When children have been exposed to family violence, their brains become increasingly "tuned" for processing possible sources of threat, a new study reports. The findings reveal the same pattern of brain activity in these children as seen previously in soldiers exposed to combat. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:04:04 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205140400.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128132658.htm Depression may have more far-reaching consequences than previously believed. Recent data suggests that individuals who suffer from a mood disorder could be twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to individuals who are not depressed. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111128132658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117202935.htm Research provides the first evidence that depression can be treated by only targeting an individual's style of thinking through repeated mental exercises in an approach called cognitive bias modification. The study suggests an innovative psychological treatment called 'concreteness training' can reduce depression in just two months and could work as a self-help therapy for depression in primary care. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117202935.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115175811.htm New research identifies the brain chemicals and circuits involved in mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety, giving potential new directions to their treatment. In addition, research with children shows that early-life depression and anxiety changes the structure of the developing brain. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115175811.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115094618.htm Training basic surgical techniques on toy animals before having to perform operations on living animals makes veterinary students much less anxious. At the same time, the use of laboratory animals is minimized, according to recent research in Denmark. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:46:46 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111115094618.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114111809.htm Adults with congenital heart disease and implanted cardioverter defibrillators often have a high level of fear and anxiety about the device delivering a shock during sex -- resulting in sexual performance problems, according to new research. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:18:18 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114111809.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114093409.htm Just as in humans, there are also the tough types or those with a more delicate personality among mice, researchers confirm. Some adopt an active strategy when faced with stressful situations and somehow try to tackle the problem, whereas others display a passive attitude. Those in the second group are more vulnerable: some of the physiological characteristics resemble those attributed to human depression. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:34:34 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114093409.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103143518.htm Problems like anxiety and depression are caused by psychological and environmental factors, and are known to be influenced by genetic proclivities. However, it is still not clear how each factor affects the brain's functions to induce anxious and depressive symptoms. To shed light on these interactions, scientists have investigated the amygdala, a part of the brain that is hyperactive in individuals suffering from anxiety and depression. The researchers have shown that its activity can be modulated depending on the subject's genetic makeup, personal history and cognition. These results suggest that the effects of psychotherapies on the cerebral activity of patients could vary according to their genetic traits. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103143518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027112330.htm Exposure to television coverage of terrorism causes women to lose psychological resources much more than men, which leads to negative feelings and moodiness. This has been shown in a new study that examined the differences between men and women in a controlled experiment environment. Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027112330.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024164706.htm Having trouble sleeping? If so, you could have a moderately higher risk of having a heart attack, according to new research. In a recent study, the risk of heart attack in people with insomnia ranged from 27 percent to 45 percent greater than for people who rarely experienced trouble sleeping. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024164706.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111021074642.htm If the front part of the cerebral cortex is less active then people have less control over their social behavior and automatically follow their inclinations more. The research was the first to make use of magnetic stimulation (TMS) to suppress this part at the front of the prefrontal cortex. During TMS a changing magnetic field on the head temporarily influences the activity of the underlying part of the brain. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111021074642.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020025423.htm Patients with major depression do better by learning to create a more positive outlook about the future, rather than by focusing on negative thoughts about their past experiences, researchers say after developing a new treatment that helps patients do this. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020025423.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024131.htm Using brain-imaging technology for the first time with people experiencing mathematics anxiety, scientists have gained new insights into how some students are able to overcome their fears and succeed in math. For the highly math anxious, researchers found a strong link between math success and activity in a network of brain areas in the frontal and parietal lobes involved in controlling attention and regulating negative emotional reactions. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024131.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011132058.htm It's no surprise to researchers that financial market dips and crashes typically happen in the fall. Researchers now show that people who experience seasonal depression shun financial risk-taking during seasons with diminished daylight but are more willing to accept risk in spring and summer. Seasonal depression may be sufficiently powerful to move financial markets. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011132058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074630.htm Whistleblowing incidents can have a serious, long-term impact on people’s emotional well-being and colleagues and employers have a responsibility to support those involved. Alcohol problems, nightmares, paranoid behaviour at work and overwhelming distress were just some of the problems reported by whistleblowers and those they reported. However, a new study also stresses the important role that whistleblowing has played in large-scale inquiries that have led to improvements in healthcare safety and quality. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011074630.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010104045.htm Two postgraduate students from Northern Ireland have completed the first phase of a pioneering trip to assist in the treatment of psychological distress among child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:40:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111010104045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007132353.htm In one of the first publications to present systematically collected public health data on coastal populations affected by the catastrophic oil spill of 2010, sociologists report that individuals having a stronger sense of attachment to their community exhibited higher self-reported levels of anxiety, worry, nervousness and fear. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111007132353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005170725.htm Our life experiences -- the ups and downs, and everything in between -- shape us, stay with us and influence our emotional set point as adults, according to a new study. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:07:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005170725.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003195251.htm Referring patients with mental health problems to talking therapies seems to cut their use of health-care services and the amount of sick leave they take, suggests research from the UK. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003195251.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003151826.htm Neuroscientists investigating the 'brain code' claim to have made a significant step forwards in understanding how the brain deals with stress- and mitigates its impact. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111003151826.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929152058.htm Researchers are examining the use of propranolol (a drug used to treat high blood pressure and control heart rate as well as to reduce test anxiety) to improve the primary traits associated with autism -- difficulty with normal social skills, language and repetitive behaviors. Researchers say the drug is a promising new avenue for improving language and social function. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110929152058.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927161649.htm A review of previous studies suggests that even though atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for off-label conditions such as behavioral symptoms of dementia, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, these medications are effective for only a few off-label conditions, and that the benefits and harms of these medications for these uses vary, according to a new article. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927161649.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927161643.htm Atypical antipsychotic medications, developed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are frequently prescribed for many off-label uses. A new study finds that medical evidence suggests the drugs are effective in reducing symptoms for some off-label conditions, but not others. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927161643.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921120037.htm Administration of cannabinoids (in the form of synthetic marijuana) after experiencing a traumatic event blocks the development of post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms in rats, according to a rat study conducted by researchers in Israel. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110921120037.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920173337.htm Experts in regions experiencing humanitarian crises want more research focused on generating and developing practical knowledge that could have tangible benefits in humanitarian settings rather than yet more research on topics, such as the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, that have to date dominated academic debates and research. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:33:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920173337.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919131602.htm Psychosocial stress could play a role in the etiology of breast cancer aggressiveness, particularly among minority populations, according to a new study. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919131602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919113944.htm There has been longstanding concern among physicians and policymakers that false-positive results may cause parents to believe that their children are vulnerable to illness, leading them to overuse health care services as their children grow older. However, a new study has found that this is not necessarily the case. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110919113944.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110916092946.htm Decreasing expression of a protein associated with susceptibility to depression made old mice resistant to depressive-like behavior while improving their hormonal response to stress, a new study reports. Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110916092946.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110914122656.htm An emerging therapy known as cognitive bias modification, in which software helps subjects divert attention away from anxiety and interpret situations more calmly, helped improve social anxiety disorder symptoms in a pilot-scale randomized controlled trial. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110914122656.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912095133.htm The risk of insomnia is 67 percent higher in people from families in which at least one member is an insomniac, according to a new study. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:51:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912095133.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909074915.htm In the wake of the 10th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, new research reveals how the attacks impacted the psychological processes of those not directly exposed to the event. The study, which focused on college students in Massachusetts, found that even those who were not directly connected to New York or Washington showed increased stress responses to run of the mill visual images. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909074915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110906085220.htm When healthy people are faced with threatening situations, they react with a suitable behavioral response and do not descend into a state of either panic or indifference, as is the case, for example, with patients who suffer from anxiety. With the help of genetic studies on mice, scientists in Germany have discovered two opposing neuronal regulatory circuits for the generation and elimination of fear. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:52:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110906085220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110905160910.htm A new study suggests that certain variants of a gene that helps regulate serotonin (a brain chemical related to mood) may serve as a useful predictor of risk for symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a trauma. Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110905160910.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831081606.htm Does Dad's stress affect his unborn children? According to the results of a new study, it seems the answer may be "yes, but it's complicated." Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831081606.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830144520.htm Violence from an intimate partner does not just brutalize a victim physically; exposure to violence can result in disproportionately higher rates of mental health distress, according to a new policy brief. Researchers found that of the 3.5 million Californians who reported experiencing intimate partner violence, more than half a million also reported recent symptoms of "serious psychological distress," such as anxiety or depression. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830144520.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830082048.htm Socially withdrawn children, who have less contact with peers, may miss out on the support that friendships provide. In a new study about the peer relationships of almost 2,500 fifth-graders who are socially withdrawn in different ways and those who aren't withdrawn, researchers have found that withdrawn children who can be described as "anxious-solitary" differ considerably in their relationships with peers, compared to other withdrawn children and children who aren't withdrawn. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830082048.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829164601.htm Probiotic bacteria have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry and treat anxiety and depression-related disorders, according to a new study by researchers in Ireland and Canada. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829164601.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824122859.htm A new study finds that repeated cocaine use increases the severity of depressive-like responses in a mouse model of depression and identifies a mechanism that underlies this cocaine-induced vulnerability. Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110824122859.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110823180516.htm A new study suggests that an extreme form of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum -- which already takes a heavy toll on thousands of women each year and can lead to hospitalization and pregnancy termination -- is also linked to an increased risk of anxiety, bipolar disorder and depression in adulthood among individuals whose mothers had the condition. Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:05:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110823180516.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110819080602.htm Could disorders such as autism be treatable through a combination of neurohormones and psychotherapy in the future? Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110819080602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818132219.htm The birth of a baby can elicit many emotions, from joy and excitement to fear and uncertainty. But it can also trigger unexpected difficulties with anxiety, in particular with postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Psychologists have developed an effective program for the prevention of postpartum obsessive compulsive symptoms. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818132219.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818101733.htm When it comes to mental illness, the sexes are different: Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression, while men tend toward substance abuse or antisocial disorders, according to a new study. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110818101733.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110816111924.htm Rats exposed to stress during early development inherit the effects of that stress to their offspring, largely expressed in behavior impairments but also characteristics of resilience, shows a new study. Providing environmental enrichment to the future mother rats had a remedial role on some of the negative effects. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110816111924.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110816083750.htm Facial expressions convey strong cues for someone's emotional state and the ability to interpret these cues is crucial in social interaction. This ability is known to be compromised in many psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as social anxiety or Korsakoff's syndrome. New research has now revealed evidence that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also characterized by changes in the way the brain processes specific emotions and that certain aspects of this disorder could be understood as a consequence of the altered processing of emotional cues. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110816083750.htm