Anxiety

Youth with anxiety show a distinct brain activity pattern when viewing negative scenes, a study found. Brain scans revealed they engage a state linked to deeper emotional processing, suggesting anxiety may intensify negative feelings.

A recent study has revealed that a well-known brain chemical, serotonin, plays a surprising role in reducing anxiety by acting in a brain area once thought to be solely responsible for controlling movement.

Adolescents who experienced childhood trauma exhibited blunted cardiovascular responses to social stress, with smaller changes in heart rate and blood pressure. This diminished reactivity was linked to higher social anxiety

A new study suggests that individuals with severe generalized anxiety disorder may have lower antioxidant intake. After six weeks of supplementation, their anxiety symptoms improved, highlighting a potential link between diet and mental health.

Social anxiety and heart health: A new study reveals that feeling lonely may be why socially anxious people show a surprisingly weak blood pressure reaction to stress.

New research indicates anxiety is connected to generating a higher quantity of ideas, especially negative ones. However, originality may be lower, and optimism could play a balancing role.

Children and adolescents with ADHD have significantly higher risks of depression and anxiety disorders. However, stimulant medications are linked to a 20% reduction in depression risk.

Teens who prefer digital communication over face-to-face interactions show higher social anxiety levels, with this link associated with brain activity patterns related to emotion regulation.

Physically active children, including those with autism or ADHD, exhibit significantly lower rates of anxiety and depression compared to their inactive peers.

A recent study found that the oVRcome app reduced social anxiety symptoms in six weeks, with sustained benefits. Its low-cost, self-guided VR approach improves accessibility, offering a scalable alternative for treating social anxiety disorder.

Estradiol helps reduce fear responses during extinction but causes a stronger return of fear later. Progesterone showed no effect on fear responses. These findings suggest estradiol levels may influence the success of anxiety therapies like exposure therapy.

A recent study used machine learning to identify key brain regions and networks, like the amygdala and default mode network, that differentiate people with small animal phobia, advancing understanding of its neurological basis.

A low-calorie, high-protein diet reduced anxiety and depression symptoms after 15 days and stress after 30 days in obese individuals, suggesting mental health benefits.

Hangxiety, or hangover anxiety, is the intense worry or dread some people feel after drinking alcohol. It stems from brain chemical imbalances, dehydration, or regret over actions while intoxicated, and is worsened by pre-existing anxiety or heavy drinking.

Male and female mice use different brain circuits to process threats, revealing sex-specific neural pathways despite similar behaviors. These findings suggest the need for sex-inclusive neuroscience research to improve understanding and treatments.