Anxiety

New research has approached the relationship between exercise and brain health with a long-term view, tapping into a year’s worth of Fitbit data to gauge the impacts of different types of physical activity, and turned up some interesting results.

People subjected to irregular sleeping and eating habits through shift work are known to have higher risk of a wide range of health problems, and a new study has drilled into the impacts of this lifestyle on mental health.

Associating positive or negative emotions to specific memories is core to survival. Researchers have identified a specific molecule that seems to drive the assignment of emotions to memories, which could lead to new treatments for anxiety and depression.

Scientists at Scripps Research have pinpointed a brain protein they suggest plays an important role in the anxiety experienced during alcohol withdrawal, and could be targeted for future treatments to prevent relapse.

The first data has been announced from a Phase 2 trial testing LSD as treatment for anxiety. The results indicate one to two LSD sessions can generate rapid and sustained reductions to anxiety but larger trials are needed to validate these findings.

An intriguing new study has zeroed in on a brain region that is central to the development of both alcohol abuse and anxiety in adults, and demonstrated how gene editing could be used to wipe clean a person's predisposition to both disorders.

A new study offers the first investigation into mental health issues in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients up to 16 months after initial infection. The findings reveal COVID-19 led to a higher risk of long-term depression depending on initial severity.

When experiencing anxiety, many people may feel the need to hug a squishy object such as a cushion. According to a new study, the act of doing so could actually help reduce feelings of anxiety – especially if the cushion "breathes."

A large study has found high rates of mental health problems in COVID-19 patients up to a year after acute infection. The research found mild or severe COVID-19 increased a person's risk of developing anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.

It's well established that exercise can be good for our mental health. Now a new study has uncovered a relationship between the intensity of physical activity and relief from symptoms of anxiety, with those working up the most sweat found to benefit the most.

A landmark study has demonstrated how a brain implant can deliver targeted bursts of electrical stimulation to improve cognitive functions. In real-time the implant senses biomarkers of cognitive deficits and responds by stimulating specific brain regions.

A new review article is suggesting a number of psychiatric disorders share common gut microbiome perturbations. The meta-analysis found depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety all present with similar gut microbial abnormalities.