A study exploring “concept creep” suggests that, with increased mental health awareness following the COVID-19 pandemic, the concepts of “anxiety” and “depression” are broadening. The study revealed that, contrary to expectations of less emotionally intense use, these terms have taken on more severe connotations over the past five decades.
Concept Creep: How Our Concepts of Anxiety and Depression Are Changing Read More »
Publication date: Available online 5 July 2023Source: Neuroscience & Biobehavioral ReviewsAuthor(s): Rany Abend
Differentiating between intuition and fear can sometimes be challenging. Fear often manifests as a pushing energy, driving you to avoid disappointment or ridicule. Conversely, intuition exudes a pulling energy, guiding you towards what is in your best interests.
How to Tell the Difference Between Fear and Intuition Read More »
By Cara Murez HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, June 19, 2023 (HealthDay News) – New research finds that many of those who have received an implanted…
Stress, Anxiety Plague Many Who Get Implanted Heart Devices Read More »
Condition: AnxietyIntervention: Device: VeNSSponsors: Neurovalens Ltd.; Ulster UniversityCompleted
Fear of needles is a widespread issue, affecting individuals of all ages. Research suggests that up to 50% of teenagers, and at least 20 to 30% of adults experience needle fear. This problem can severely limit your life, potentially preventing you from receiving vital medical care or pursuing parenthood through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). But fear
6 Steps to Overcome a Fear of Needles Read More »
Background
Social anxiety (SA), a prevalent comorbid condition in psychotic disorders with a negative impact on functioning, requires adequate intervention relatively early. Using a randomized controlled trial, we tested the efficacy of a group cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention for SA (CBT-SA) that we developed for youth who experienced the first episode of psychosis (FEP). For our primary outcome, we hypothesized that compared to the active control of group cognitive remediation (CR), the CBT-SA group would show a reduction in SA that would be maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. For secondary outcomes, it was hypothesized that the CBT-SA group would show a reduction of positive and negative symptoms and improvements in recovery and functioning.
Method
Ninety-six patients with an FEP and SA, recruited from five different FEP programs in the Montreal area, were randomized to 13 weekly group sessions of either CBT-SA or CR intervention.
Results
Linear mixed models revealed that multiple measures of SA significantly reduced over time, but with no significant group differences. Positive and negative symptoms, as well as functioning improved over time, with negative symptoms and functioning exhibiting a greater reduction in the CBT-SA group.
Conclusions
While SA decreased over time with both interventions, a positive effect of the CBT-SA intervention on measures of negative symptoms, functioning, and self-reported recovery at follow-up suggests that our intervention had a positive effect that extended beyond symptoms specific to SA.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02294409.
Background
Gray matter morphometry studies have lent seminal insights into the etiology of mental illness. Existing research has primarily focused on adults and then, typically on a single disorder. Examining brain characteristics in late childhood, when the brain is preparing to undergo significant adolescent reorganization and various forms of serious psychopathology are just first emerging, may allow for a unique and highly important perspective of overlapping and unique pathogenesis.
Methods
A total of 8645 youth were recruited as part of the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were collected, and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), depressive, and anxiety symptoms were assessed three times over a 2-year period. Cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume were used to predict baseline symptomatology and symptom progression over time.
Results
Some features could possibly signal common vulnerability, predicting progression across forms of psychopathology (e.g. superior frontal and middle temporal regions). However, there was a specific predictive value for emerging PLEs (lateral occipital and precentral thickness), anxiety (parietal thickness/area and cingulate), and depression (e.g. parahippocampal and inferior temporal).
Conclusion
Findings indicate common and distinct patterns of vulnerability for varying forms of psychopathology are present during late childhood, before the adolescent reorganization, and have direct relevance for informing novel conceptual models along with early prevention and intervention efforts.
Researchers found college students who tried to cut their social media use to 30 minutes per day scored significantly lower for anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out at the end of the two-week experiment and when compared to the control group.
Cutting back on social media reduces anxiety, depression, loneliness Read More »
A new study published in the Journal of Research in Personality reveals how curiosity can help alleviate feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Curiosity can be divided into two categories: interest curiosity and deprivation curiosity. People high on interest-curiosity tend to hold more positive attitudes towards uncertainty. Embracing the feeling of not knowing, sparked by curiosity,
A New Way to Tame Your Anxiety Read More »
