Nearly all children have anxiety at some point in their lives. But when does a little anxiety become an anxiety disorder? When does it shift from a temporary phase of worry or fear to something more serious and chronic? Answering this question is very important for the well-being of your child. First some facts: • Anxiety…
Good news for the estimated 15 million people suffering from social anxiety. A new study led by MIT researchers suggests that brain scans can help predict whether people with social anxiety disorder will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy. People with social anxiety experience extreme fear of interactions with or scrutiny by others that interferes with…
Is depression an early sign of dementia? Is it an emotional response to losing cognitive abilities? Or is depression a risk factor for dementia? In a new study, researchers sought to discern the timing and the underpinnings of the link between depression and dementia. They looked at 13,535 individuals who participated in a voluntary health exam from…
People call in sick to work for many reasons. They may be hungover, burnt out, taking an impromptu road trip or even legitimately sick. But what about anxiety? New research pinpoints anxiety as a major reason for sick leave and absences at the workplace. In a recent study appearing in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, researchers at the…
If your child suffers from anxiety it may be due to one or more thinking distortions. Thinking distortions are just that, distortions in our thoughts that are not an accurate view of reality. These errors in thought tend to cause unnecessary worry, fear and panic in children. The first step in overcoming them is the…
Nature is gorgeous to look at, but new research shows that nature has a lot more to offer people than its aesthetic appeal. Nature can actually help alleviate symptoms of depression. A recent study set out to examine whether walking in nature is beneficial to people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Specifically, researchers were interested in whether…
According to a study at the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University, mothers who are anxious increase their child’s chance of developing anxiety. In the study, 202 children were recruited and assessed at 3-4 years of age and then assessed again five years later. About half of the children were behaviorally inhibited, or shy, withdrawn and…
According to a study of mice at Tufts University and published in Biological Psychiatry, women with anxiety may have their fathers to blame. When men are exposed to social instability as children, their sperm cells change and this gives rise to anxious and stressed behavior in their future daughters. This phenomenon is called epigenetics or the science…
Sadness and wisdom often go hand-in-hand according to research. A number of studies support the idea that depressed people have a more accurate perception of reality than those who are happy and optimistic. This idea was initially called the sadder-but-wiser effect, and it’s now known as depressive realism. Researchers Lauren Alloy and Lyn Abramson coined…
Does your child toss and turn at night? Does your child regularly wake up tired and unrefreshed? According to research, a small percentage of children who have sleep problems may be at risk of more serious emotional disorders, including anxiety and depression. The study, authored by Flavia Giannotti, M.D., of Center of Pediatric Sleep Disorders…