Researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have identified epinephrine-producing C1 neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) as modulators of fear and anxiety. According to a study published in the journal Neuron, these neurons create a circuit that, when activated, triggers long-lasting anxiety, providing a potential new target for therapies that avoid the side … Read more
Summer seasonal affective disorder (RSAD) is a form of clinical depression that affects an estimated 0.57% of people, according to an analysis of multiple studies. Unlike winter SAD, which triggers low moods during cold months, RSAD manifests as anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue during the heat of summer. What causes summer seasonal affective disorder? Melatonin levels … Read more
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) suggests that human development follows predictable energetic shifts rather than a single, uniform timeline. Based on the Huangdi Neijing, women experience seven-year cycles driven by blood and yin, whereas men undergo eight-year cycles governed by qi and yang, leading to different biological peaks and developmental rhythms. How do TCM life cycles … Read more
Psychosocial factors like neuroticism and life adversity contribute more to the population burden of depression and anxiety than physiological factors, according to a 13-year study in Translational Psychiatry. Using UK Biobank data, researchers found psychosocial elements account for up to 67% of the depression burden in men and 61% in women. Why do psychosocial factors … Read more
Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit dedicated to destigmatizing mental health struggles among student-athletes, now operates on 1,856 campuses across six countries with 6,053 active ambassadors. Founded in memory of Duke University lacrosse player Morgan Rodgers, who died by suicide in 2019, the organization utilizes a peer-to-peer model to encourage vulnerable conversations and provide mental health resources … Read more
A new study from Duke-NUS Medical School and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) reveals that 62 percent of Singaporean adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression are willing to seek support from peers, even if they have avoided professional medical intervention. Published in the Singapore Medical Journal, the research indicates that peer-led initiatives could … Read more
Nearly 7 in 100 Icelandic women reported trauma-linked nightmares and disruptive sleep symptoms, according to a study published in the journal Communications Medicine. Researchers found that these trauma-associated sleep disturbances (TASD) often follow significant life stressors and can persist even when other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subside. What defines trauma-associated sleep disturbances? Researchers … Read more
Young workers are increasingly avoiding phone calls, a phenomenon dubbed “callergy” that a RiseGuide survey suggests is limiting career advancement and earnings for 78% of those who dodge voice conversations. While 42% of Gen Z and millennial respondents report they never answer unsolicited calls, 58% must script or rehearse interactions before they dial. This avoidance … Read more
Individuals with persistent anxiety or depression may mature emotionally at a slower rate than the general population, but they do show significant progress toward stability by middle age, according to a longitudinal study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers tracking 1,943 individuals over nearly three decades found that while those with common mental disorders (CMDs) remain … Read more
Targeted “nudges” sent to oncology patients and their clinicians significantly increase the frequency of critical end-of-life care conversations, according to a randomized controlled trial published in the JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. By combining patient questionnaires with clinician email reminders, researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that patients had 79% higher odds … Read more