Phobia News and Research

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Fears are a common part of an individual’s life. However, a phobia is more than a simple fear. It starts and develops into something massive when the affected person begins to organise their life around avoiding the feared object – be it an animal, insect, place, situation or just about anything.

Social anxiety disorder now affects one in seven Canadian adults

A new Canadian study has found that social anxiety disorder (SAD) now affects nearly 1 in 7 adults - a 71% increase since 2002 - making it one of the most common mental health challenges in the country.

10 Jun 2026

Eating a Mediterranean diet may lower anxiety symptoms in teens

Findings reveal that the Mediterranean diet may reduce anxiety symptoms in adolescents, with maternal dietary habits also impacting offspring mental health.

2 Jun 2026

Women using GLP-1 drugs face higher weight loss stigma

In a new study exploring stigma associated with the use of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, women who lost weight using GLP-1 medications were judged more harshly than those who lost weight through diet and exercise, with negative reactions driven largely by beliefs that medication-assisted weight loss is a "shortcut."

17 Apr 2026

Why people avoid looking at spiders

Study reveals that while people avoid spider images, certain features attract gaze, offering insights into the dynamics of spider phobia and visual attention.

9 Mar 2026

Study finds reduced cortical choline levels in people with anxiety disorders

People with anxiety disorders have lower levels of choline in their brains, according to research from UC Davis Health.

10 Nov 2025

Intranasal adrenaline can be as effective as the EpiPen

Instead of stabbing yourself, or someone else, in the thigh with a needle to deliver a dose of adrenaline to counter anaphylactic shock, would it not be easier to use a nasal spray instead?

30 Sep 2025

Study finds link between past life memories and mental health challenges

Researchers analyzed the profile of adults who claim to have past-life memories, the features of these memories, and their associations with mental health, happiness, and religiosity/spirituality.

6 Aug 2025

Dental anxiety often goes undetected by professionals

Dental professionals find it difficult to identify patients with severe dental anxiety. At the same time, patients are reluctant to talk about their fears and hope that the staff will understand anyway.

7 May 2025

Innovative blood testing tech could spell the end of needle phobia

UK-based blood testing company Thriva has joined forces with medical device manufacturer Tasso to use their innovative blood testing technology to tackle needle phobia, a condition that affects at least 1 in 10 adults.

11 Apr 2025

Social but lonely? The emotional challenges of highly sensitive people

Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) experience greater emotional loneliness due to their deep need for meaningful relationships, but their social interactions are similar to the general population.

22 Jan 2025

Psilocybin shows potential for treating mental health disorders in people with cancer and addiction

One or two doses of psilocybin, a compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, may improve the mental health of cancer patients when accompanied by psychotherapy, a new report suggests.

2 Jan 2025

Depression and anxiety diagnoses in youth spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers analyzed clinical data from over 1.7 million young people, revealing significant increases in diagnosed depression and anxiety from 2017 to 2021, with higher rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2 Oct 2024

Running therapy matches antidepressants for mental health, surpasses for physical benefits

Researchers found that while both antidepressants and group running therapy effectively improved mental health in patients with anxiety and depression, running therapy had significantly better outcomes for physical health indicators.

26 May 2024

From China to Uzbekistan - United for Women’s Wellness on IWD

On the occasion of International Women's Day (IWD), BGI Genomics interview Wang Leilei, a trailblazing blind model, and Viktoriya Tsay, an Uzbek advocate of women’s health. Their stories stich a cross-cultural narrative of nurturing the nuance of women’s wellness worldwide.

From BGI Genomics 6 Mar 2024

GTF2I gene's role in Williams syndrome and autism unraveled

Individuals with the neurodevelopmental disorder Williams syndrome have a gregarious "cocktail party" personality, while those with the opposite genetic alteration, in contrast, tend to have autistic traits and are prone to struggle socially.

28 Feb 2024

Intravenous DMT shows promise in reducing depression symptoms, study reveals

A study in Scientific Reports shows intravenous DMT can significantly reduce depression severity in healthy volunteers, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic psychedelic intervention for mental health disorders.

8 Feb 2024

What does the future hold for obesity medication development?

The safety, clinical implications, and challenges of obesity pharmacotherapies based on entero-pancreatic hormone- treatments.

5 Feb 2024

What makes people gag at dentists?

Study finds a significant correlation between self-reported emetophobia, excessive gagging, and dental anxiety, with over 50% of participants recalling unpleasant vomiting or gagging experiences and a notable impact of dental office smells on these conditions.

17 Jan 2024

Pregnant and postpartum women with mental health disorders more likely to use cannabis

Pregnant and recently postpartum women who suffer with mental health disorders may be vulnerable to using cannabis to self-medicate, according to a Rutgers-led study.

25 Aug 2023

One in two people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime, finds study

A global study co-led by researchers from The University of Queensland and Harvard Medical School has found one in two people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.

31 Jul 2023