Anxiety News and Research

Latest Anxiety News and Research

A sharp rise in "very short sleep" among US teens

Teenagers across the country are getting less sleep, a researcher from the University of Connecticut reports on March 2nd, 2026, in JAMA. And the problem appears to be societal.

4 Mar 2026

Why dancing may be one of the most joyful ways for older adults to stay healthy

A qualitative case study examined how older adults experience joy, accessibility, and well-being while participating in a community dance program at Canada’s National Ballet School. Using video elicitation and focus groups, participants described how inclusive class design, music, storytelling, and social connection supported meaningful engagement in later life.

4 Mar 2026

Enhancing myelination may help sustain therapeutic effects of psychedelic-assisted PTSD treatment

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not only characterized by strongly encoded traumatic memories, but also by disrupted coordination across brain networks.

4 Mar 2026

Study highlights the mental health costs of marine ecosystem damage

The year-long algal bloom along the South Australian coastline has not only devastated marine life and triggered health risks for humans and pets: it has also had a significant psychological impact on local residents, according to new research.

4 Mar 2026

Ultra-processed foods linked to behavioral issues in preschoolers

A team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has found an association between ultra-processed foods in early childhood, and behavioral and emotional development.

3 Mar 2026

New research on two million people quantifies how genetic risks overlap across diagnoses

A sweeping new peer-reviewed study published in Genomic Psychiatry has introduced a concept that could reshape how psychiatrists and geneticists think about mental illness: genetic specificity.

3 Mar 2026

Penn State study links family structure to lower ADHD symptoms

Starting elementary school is a major milestone, but it can be a difficult transition as children can experience separation anxiety or have trouble adapting to school rules and structure. However, a team led by Penn State researchers found that consistent routines in the home can reduce the likelihood that children will struggle with the school transition.

3 Mar 2026

Experts identify safest and most effective diets for IBS management

This review in Nutrients evaluates the scientific evidence, clinical effectiveness, and safety of major dietary strategies for irritable bowel syndrome, including traditional advice, low-FODMAP, gluten-free, Mediterranean, and starch- and sucrose-reduced diets. It concludes that while the low-FODMAP diet has the strongest short-term evidence, no single approach fits all patients, and dietitian-led personalization is essential.

2 Mar 2026

Exploring how best friends and popular peers influence adolescent behavior

As children enter adolescence, peers become a dominant force in their lives. With adult supervision waning, teens look to agemates for guidance on how to act, think and fit in.

2 Mar 2026

Accelerating rare disease diagnosis with Mondo

Coryssa Barnes, of Henderson, N.C., welcomed her first child, Ezra, in 2020. At four months old, he was unable to sit without support. As time went on, he failed to reach other developmental milestones, prompting his worried parents to consult several medical experts.

2 Mar 2026

Living in deprived neighborhoods reshapes the gut microbiome

This study reveals links between socioeconomic deprivation and gut microbiome changes, highlighting potential pathways to mental and metabolic health issues.

2 Mar 2026

UCL study reveals environmental cost of dental nitrous oxide use

Nitrous oxide used for sedating patients during dental appointments has a significant environmental impact, with wide variation in use and wastage across the UK, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers.

27 Feb 2026

Matching academic demands to teen biology

High school students often have trouble getting to bed at a reasonable time, which makes it difficult for them to start school early in the morning. This is because teenagers are biologically wired to fall asleep later than adults, with their biological clock shifting progressively later throughout adolescence. The result is that most teenagers don't get enough sleep on school days, and their sleep deficits increase as the week progresses.

26 Feb 2026

Stronger connection found between cannabis use and mental illness

An analysis of 35,000 Canadians shows that rising cannabis use and worsening mental‑health symptoms are increasingly appearing together, with the connection between the two strengthening over time.

26 Feb 2026

Telemedicine visits cost far less than in-person care

Telemedicine visits are five times less costly than in-person appointments for the most common conditions able to be treated by both forms of visits, new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows.

25 Feb 2026

Having “hasslers” in your network linked to faster aging and poorer health

Researchers analyzed a state-representative US sample to examine whether negative social ties, termed “hasslers,” are associated with epigenetic age acceleration and faster biological aging. Each additional hassler was linked to roughly nine months higher biological age and a 1.5% faster pace of aging, with particularly strong associations for mental health outcomes.

25 Feb 2026

Social deprivation tied to less diverse gut microbiome

Living in a poorer neighborhood in the UK could impact the make-up of your gut microbiome, potentially leading to worse health.

25 Feb 2026

Mental health struggles in first year of cancer care predict worse outcomes

This study reveals a strong association between early mental health disorders in cancer patients and increased all-cause mortality, highlighting care needs.

25 Feb 2026

Measuring AI acceptance among Japanese medical students and rresident physicians

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare and medical education. From enhancing diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making to enabling virtual simulations and personalized learning, AI technologies are becoming embedded in the daily practice of clinicians and trainees.

24 Feb 2026

Study reframes amygdala as the sophisticated learning arbiter

A Dartmouth study challenges the conventional view that the amygdala-the two-sided structure deep in the brain involved in emotion, learning, and decision making-is simply the brain's primitive "fear center," reflexively driving us to avoid the things we fear, from high places and tight spaces to spiders and large crowds.

24 Feb 2026