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Anxiety

“Stress-Proof Pairs: How Opposite-Sex Mice Stay in Sync Under Pressure”

When faced with a potential threat, mice often freeze in place. Moreover, when two animals are together, they typically freeze at the same time, matching each other’s periods of immobility. In a new study, researchers found that coordination during fear looks different in males and females.

Published

3 months ago

April 9, 2025

Veronic D.

The new study on mouse behavior has shed light on how sex can influence social behavior under stress. Researchers found that male-female pairs tend to stay in sync, even when strangers, while same-sex pairs are more likely to fall out of step.

When mice face a potential threat, they often freeze in place. When two animals are together, they typically freeze at the same time, matching each other’s periods of immobility. However, this coordination looks different in males and females – and changes when stress is involved.

Male-female mouse pairs consistently stayed in sync during stressful situations, whereas same-sex pairs were more likely to fall out of step. The findings suggest that opposite-sex pairs may rely on a more flexible or complex coordination strategy – one that doesn’t break down under emotional pressure.

The study’s lead author, Alexei Morozov, said: “Opposite-sex pairs showed a surprising resilience.” They synchronized their fear responses regardless of emotional context, and unlike same-sex pairs, they didn’t seem to rely on one clear strategy to do it.

Although the research was conducted in mice, the study may offer clues about how sex and emotional context shape social behavior in other species – including people. Experts say the findings could shed light on the brain mechanisms involved in conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The researchers observed how pairs of mice froze and moved together when faced with a stressful stimulus, such as a sound associated with a mild but unpleasant experience. Same-sex pairs showed distinct coordination styles – males tended to copy each other’s actions, while females became more responsive to their partners and often self-corrected if they initiated an action without their partner responding in the same way.

Mixed-sex pairs remained unaffected by stress and continued to synchronize at a high level, regardless of familiarity. The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Seale Innovation Fund.

As Vadim Bolshakov, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, noted: “This clever and well-designed study offers a new way to measure how animals synchronize their fear responses – and shows that males and females do it differently.” The findings highlight the complex interaction between social and emotional signals in stressful moments and could potentially inform strategies to support people who struggle with fear and stress regulation.

Source:Virginia Tech

Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250408121654.htm

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Anxiety

Self-Esteem Soars 131% After Weight-Loss Surgery, Groundbreaking Study Reveals

Self-esteem scores jumped a remarkable 131% within just one year of bariatric surgery, according to a large study presented at ASMBS 2025. Tracking nearly 5,800 patients, researchers found a direct link between weight loss and rising confidence, with the greatest psychological boosts seen in those who lost the most weight. Despite differences in gender, race, or procedure type, patients across the board reported profound improvements in self-worth. The findings shine a spotlight on how addressing weight stigma through surgery can dramatically reshape not just bodies but minds.

Published

1 week ago

June 21, 2025

Veronic D.

The study, presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, has made a groundbreaking discovery about the profound impact of weight-loss surgery on patients’ self-esteem. Researchers from Geisinger Medical Center found that within one year of undergoing bariatric surgery, participants experienced a staggering 131% increase in their self-esteem scores.

The study involved a database of 5,749 patients aged 18 and older with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more who had undergone metabolic and bariatric surgery between 2006 and 2019. The participants completed the Impact of Weight Quality of Life (iwQOL) survey before and 12 months after their operation to assess weight stigma and quality of life.

The results showed that self-esteem scores rose from an average of 33.6 to 77.5, a more than 40-point increase on a scale from 0 to 100. The study also found that the amount of weight loss was directly correlated with the increase in self-esteem, regardless of demographics such as gender, age, and race or type of bariatric procedure.

Justin Dhyani, MD, a co-author of the study, emphasized the importance of understanding weight stigma and psychosocial factors associated with obesity. “While these factors should not dictate the decision to have bariatric surgery, they should be an important part of the conversation,” he said.

Ann M. Rogers, MD, FACS, FASMBS, President of ASMBS, added that weight stigma is a serious issue that places an extra psychological burden on patients struggling with obesity. “This study shows we need to understand what patients are going through and be supportive and empowering of them as they navigate their health and make decisions about treatment,” she said.

The findings of this study have significant implications for the holistic care of patients with obesity, highlighting the importance of addressing weight stigma and psychosocial factors in conjunction with medical treatment. By providing supportive and empowering care, healthcare professionals can help patients achieve a better quality of life and overcome the challenges associated with obesity.

Anxiety

Single Psilocybin Dose Delivers Long-Term Depression Relief for Cancer Patients

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, might just revolutionize how depression and anxiety are treated in cancer patients. In a groundbreaking trial, a single dose combined with therapy significantly reduced emotional suffering, and these effects often lasted over two years. As follow-up studies expand the research to multiple doses and larger samples, scientists are eyeing a possible new standard of care that merges psychedelics with psychological support.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2025

Veronic D.

A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that a single dose of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in mushrooms, can provide sustained reductions in depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer suffering from major depressive disorder. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, suggest that this treatment approach may offer long-term relief for cancer patients struggling with depression.

The study involved 28 participants who received psychological support from a therapist prior to, during, and after receiving a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin. Two years later, a significant proportion of these individuals demonstrated lasting reductions in depression and anxiety. Specifically:

* 53.6% (15 patients) showed a sustained reduction in depression.
* 50% (14 patients) experienced remission from depression as well as reduced anxiety.
* 42.9% (12 patients) reported reduced anxiety at the two-year mark.

Building on these promising results, an ongoing randomized, double-blind trial is currently evaluating up to two doses of 25 mg of psilocybin versus placebo for treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients. This study aims to determine whether repeating the treatment can resolve depression for more than half of the participants.

According to lead author Manish Agrawal, MD, from Sunstone Therapies, “One dose of psilocybin with psychological support has a long-term positive impact on relieving depression for as much as 2 years for a substantial portion of patients with cancer. If randomized testing shows similar results, this could lead to greater use of psilocybin to treat depression in patients with cancer.”

Anxiety

Accurate Heart Attack Risk Prediction: PREVENT Calculator and Calcium Score Combo

A new risk calculator accurately identified participants who had calcium buildup in their heart arteries and those who had a higher future heart attack risk, in an analysis of about 7,000 adults in New York City referred for heart disease screening.

Published

1 month ago

May 24, 2025

Veronic D.

The PREVENT risk calculator has been shown to accurately estimate 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and identify individuals with plaque buildup in their heart’s arteries, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study found that combining the PREVENT score with a coronary calcium score further improved risk prediction, matching patients with the highest risk of heart attack to those who actually experienced one during the follow-up period.

The PREVENT calculator, released by the American Heart Association in 2023, estimates CVD risk based on age, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass index, Type 2 diabetes status, social determinants of health, smoking, and kidney function. This tool can help tailor care and determine who may benefit from treatment to prevent a heart attack.

Another important factor in screening heart health is coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a non-invasive imaging test that visualizes plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries. The CCTA provides a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, which helps inform decisions about heart disease prevention and treatment.

The researchers analyzed electronic health records for nearly 7,000 adults who had undergone CCTA screening at NYU Langone Health between 2010 and 2024. They found that the PREVENT score accurately matched the level of calcium buildup according to the CAC score. The study also used the PREVENT risk assessment and coronary artery calcium scores, separately and in combination, to predict future heart attack risk and assess the accuracy of each with the participants who had a heart attack during the follow-up period.

Study co-author Sadiya Khan emphasized that the CAC score can help classify risk for heart disease by analyzing calcium buildup. The study’s findings are important in shaping future guidelines on the use of the PREVENT calculator and CCTA, particularly for patients uncertain about starting lipid-lowering therapy or intensifying it.

The study had several limitations, including a single institution as the data source and a predominantly white participant population, which may not be generalizable to other groups. The analysis only included people who had undergone coronary calcium screening, and electronic health records were the sole source of data. Additionally, the follow-up time was relatively short at 1.2 years, and the presence of non-calcified plaque in the heart’s arteries was not assessed.

Despite these limitations, the study demonstrates that the PREVENT risk calculator is accurate in identifying individuals with subclinical risk for CVD, meaning blocked arteries before symptoms develop. This research contributes to shaping future guidelines on the use of the PREVENT calculator and CCTA.