Anxiety

HEALTH INFORMATION

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Identifying the gene-brain mechanisms that contribute to anxiety

WHAT WE KNOW

Anxiety disorder is a general term for frequent bouts of nervousness, fear, apprehension, or worrying, which appear without a reasonable cause. They can cause real, physical symptoms and affect how a person behaves. Anxiety can range from mild, which is vague and unsettling, to severe, which can be extremely debilitating and have a serious impact on daily life. Anxiety is considered a problem when the reaction that occurs is out of proportion to what my normally be expected.

Physical signs sometimes also include:

  • A pounding heart, tight chest or chest pain
  • Feeling short of breath
  • Dizzy, headache, sweaty, tingly, numb
  • Dry mouth, stomach pain
More information

OUR LATEST RESEARCH

Unravelling the link between chronic pain and mental health disorders


ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN, BROOKE NAYLOR, DAVID KANG, ANTON PAULSON, DANIEL HULTBERG, DR NEGIN HESAM-SHARIATI

Chronic pain is a significant problem worldwide that results in enormous suffering and costs to affected individuals, their loved ones, and society. The experience of chronic pain is so much more than a sensation. Chronic pain impacts our emotions, cognition and social life.

Role of genetics and stressful trauma in anxiety and depression in various participant groups from the BRID (Brain Resource International Database) (2006-)


PROFESSOR PETER SCHOFIELD AO, DR JUSTINE M GATT

Using various cognitive, psychological and neuroimaging measures, they have investigated the role of several genes known to be involved in brain disorders.

Heritability of brain functioning across resting, emotional and cognitive tasks in the TWIN-E Study (2009-)


PROFESSOR PETER SCHOFIELD AO, DR JUSTINE M GATT

The TWIN-E Emotional Wellbeing study is a large prospective study of over 1,600 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) adult twins from Twins Research Australia (Gatt et al., 2012, Twin Res Hum Gen).

TEAM LEADERS IN ANXIETY

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SYLVIA GUSTIN Associate Professor, NeuRA & UNSW Rebecca L. Cooper Medical Research Fellow, NeuRA & UNSW Registered Psychologist, AHPRA

DR JUSTINE M GATT Group Leader and Senior Research Scientist, NeuRA Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychology, UNSW Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Sydney

What else is happening in Anxiety research at NeuRA?

FEEL THE BUZZ IN THE AIR? US TOO.

The importance of medical research - Professor Peter Schofield AO

NeuRA researchers are stepping up their research with the introduction of a new perturbation treadmill aimed at preventing falls and improving balance. What is a perturbation treadmill? A perturbation treadmill is a treadmill, like those in the gym, but with two belts instead of one. We can control the speed of each belt independently. Each foot is placed on a […]

Gabrielle Hunter
NeuRA BLOG: Exercise Right Week Q&A with Dr Kim van Schooten and Dr Yoshi Okubo

During three decades on Australian television, two simple words brought us to attention.

‘Hello daaaahling’. Outrageous, flamboyant, iconic – Jeanne Little captivated Australians everywhere with her unique style, cockatoo shrill voice and fashion sense. "Mum wasn't just the life of the party, she was the party.” Katie Little, Jeanne’s daughter remembers. This icon of Australian television brought a smile into Australian homes. Tragically, today Jeanne can't walk, talk or feed herself. She doesn't recognise anyone, with a random sound or laugh the only glimpse of who she truly is. Jeanne Little has Alzheimer's disease. The 1,000 Brains Study NeuRA is very excited to announce the 1,000 Brains Study, a ground-breaking research project to identify the elements in our brains that cause life-changing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other dementias. This study will focus on the key unresolved question: why do some of us develop devastating neurodegenerative diseases, while others retain good brain health? The study will compare the genomes of people who have reached old age with healthy brains against the genomes of those who have died from neurodegenerative diseases, with post mortem examination of brain tissue taking place at NeuRA’s Sydney Brain Bank. More information on the study can be found here. Will you please support dementia research and the 1,000 Brains Study and help drive the future of genetics research in Australia? https://youtu.be/q7fTZIisgAY
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NSW Falls Prevention Network Forum 2019
NeuRA hosts Mental Health Week breakfast at Parliament House

Unravelling the link between chronic pain and mental health disorders

Chronic pain is a significant problem worldwide that results in enormous suffering and costs to affected individuals, their loved ones, and society. The experience of chronic pain is so much more than a sensation. Chronic pain impacts our emotions, cognition and social life.
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