Fear of Fear a High-Risk Factor

Anxiety sensitivity, or the fear of feeling anxious, may put people who are already above-average worriers at risk for depression, according to researchers at Penn State University. (Journal of Anxiety Disorders, December 2009; 23(8):1126-1131)
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Deadly Depression, Helpful Anxiety

Research conducted at the University of Bergen, Norway, and at King's College London shows that patients with depression face an overall increased risk of mortality (as much a risk as smoking), but a combination of depression and anxiety lowers mortality, compared with depression alone. (The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2009; 195:118-125)
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Mental Health Problems May Be More Common

Mental health conditions—such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse—may be more than twice as high as previously thought. According to new research, people greatly underreport the amount of mental illness they've suffered when asked to recall their history years after the fact. The findings add weight to the view that mental health conditions are under-diagnosed and undertreated.
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Stress Hormone Links Childhood Obesity and Depression

A new study connects elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol with symptoms of depression in obese children. The finding indicates that obesity and depression may not only be related to behavior but also may have a hormonal link. Researchers recommend screening obese children for anxiety and depression.
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Crohn’s Disease in Children Increases Risk for Anxiety and Depression

Children younger than 18 with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease have a significantly increased risk for anxiety and depression, according to recent findings; they are more than twice as likely to have a diagnosis of depressive disorder, compared with young patients who don’t have Crohn’s.
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Depression-Risk Gene May Not Add to Risk

A gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events may actually have no effect, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The study examined associations between the serotonin genotype, stressful life events, and depression, and appears to challenge a widely accepted approach to studying risk factors for depression.
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Snoring in Preschool-Age Children May Be Linked to Anxiety and Depression

According to a study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, snoring is a possible risk factor for mood problems, particularly symptoms of anxiety and depression, and cognitive impairments.
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Depression, Blood Pressure, and Risk for Hypertension

The findings of a study comparing blood pressure between subjects with clinical anxiety and depressive disorders with healthy controls suggest that the use of certain antidepressants may increase the risk for hypertension.
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Anxious, Depressed, and Aggressive Children at Risk of Victimization

Children’s early mental health problems may set them up for abuse by their peers. According to a study conducted at the University of Victoria, first-graders with signs of anxiety and depression or excessive aggression are at risk of being chronically bullied by their classmates by the third grade. Treating the anxiety and depression may help reduce being bullied. (Child Development, 2009; 80(3): 828-842)
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