Anxiety causes women's brains to work harder than men's

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(CBS News) Brains of anxious women work harder than men when put in similar stressful situations, according to a new study conducted at the Michigan State University.

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that women are 60 percent more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder over their lifetime. Overall, about 22.8 percent of all people with anxiety disorders in the U.S. are classified as severe. The average age of onset of the symptoms starts as young as 11 years old.

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About 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Women are also more likely to have multiple psychiatric disorders at once, and depression often occurs in individuals who have anxiety.

The study, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology on May 29, tested 79 female college students and 70 male students for error-related brain responses as it related to worrying. Subjects were asked to figure out the middle letter in a group of five letters. Sometimes the letters were the same ("FFFF") and sometimes they differed ("EEFEE"). Then the subjects were asked to take a survey about how much they worry on a day-to-day basis.

Women who identified themselves as big worriers tended to have high levels of brain activity when they made mistakes. Even though the scores for both stressed females and males were about the same, women's brains had to work harder. As the test became more difficult, the more anxious women did worse on the task, meaning anxiety and the stresses that come with it could affect performance.

"Anxious girls' brains have to work harder to perform tasks because they have distracting thoughts and worries," Jason Moser, lead investigator of the project from the Michigan State University, said in the press release. "As a result their brains are being kind of burned out by thinking so much, which might set them up for difficulties in school. We already know that anxious kids - and especially anxious girls - have a harder time in some academic subjects such as math."

The researchers are looking into whether or not estrogen may play a factor in why women have more of a brain response when it comes to completing stress-filled tasks. Estrogen affects the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that assists in learning functions and comprehending errors in the front part of the brain.

In the meantime, both sexes can reduce worrying by writing down their thoughts or doing "brain games" to improve memory and concentration, Moser said.

[alex_um]

Correction: This study is from Michigan State University, not the University of Michigan. http://news.msu.edu/story/gender-differences-in-anxiety-may-stem-from-how-hard-brain-works/

[MagnaCartaUK]

I find the claim that symptoms may start as young as 11 years of age quite interesting. I know a lady - a good, long-term friend of mine - who suffered horribly from O.C.D., panic attacks, and depression for a good amount of time. After seeing N.H.S. psychiatrists, occupational therapists, dieticians, (the list goes on), she recovered very well - but has always remained of the opinion her problems began when she first started school. In one of our lengthy chats, she maintained that her first day of school is etched on her mind as something that was almost certain to impose difficulties in life, and that she was pre-disposed to reap the misery from it. Can people be pre-disposed to suffer more than others from stress alien to their characters? I personally believe what she said, but if clinical psychiatric assessments can be carried out as standard with all pre-school children, (as we would vaccinate against dangerous diseases), is it possible that this illness, via its symptoms, can be confronted and 'minimalized' before it can naturally do greater damage? If correct, the difficulty may well be in interpreting and treating a young mind unable to appreciate that which is being attempted, but considering the life-long effects on the long-suffering individual, is it not worth trying? Judging by my friend's experience I'd say 'every time'. It would surely pay for itself in the long term, and why should such work carry a stigma? Is it possible, in fact, that adult depression may in part be a result of being in working environments that are alien, and contrary to one's natural character, with the resulting conflict leaving that person with possible mental health problems as a consequence? It potentially opens up some interesting avenues - and, perhaps, more agreeable and peaceable approaches to sustaining employment - IF one is able to accept any limitations that one's personality suggests is wise and necessary. Good article.