You couldn't ignore the news if you tried. The economic crisis is all over magazines, newspapers and television news programs. So, it's no wonder people are feeling anxious and stressed out. But women may be reacting more strongly than men. A recent survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) called "Stress in America" says women are expressing fear about the current financial situation more than men.

Personality researchers have long known that people who report they have certain personality traits are also more (or less) likely to be satisfied with their romantic partners. Someone who says she is often anxious or moody, for example, is more likely than her less neurotic counterpart to be dissatisfied with her significant other.

Researchers in the US found that either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or the antidepressant sertraline (brand name Zoloft) were more effective than a placebo drug in treating a range of childhood anxiety disorders, but a combination of Zoloft and CBT worked even better.

This study explores the burden levels experienced by families of patients diagnosed with early psychotic illness. Participating family members were assessed using a 'Family Experiences Interview Schedule' which covered both objective and subjective burdens. Examples of objective burdens included increased financial burden and disruption of routine, while subjective burdens included emotional strains such as worry, anger and resentment.

Helping children face their fears may be more productive than focusing on other techniques to help them manage their anxieties, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Chicago.

Life can be stressful, whether you're an individual watching the stock market crash or a commuter stuck in traffic. A new study, forthcoming in the journal Psychological Science, examines how stress affects decision-making and finds that older adults alter their behavior more than young adults when under stress - particularly in situations involving risk.

ValueOptions®, Inc., the nation's largest independent behavioral health care and wellness provider, reports an 89 percent increase in calls this year from members presenting specifically with issues concerning bankruptcy, foreclosures and financial hardship cases. To help individuals and families weather the uncertainties of the current economy, ValueOptions® provides recommendations for managing financial-related stress and how to maintain good physical health and mental health.

Physicians are less likely to diagnose anxiety in elderly black patients than in white patients, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Reuters Health reports. The study by Hillary Bogner of the

A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers found that a high dose of cortisone could help reduce the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The article appears in Biological Psychiatry, Volume 64, Issue 8, pages 708-717.

Some 92 percent of employees say financial worries are keeping them up at night, according to a poll released by ComPsych Corporation today. Only 8 percent of employees described themselves as "not worried." ComPsych is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs and worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and crisis intervention services).