A pill that keeps stress at bay could be just around the corner after scientists at Leicester Universitydistinguished the brain chemistry that turns a healthy dose of anxiety into overwhelming depression.
The breakthrough followed an observation that, while many of us suffer traumatic events from bereavements to broken hearts, only some descend into depression. This could lead to the invention of pills that quash stress-related conditions before a person’s health deteriorates.
About one in five people experience some form of anxiety disorder during their life, says Dr Pawlak. ‘Our discovery opens up new possibilities for the prevention and treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders such as depression and post traumatic stress disorder.’
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- Soon, a pill to keep stress at bay! (news.bioscholar.com)