Study: Stress Disrupts Emotional Control in People with Mental Health Disorders
(MENAFN) A new Australian study released Thursday highlights how acute stress can disrupt the brain’s emotional management abilities, particularly in individuals with mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder.
The research, conducted by Edith Cowan University (ECU), reveals that stress can temporarily hinder executive functions—mental processes such as working memory, impulse control, and flexibility—which are essential for emotional regulation and decision-making under pressure.
"These executive functions are vital for controlling emotional responses, especially in challenging situations," said ECU Master's student Tee-Jay Scott, the first author of the study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.
According to the findings, individuals with distress-related conditions may be more vulnerable to stress-induced disruptions, even without a formal diagnosis, Scott added.
The research team analyzed 17 international studies, discovering that stress significantly impairs working memory in those with depression, and reduces impulse control in people with borderline personality disorder.
These insights could help explain why some individuals struggle to respond effectively to common treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, which depend on these very cognitive functions, noted Joanne Dickson, co-author and professor at ECU.
"If acute stress is interfering with the mental processes that support emotion regulation, it could undermine a person's ability to benefit from these treatments, especially during periods of heightened distress," Dickson said.
The researchers advocate for more flexible treatment approaches that consider the effects of stress on the brain, recommending that cognitive skills be strengthened before engaging in emotionally demanding therapy sessions.
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