Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotional and physiological state of apprehension, tension and heightened arousal arising in anticipation of a perceived threat, distinct from fear, which is the response to an immediate danger. In its adaptive form anxiety mobilises attention and prepares the body to respond; it becomes pathological w…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 12 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 50× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2474-7785 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Anxiety is an emotional and physiological state of apprehension, tension and heightened arousal arising in anticipation of a perceived threat, distinct from fear, which is the response to an immediate danger. In its adaptive form anxiety mobilises attention and prepares the body to respond; it becomes pathological when it is excessive, persistent or disproportionate to circumstances and impairs functioning, as in the recognised anxiety disorders. The condition has characteristic somatic features, including increased heart rate, muscle tension, restlessness and disturbed sleep, alongside cognitive features such as worry, hypervigilance and difficulty concentrating. Its neurobiology centres on limbic circuits, particularly the amygdala and its connections, on dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with altered cortisol signalling, and on neurotransmitter and neuropeptide systems, including the role of cholecystokinin in provoking fear and anxiety responses. Anxiety frequently co-occurs with depression and is influenced by life-stage transitions such as menopause and by chronic stress and occupational burnout, and it carries particular relevance in older adults, in whom it interacts with cognition, physical illness and concerns including death anxiety. Management spans psychological therapies, pharmacological treatment and a range of complementary and non-pharmacological approaches aimed at reducing arousal and improving well-being.

Research published in this journal

12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2021

Photobiomodulation, Depression, Anxiety, and Cognition

Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Exact topic Aging Research And Healthcare doi:10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-21-3935
2021

Aging and Positive Psychology

Marks RayCorresponding author
Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Exact topic Aging Research And Healthcare Cited by 6 doi:10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-21-3979

How this research is being cited

The 12 articles above have been cited 50 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Anxiety, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Aging Research And Healthcare (ISSN 2474-7785).

Journal editorial board
Anna Aiello · Italy Juan Manuel Carmona Torres · Spain IAN JAMES MARTINS · Australia

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.