Stress disrupts emotion control in mental illness

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have suggested that acute stress may impair key brain functions involved in managing emotions — particularly in people living with distress-related disorders. Their work has been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.

As explained by study co-author Tee-Jay Scott, our executive functions — such as working memory (holding and using information), response inhibition (resisting impulsive actions) and cognitive flexibility (adapting to change) — are vital for controlling emotional responses, especially in challenging situations. The research reviewed 17 international studies examining how these mental skills are affected by acute stress in people with symptoms of depression, anxiety or borderline personality disorder, finding that rather than enhancing mental focus in high-pressure moments, stress may temporarily disrupt executive functions in those with distress-related disorders.

“We found that working memory is particularly vulnerable to stress in people with depression, and that response inhibition — essential for self-control — may be impaired in those with borderline personality disorder,” said Scott, an ECU Masters student.

Co-author Professor Joanne Dickson said these disruptions could help explain why some people don’t respond well to common treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which relies heavily on these executive functions.

“Many psychological therapies are cognitively demanding,” she said.

“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.”

The researchers say their findings highlight a need for more tailored interventions that account for stress-related cognitive disruptions.

“This research opens up new avenues for understanding how and why distress symptoms and disorders develop and persist,” Dickson said.

“It also points to the importance of designing therapies that are more flexible or that build executive function capacity before emotionally challenging work begins.”

While the study confirms a pattern of executive function impairment under acute stress, more research is needed to understand individual differences and refine treatment strategies.

“Understanding how stress interacts with brain function is key to improving mental health outcomes,” Scott said.

“It’s not just about what therapy is used, but when and how it’s delivered that will help ensure it’s effective.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Siarhei Khaletski