CORT induced anxiety behaviors via P21-ROS pathway

Anxiety disorders refer to a group of costly psychiatric disorders characterized by feelings of fear, panic and worry and related behavioral disturbances. Up to 275 million people worldwide (4% of the global population) are affected by anxiety disorders, which was ranked 8th of the top 25 leading causes of years lived with disability (YLDs) in 2019. According to a recent article published in the Lancet, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a substantial rise in prevalence of GAD globally, consequently contributing to an elevated disease burden and a deteriorated economic situation. However, around 50% of patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) do not respond to the conventional pharmacological and psychological interventions due to the individual variability. Moreover, the limited accessibility to mental health professionals, the risk of dependence on benzodiazepines and the side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can negatively influence the medication adherence of patients. Hence, there is an urgent need to investigate the underlying pathological mechanisms and develop innovative therapeutic interventions for GAD.