The "Piece of the Mind" Responsible for Peace of Mind

Ground-breaking research could lead to new treatments for anxiety disorders and depression

LONDON, November 3, 2010 - Researchers from King's College London, in partnership with AXA, have
initially identified the neural pathways that control peace of mind in the
human brain. The research project could lead to the development of new
therapies in the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression.

Preliminary results indicate the important role of the hippocampus(1)
(a part of the brain located inside the medial temporal lobe, beneath the
cortical surface) in controlling anxiety and risk assessment during exposure
to a threatening situation, potentially revealing how it affects peace of
mind. The hippocampus was previously thought to be primarily associated only
with long-term memory and spatial awareness: it may also play an important
role in controlling the tendency to worry.

The study is being carried out by scientists from the Centre for
Neuroimaging Sciences at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College and
aims to identify the precise brain systems that control anxiety and fear in
humans by measuring brain activation in normal healthy volunteers as they
react to a perceived threat. Previous results using questionnaires suggest
that individuals with higher levels of underlying anxiety tend to exaggerate
potential threats, resulting in them being unable to react appropriately to
dangerous situations.

This phenomenon is known as 'behavioural inhibition' and this is the
first time it has been examined using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(fMRI) where participants are chased by real and perceived threats on a
Joystick Operated Runway Task (JORT) - a PacMan-style video game that is
played inside the scanner - developed by Dr Adam Perkins who leads the
project, under the direction of Professor Stephen Williams.

"This study is unique because it investigates for the first time the role
of the human hippocampus in a realistic risk assessment situation using
functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. These are very exciting results and
could lead to the development of new therapies in the treatment of
generalised anxiety disorders focusing on the hippocampus," explains
Professor Williams, Professor of Neuroimaging at King's College London.

Dr Adam Perkins, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of
Neuroimaging at King's College London added: "Anxiety and fear were once
thought of as wholly learned disease states however it is now widely
suspected they are useful responses to threat that help keep the individual
away from trouble. In this project we are aiming to verify whether or not
this is also the case in humans and this could help us understand the brain
systems that control anxiety and fear."

"AXA is pleased to support research that will improve understanding of
anxiety, fear and peace of mind," explains Eugene Farrell, AXA Head of
Psychological Health and Wellbeing.

"These feelings are of course an essential part of human experience but,
if they are over expressed or become persistent, can contribute to
debilitating conditions such as mild to general anxiety disorder, moderate
depression and panic disorder, which can adversely affect people's ability to
function normally."

Indeed, psychological problems are one of the main causes of long term
sickness absence in the UK and, according to the Sainsbury Centre for Mental
Health, are estimated to cost the UK economy around GBP26bn in staff absence,
reduced productivity and labour turnover.(2)

To investigate levels of positive or negative feeling across Britain, AXA
has also commissioned a consumer survey using the respected PANAS scale
(Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). Findings show that the public in
general are feeling significantly less positive about life than in 2007 when
the last norms were published: the average score for "positive affect" among
2000 people was 16.03 on the scale, which is significantly lower than the
last published average positive score for the UK at 19.48 (with a variance of
+ 2.89).

In the survey, a loving relationship was found to be the most important
factor in creating long-term peace of mind (65%) with a secure job and having
money in savings following with 45% and 41% respectively. The largest
contributors to anxiety were job or career concerns (44%), people's personal
financial situation (43%) and specifically debt (33%). Nearly a quarter (23%)
said the government's spending cuts are in their top three concerns.

1. The hippocampus is a paired structure, with mirror-image halves in the
left and right sides of the brain, the hippocampus is located inside the
medial temporal lobe, beneath the cortical surface. It contains two main
interlocking parts: Ammon's horn and the dentate gyrus.

2. Mental health at work: developing the business case, Sainsbury Centre
for Mental Health policy paper 8, 2007.

For further information, please contact: Jacqui Dyson / Dominic Shales, Paratus Communications - +44(0)20-7404-6691/+44(0)7900-393-132