Investigating the Effects of Acute and Chronic Stress on Mental Health

Recent research highlights the significant impact of both acute and chronic stress on mental health, emphasizing their distinct behavioral and neurovascular effects. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but excessive exposure—whether sudden or prolonged—can lead to detrimental changes in the brain, including alterations to the blood–brain barrier and neuroinflammatory responses connected to neurological disorders.

A study published in Behavioural Brain Research by a team from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, led by Ana Paula Silva, examined how different stress exposures influence behavior and brain biology in rats. Using behavioral tests like the open field and forced swimming tests, researchers observed that acute stress tends to induce anxiety-like behaviors, especially in males, whereas chronic stress is more associated with depressive symptoms. Moreover, the study revealed sex differences in how stress affects proteins involved in maintaining the integrity of the blood–brain barrier.

Understanding these distinct effects is crucial for developing targeted interventions for stress-related mental health issues. The findings underscore the importance of differentiating between stress types and considering biological variables such as sex when researching and treating mental disorders like anxiety and depression.

This research enhances our knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses and offers pathways for more personalized approaches to mental health care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-explores-impacts-acute-chronic-stress.html