Daily Brain Snack: Stress Disrupts Cognitive Function Particularly in Those with Mental Health Conditions
A new review shows that impact of acute stress on executive functions is worse in those with mental health conditions
You’ve reported multiple times that stress disrupts cognitive function - isn’t this standard knowledge now?
Yes, indeed, it is widely-known that stress disrupts (that means reduces or blocks) cognitive functions. And this includes short-term memory, dealing with complexity, keeping on task, and decision making to name a few.
The question is always to what degree and what functions? Knowing this enables us to build better interventions. It can also enable us to build training programmes or identify who is most or least susceptible. For example, last week in my review, I reported on the US navy investing a considerable amount into research into procedural performance and decision-making under stress.
But some stress can help, right?
Yes, that is also the case sometimes called Eustress - i.e. enough stimulus boosts focus and attention and this can increase performance on many tasks.
But this review by Tee-Jay Scott and Professor Joanne Dickson analysed various studies into how acute stress i.e. in the moment, impacts those with depression, generalised anxiety, and borderline personality disorder.
And what did this show?
The results showed that executive function which is essential for controlling emotions in challenging situations and also enables problem-solving and planning is more difficult for those with these mental health issues. What is more there is a noticeable effect even if their symptoms do not meet formal thresholds for diagnosis.
This makes them more vulnerable than normal healthy people - we can all get impacted by this acute stress - at some stage executive functions will deteriorate just the threshold will be higher.
Working (short-term) memory it should be noted was most impacted.
Isn’t this a bit of a vicious circle
Indeed, it could be stress can lower functionality which can also lead to further loss of control and potentially lower mental health. That wasn’t measured but is feasible.
So acute stress is bad for executive function but especially so for those with mental health conditions?
Yes, so to be avoided or mitigated where possible.
Further articles on stress:
Reference
T.M. Scott, Joanne M. Dickson.
Effects of acute stress on executive functions in depression, generalised anxiety and borderline personality disorder.
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 2025; 20: 100917
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2025.100917