Podcast: The Unique Face of Comorbid Anxiety and Depression: Increased Frontal, Insula and Cingulate Cortex Response During Pavlovian Fear-conditioning

4/16/2025

This research paper investigated how the brains of individuals with both anxiety and depression (AnxMDD) respond differently to fear conditioning compared to those with only major depressive disorder (MDD). Using fMRI, the study found that the AnxMDD group showed greater activation in brain regions associated with fear processing, such as the frontal, insular, and cingulate cortices, when presented with stimuli paired with a threat. Conversely, the MDD group did not exhibit this heightened response to threat cues. These findings suggest that comorbid anxiety and depression is characterised by an exaggerated neural sensitivity to fear, highlighting potential distinct neurobiological underpinnings and treatment targets for this prevalent and often treatment-resistant condition.