Mayo Clinic uses innovative technology to map patients' cognitive functions during awake brain surgeries. When surgery is performed to remove a tumor, different techniques are used to help surgeons map out the brain so they can avoid the locations of important functions, such as movement, language and speech. The latest tool is NeuroMapper, a tablet-based testing platform developed by David Sabsevitz, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist.

Watch: Tracking brain function during surgery using a new tool.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:24) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"We wake up some of our patients during surgery, and we use different techniques to try to map out the brain and figure out where important functions are," says Dr. Sabsevitz.

Through his experience in brain mapping during awake brain surgeries, Dr. Sabsevitz realized there were limitations in how he could interact with and test patients in the operating room.

"I remember coming down from a surgery and thinking: 'Wow, you know, we can do so much better. We need to innovate. We need to push forward.' And that's where the idea of developing NeuroMapper came from."

The NeuroMapper tablet contains tests that look at language, memory, high-level problem-solving, attention and concentration.

"We can deliver these different tests to a patient during surgery as we're mapping (the brain), and the platform will keep track of how well the patient's doing," says Dr. Sabsevitz. "The platform will also measure very precise things, such as how long it takes a patient to respond to an item, so if we see the patient slowing down or making more errors, that's important clinical information."

And that's information that couldn't be captured prior to NeuroMapper.

"What I found through doing hundreds of cases is that we map a lot more efficiently (using NeuroMapper). We can test different functions quicker and reduce the overall time of the surgeries," says Dr. Sabsevitz. "What the surgeons have told me is, as they're getting constant feedback throughout the surgery, they can push their surgical borders more aggressively because they know the patient's doing well."

NeuroMapper has been used in more than 200 surgeries at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

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For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

The post Tracking brain function during surgery using a new tool appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

December is traditionally a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. But the COVID-19 pandemic will make this season difficult for many, as health experts recommend staying at home and celebrating the holidays with only your immediate household.

Dr. Craig Sawchuk, a Mayo Clinic psychologist, says it's important to be open and honest with your family members.

Watch: Dr. Craig Sawchuk discusses difficult holiday conversations.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Sawchuk are available in the downloads. Please courtesy: "Craig Sawchuk, Ph.D. / Psychology / Mayo Clinic"

"Do what's most important for your values. And if the values are keeping yourself safe and the ones that you love safe, then it's really important to be clear with that," says Dr. Sawchuk. "Sometimes values will conflict with each other, so our value of keeping our loved ones and ourselves safe can come into conflict with the desire to be with them."

He recommends having those difficult conversations early and not immediately before the holiday gathering.

"Sometimes, you know, we can be pleasantly surprised. They may be understanding, on the same page with us, as well. But other times, they may not understand, and that may cause some friction. So having that conversation earlier is really important," says Dr. Sawchuk.

He says it's important to be empathetic when you communicate your decision to stay home for the holidays, and not turn it into a debate.

"Keep the statement short and simple: 'I love you. I want to be with you. And I'm choosing to stay home this year,'" says Dr. Sawchuk. "And sometimes, we may get pushback because people may feel very strongly about their opinions and why you should be with them. And we understand that it's coming from a good place. But those times, it's good to be in a broken record routine: 'I love you. I want to spend time with you. And I'm choosing to sit this one out this year.' And you may have to repeat that phrase a couple of times. And ultimately, they may have to accept the circumstances. But what's really important is you do those things that are in accordance with your values."

There are many ways that you can stay connected with family and friends without gathering in person. He says while it might not be the social experience that people are accustomed to during the holidays, given the circumstances, it's important to be flexible.

Learn more about: Tracking and trending COVID-19

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.  

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

The post Having difficult holiday conversations about COVID-19 appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In recent weeks many members of Mayo Clinic Connect completed what community mentor Dona Locke, Ph.D., called a Resiliency Roadmap. The exercise was designed to help people navigate through some of the stresses and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is Dr. Locke's final article about the work the community tackled.

Resiliency Roadmap wrap up!

Thank you so much for joining me on this resiliency roadmap journey! I hope you've been reminded of your strength and perhaps added a few more tools to your coping toolbox. With this one last post, I want to bring all the components together one final time. Remember, everyone's roadmap will look different--the goal of this series was to give you coaching so that you develop the roadmap that is most likely to work for you. Each day you reflected on one component and hopefully made some notes. Now, lets bring them all together here so you have one more moment of reflection. You can use this Resiliency Roadmap to bring your plan together.

"This looks like an amazing program – I am going to go back and start with Day 1. I deeply appreciate you providing this for us!" - Mayo Clinic Connect Member

Day 1: Identify your own personal signs of stress.

You learned that there a number of different signs of stress that can include physical symptoms (e.g., back pain, fatigue), emotional symptoms (e.g., worry, irritability), cognitive symptoms (e.g., trouble concentrating, catastrophizing thought patterns), and behavioral symptoms (e.g., snapping at others, withdrawing from activities). Identifying your constellation of symptoms (and hopefully sharing that pattern with loved ones) will help you (and them) recognize stress as soon as possible so that you can go to your coping toolbox for support.

Day 2: What aspects of a stressful situation are most likely to be challenging for you?

We all find different aspects of a stressful situation difficult. For some, it may be the loss of control of a situation. For others, it may be when a situation separates us from family. And for yet others, it may be disruptions in a routine or financial pressure. Being able anticipate what features of a challenge are most likely to be the highest stress for you will allow you to plan some coping techniques to mitigate that impact.

Day 3: Identify stress coping techniques that already work for you and some tips from me.

Next you brainstormed all the positive coping techniques you already use! Being sure to identify and commit to those existing resiliency-building strategies helps you give more intentional time to these strategies (and not letting them fall by the way-side when challenges arise). I gave a few additional tips including: Be sure to take breaks, limit your media consumption, remind yourself what gives you a sense of meaning and purpose, and get some time outdoors.

Day 4: Part 1 of relaxation techniques--Focus on diaphragmatic breathing.

I'd encouraged you to try this website for the free breath pacer (www.xhalr.com) and discover the inhale, pause, exhale timing settings your body likes best for use in your Resiliency Roadmap summary for easy reference. Then remind yourself to practice your paced breathing daily so that you'll be able to lean on it more robustly in times of stress.

Day 5: Part 2 of relaxation techniques--Mindfulness and meditation.

In this post, I gave you resources to try progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, mindfulness, and meditation. Were there specific techniques you liked best?  Did you try any of the apps I suggested?  Summarize the tools you've added to your tool box from this post on the Resiliency Roadmap.

Day 6: Healthy thinking by reframing unhelpful thinking patterns.

My favorite! "Our greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." So often we do not even realize the negative self-talk we have running in our thinking patterns. I gave you some broad types of unhelpful thinking patterns (Overgeneralizing, Catastrophizing, Maybe it is true, but...) and some challenges questions to ask yourself with the goal of shifting your thinking into a more helpful frame. Which challenge questions resonated with you? And, what helpful and healthy thinking patterns resonated with you (e.g., acceptance, self-compassion, humor, optimism, belief in your abilities).

Day 7: Intentional focus on positive emotions and experiences.

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day!" In this section of your Resiliency Roadmap I encouraged you to describe your plan for giving intentional attention daily to times of joy and gratitude. Also, a reminder that this is not about denying those things in life that are a challenge and pretending everything is "fine", but really about being sure that our positive emotions get equal (or more) attention during those times.

Day 8: Social support (and keeping those connections in this time of physical distancing!).

And finally-this section was about identifying what social support means to you. Who is your support network, and what types of support are most valuable to you (e.g., emotional comfort, encouragement, acts of service, advice, companionship)? And, do you feel that cultivating new supports would be a good idea for you?  If so, what's your plan for that?

My Resiliency Roadmap

Using the Resiliency Roadmap from the link here, here is my completed roadmap! Each of ours will be unique even as we have some similar content and features!

It's OK to ask for more help.

Although this resiliency workshop can help you feel confident and empowered, many of us may still need to reach out and ask for professional help. I want to be the first (but I hope not the last) to encourage you to do this if you feel at all like you need more help. If you are experiencing daily distress and having trouble finding joy and getting things done, please start with talking to your primary care doctor about what's going on. He or she may recommend some additional tests or some medical therapies. He or she may also suggest professional therapy with a psychologist or licensed counselor. They may already have specific mental health providers they recommend. You can search for a psychologist or mental health professional by looking at providers in your area on your insurance panel, asking your primary care physician for a recommendation, or searching Psychology Today.

Stay connected virtually for your health on #MayoClinicConnect

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations may have changed since the original publication date. 

Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional updates on COVID-19. For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

The post Connecting Patients: Creating your Resiliency Roadmap appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

How can parents, caregivers and educators talk with children about racial turmoil and recent news events in the U.S.? Several Mayo Clinic experts say the best approach is proactive and direct.

"I would recommend asking questions to see what your children have picked up, what they understand about the issues, how they’re feeling about it and find out what 'holes' they might have in their knowledge," says psychologist Dr. Jocelyn Lebow. "This will help you frame your response — and their level of understanding might surprise you."

Psychiatrist Dr. Sheila Jowsey-Gregoire agrees. "It's important to let children talk about their concerns," she says. "Be a supportive listener and depending on the age of the child, offer suggestions and positive insights."

"I also would be careful about talking around the issue," says Dr. Lebow. "Naming things and speaking directly about what’s going on, in an age-appropriate way, is going to be more beneficial than hedging or avoiding. It can help to have a conversation about how they might confront or respond to related situations in their everyday life, such as racism, bullying or violence, in a way that’s consistent with the person they want to be."

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"I also would be careful about talking around the issue. Naming things and speaking directly about what’s going on, in an age-appropriate way, is going to be more beneficial than hedging or avoiding."  - Dr. Jocelyn Lebow

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Dr. Amit Sood, director of research in the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, says, "Help them understand that most people are good, and emphasize it's a few misguided people who can spoil things."

He acknowledges, "Some news channels might only show the bad stuff, but a lot of good things are happening that are going unseen, and those people causing pain to others can teach you what not to do. When you see chaos in the larger world, create positivity in your smaller world."

Dr. Lebow says you know what your child can handle, and it’s healthy for them to see you responding as a human to tragedy. For example, she says let your child know that, “seeing people say cruel and hateful things makes me feel really sad” can help normalize emotional responses he or she might be having.

"It probably makes sense to leave in-depth discussions about what white supremacy means and where the movement originated, for children who are developmentally ready for that content, but at the same time, I think it’s important to resist the urge to whitewash your explanations and answers when kids are asking tough questions," says Dr. Lebow. She adds that providing context about the alt-right movement and where it originates can be an important piece to help older children understand the issue. "For questions that have no easy answer, or to which you don’t know the answer, it’s OK to say that, and then research as a family, using reputable sources."

"Parents and teachers can serve as resilient role models for kids showing that they are handling difficult times with an optimistic, problem-solving approach," says Dr. Jowsey-Gregoire. "If a child seems very stressed, watch for symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, problems in school or appetite changes, that can suggest further evaluation by a family doctor or pediatrician."

"Those people causing pain to others teach you what not to do. When you see chaos in the larger world, create positivity in your smaller world."
- Dr. Amit Sood

Dr. Jowsey-Gregoire says life and political events are constantly changing with both good and bad events, and offers this reminder, "The good events seem to get less news coverage so help the child see that there is more to consider beyond what is showing up in the news feeds."

"Parents and teachers can serve as resilient role models for kids showing that they are handling difficult times with an optimistic, problem-solving approach.  If a child seems very stressed, watch for symptoms, such as sleep disturbance, problems in school or appetite changes, that can suggest further evaluation by a family doctor or pediatrician." - Dr. Sheila Jowsey-Gregoire 

"There may be some simple but important ways that kids can get involved, and they can talk to their teachers and parents about this," says Dr. Jowsey-Gregoire. "Optimism, helping others, turning to your support network, reinforcing your values through organizations or faith communities are all resilient ways of coping with stressful times."

Dr. Sood suggests you can do simple things like sending text messages that teach values, secular or faith-based. "And you can support causes/organizations that further peace and spread good values in the world," he says.

Related resources:

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Psychiatric Association
• American Psychological Association
• Response to the discriminatory violence
• Public Broadcasting Service
• Coping with grieve after community violence
• Anti-Defamation League
• Escape the avalanche of negative news
• Beware of Binge-watching negative news
• Negative news overload: turn off, take action

The post The children are watching — what can you tell them? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

“The problem with gambling is the subtle way in which it can take over our behavior and sensibility,” says Brien Gleeson, a behavioral health addictions counselor at Mayo Clinic Health System. “This change can occur slowly or quite rapidly, depending on a number of variables. The outcomes tend to be the same: damage to relationships, bank accounts, credit rating, and overall mental and physical health.”

There are some simple rules to help manage gambling, as well as warning signs to help you see trouble coming. One of the first things to check is your attitudes or beliefs about gambling. Your beliefs will impact the way you conduct yourself when making a wager. The act of gambling itself can contribute strongly to the formation of these beliefs. They include the belief that gambling is an easy way to earn money, that gamblers are smart enough to beat the odds, and the more money spent gambling, the more that’s going to be won. That final belief is similar to the “buy now and save” phrase in advertising. It sounds believable until you realize how illogical it is. Buying and saving are opposites; one does not lead to the other.

Once you accept that gambling is, as they say on the disclaimers, for entertainment only, then you can follow a few simple guidelines to manage things:

• Never borrow money while gambling.
• Only bet what you can afford to lose.
• Money to wager should come only from your entertainment budget.
• Avoid ATMs or lines of credit.
• Limit the time you spend gambling.
• Don’t drink and gamble.
• Remember gravity: What goes up must come down.
• Don’t play a game you don’t understand.
• Never lie about your wins or losses.

The cardinal rule for gambling is don’t chase your losses. Ultimately, you will lose money gambling. It is entertainment ─ not income. If this were not the case, casinos and bookies would be out of business quickly.

The act of gambling has a powerful effect on the human mind.

“Wagering can create a compulsive dynamic, which rises to the level of impacting mental, emotional and physical health,” Gleeson says. “As a process, addiction can literally change the way the brain operates, leading to a real need for help.”

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, a gambling disorder meets the criteria of persistent, recurrent problematic gambling behavior, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as indicated by the individual exhibiting four or more of these behaviors in a one-year period:

• Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement.
• Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
• Has made repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling
• Is often preoccupied with gambling (e.g., having persistent thoughts of reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble).
• Often gambles when feeling distressed (e.g., helpless, guilty, anxious or depressed)
• After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (chasing one’s losses)
• Lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
• Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
• Relies on others to provide money to relieve desperate financial situations caused by gambling

If any of this sounds familiar, this might be an indication that you need to reconsider your gambling habits. If your attempts to control gambling fail, consider seeking help.

So, enjoy March Madness. But remember that gambling and wagering can be a slippery slope.

The post Is March Madness pulling at your purse strings? appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Has suicide ever touched your life or someone you know? On the next Mayo Clinic Radio, Saturday, September 20 at 9 a.m. CT, we'll talk with psychiatrist Marin Veldic, M.D., about why suicide is such a difficult subject to discuss. Please join this sensitive and important conversation. What should you do if you're feeling like life isn't worth living? How can you help someone you think may be having thoughts of suicide?  We'll find out.

Myth or Fact: The suicide of a celebrity leads to an increase in "copycat" suicides.

Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions.

To listen to the program on Saturday, click here.

Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio.

Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment September 20, 2014 (right click MP3) 

Mayo Clinic Radio is a weekly one-hour radio program highlighting health and medical information from Mayo Clinic. The show is taped for rebroadcast by some affiliates.

For a look at future program topics, click here.
To find and listen to archived shows, click here.

The post MAYO CLINIC RADIO appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

MULTIMEDIA ALERT: For audio and video of Dr. Bostwick talking about the editorial, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Bostwick's editorial is a commentary on an essay in the same issue of Proceedings titled "Guns, Schools, and Mental Illness: Potential Concerns for Physicians and Mental Health Professionals." The authors focus on recent mass shootings and argue that these actions were not and could not have been prevented by more restrictive gun legislation. They further contend that a diagnosis of mental illness does not justify stripping Second Amendment rights from all who carry such a diagnosis, most of whom will never commit violent acts toward others.

Before reading the essay Dr. Bostwick — who is generally in favor of gun control — expected to disagree with its contents. Instead, he agreed.

"We physicians generally do not know enough about firearms to have an informed conversation with our patients, let alone counsel them about gun safety," says Dr. Bostwick. "We also tend to ignore the reality that as long as the Second Amendment is the law of the land, the right to bear arms and therefore personal gun ownership, whether of long guns for hunting or handguns for personal protection, will be an integral part of the American scene."

A few points Dr. Bostwick argues:

• Even if every mentally ill person in the country were registered, the system isn't prepared to handle them — and only about half of the states require registration.
• Only about 10 percent of mentally ill people are registered — and these are people who have been committed, they've come to attention in a way that requires court intervention.
• Literature says the vast majority of people who do these kinds of shootings are not mentally ill — or it is recognized after the fact.
• The majority of mentally ill people aren't dangerous.
• Mentally ill people in a country with gun rights, still have rights.
• Mass shootings are not just an American phenomenon — they have and are occurring in countries that have strong gun control.

"It is important to note that mass shooting are very different from murder and suicide," Dr. Bostwick says. "These conclusions should not be extrapolated either to other forms of murder — often crimes of passion in which there is typically only a single victim — or to suicide, a phenomenon that is more than twice as common as homicide in the United States and frequently an impulsive act. Research shows gun restriction among suicidal people works."

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About Mayo Clinic
Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nick Hanson, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic Psychiatrist: Taking Guns Away From Mentally Ill Won’t Eliminate Mass Shootings appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Journalists: Dr. Frye will be a guest on the Mayo Clinic Radio Sat., Dec. 8, 9–10 a.m. CST. Go to Mayo Clinic Radio to listen LIVE. Follow #mayoradio during the show.

Symptoms include sleeping too much, overeating, loss of energy, social withdrawal and difficulty concentrating. People in northern climates are more likely to experience SAD. While many people experience some elements of SAD, Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Mark Frye, M.D., says you should seek professional help if your symptoms begin to affect your ability to perform at work or take a toll on your personal relationships. Seeking help is particularly important if you begin to feel hopeless or have thoughts of self-harm, he says.

Dr. Frye offers these tips to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the winter:

• Get outside. There is no substitute for natural light. If you work during the day, try to go for a walk during a break or lunch.
• Light therapy boxes can help boost your mood when you're unable to get outdoors.
• Get regular exercise: at least three times a week for 30 minutes.
• Stay social. Interact with family and friends regularly.

What causes SAD? Sunlight enters the brain through the eyes, stimulating the production of a neurotransmitter, serotonin, that supports nerve cell functioning, including mood. Less light results in lower serotonin levels. Darkness stimulates the production of melatonin, which promotes sleep. It's the combination of less serotonin and increased amounts of melatonin that causes SAD.

"There are many people who experience winter blues. However, there are those who are experiencing more serious symptoms," says William Weggel, M.D., a Mayo Clinic Health System psychiatrist who sees patients in Wisconsin. "The good news is that in most cases, we are able to find a treatment plan to help the patient through the winter months."

To interview Dr. Frye or Dr. Weggel, contact Nick Hanson at 507-284-5005 or email newsbureau@mayo.edu.

Media Contact: Nick Hanson, 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Experts Offer Advice to Avoid Winter Blues appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

MULTIMEDIA ALERT: For audio and video of Dr. Lineberry talking about military suicide, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.

"Even though large-scale military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq are ending, the effects on the mental health of active-duty service members, reservists, and veterans are just beginning to be felt," Dr. Lineberry says. "Moreover, the potential effect on service members of their war experiences may manifest indefinitely into the future in the form of emerging psychiatric illnesses."

By some estimates, 1 in 5 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan experience symptoms of PTSD or major depression. Many do not seek treatment because they fear it will harm their careers, Dr. Lineberry says. Untreated, PTSD and depression can lead to drug use, marital problems, unemployment and even suicide.

For veterans and their families and friends, Dr. Lineberry says it's best to see a medical professional if these warning signs begin to occur:

• Sleep disturbances. Complaints of insomnia or other sleep problems in otherwise healthy soldiers, reservists, or veterans may signal the need for mental health screening.
• Disturbing thoughts and feelings for more than a month. Usually these thoughts will be severe, and the person will be having trouble keeping his or her life under control.
• Self-medication. Turning to alcohol or drugs to numb feelings isn't healthy, even though it may be a tempting way for a veteran to cope. It can lead to more problems and prevent healing.
• Flashbacks, or reliving a traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time. Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event and avoiding thinking or talking about the event are also warning signs of PTSD.

To interview Dr. Lineberry about mental health issues veterans may be experiencing, contact Nick Hanson at 507-284-5005 or newsbureau@mayo.edu.

Media Contact: Nick Hanson 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post War’s Impact Can Haunt Veterans Long After Combat, Mayo Clinic Expert Says appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Journalists: For multimedia resources including audio, video and b-roll of the app, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.

The app is designed for people with any level of anxiety. It can help someone overcome a common fear such as public speaking, or guide someone who has more severe symptoms in tracking and fighting anxiety between sessions with their health care provider.

The strategies used in Anxiety Coach are based on cognitive behavioral therapy, the most effective psychotherapy for fears and worries. In cognitive behavioral therapy, people increase their confidence by gradually confronting situations that they have avoided out of fear. Research has demonstrated that cognitive behavioral therapy is more effective for anxiety than other approaches that rely on teaching people to relax.

Anxiety Coach was developed by two clinical psychologists who are recognized as experts in the treatment of anxiety disorders — Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D., director of the Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Program at Mayo Clinic, and Jonathan Abramowitz, Ph.D., an adult anxiety disorders specialist at the University of North Carolina.
"The app is based on a long history of clinical research of what is helpful in conquering anxiety," Dr. Whiteside says. "It really challenges people to face their fears, as opposed to other apps that focus on relaxation strategy but don't get to the core of what is helpful in the long term."

Features of the Mayo Clinic Anxiety Coach:

• Short self-test to measure the severity of fears and worries
• Ability to design a personal plan to target individual fears and worries
• Library of more than 500 activities that people have found to help master a variety of fears and worries including social anxiety, obsessions and compulsions, specific fears, separation anxiety, panic attacks, trauma-related anxiety, and general worries
• Track anxiety while challenging fears and worries in real-life situations
• Record and view progress
• Tools to learn about when anxiety becomes a problem and how to seek treatment

The Mayo Clinic Anxiety Coach App is available for $4.99 from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or www.itunes.com/appstore. The app was developed with funding from the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation. Mayo Clinic and Dr. Whiteside have a financial interest in Anxiety Coach.

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About Mayo Clinic:

Recognizing 150 years of serving humanity in 2014, Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. For more information, visit 150years.mayoclinic.org, www.mayoclinic.org and newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org.

Media Contact: Nick Hanson, 507-284-5005 (days), newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post Mayo Clinic Debuts Anxiety Coach App for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.