The results show that worry in normal subjects and in subjects with GAD is based on activation of the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions, known to be involved in mentalization and introspective thinking. A dysregulation of the activity of this region and its circuitry may underpin the inability of GAD patients to stop worrying.

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The results suggest that in nonclinical female individuals, stress might bring out a previously absent association between some psychological predisposing factors for eating disorders and an actual desire or plan to lose weight. Such a finding suggests that stress may stimulate behaviors related to eating disorders in a predisposed personality.

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Introduction The COVID‐19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C‐19ASS) is a quick and reliable scale assessing dysfunctional coping strategies activated in response to COVID‐19 fear and threat. The present study aimed to provide a preliminary validation of the Italian version of the C‐19ASS and investigated whether the C‐19ASS would mediate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and psychological outcomes. Method In Study 1, a community sample of 271 participants completed the Italian version of the C‐19ASS and results were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. In study 2, a community sample of 484 participants completed the Italian version of the C‐19ASS and a series of measures assessing COVID‐19 anxiety, COVID‐19 fear, functional impairment, personality traits, depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety. Internal consistency, concurrent and incremental validity were assessed. Path analyses were run. Results Factor analysis identified a two‐factor solution (i.e., C‐19ASS Perseveration and C‐19ASS Avoidance) and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two‐factor model best fits the data. The Italian version of the C‐19ASS showed good internal consistency. There was also evidence of convergent validity and incremental validity. Path analyses showed that C‐19ASS Perseveration mediates the relationship between emotional stability and psychological symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety and health anxiety). Conclusion The Italian version of the C‐19ASS appears to be a reliable and valid measure of the COVID‐19 anxiety syndrome. The COVID‐19 anxiety syndrome could be a suitable therapeutic target to reduce psychological symptoms typically linked to pandemic events, such as depression generalized anxiety and health anxiety.