Volume 3 — Issue 3
The SSC’s Official Science Newspaper
thecurrent@westernssc.ca
DISORDERS
Study, stress, repeat
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Young adulthood and anxiety, two concepts that go hand in hand Ivan Urosev Copy Editor
It is more likely than not that the traditional Halloween cohort of zombies, witches and werewolves could no longer frighten you, brave reader, around the time you attended your first Halloween dance. Unfortunately, young adulthood comes with its own set of nightmares, made all the more terrifying by their verisimilitude. No, they don't go bump in the night, but a sluggish job market, mid-term exams and mounting student debt can make insomniacs out of even the most stoic of students. With the constant pressure of stresses like these, it is small wonder that the incidences of serious anxiety disorders are on the rise, amongst both students and the population at large. Researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted a mental health study which concluded that the probability of developing one of the myriad of anxiety disorders has more than doubled in the last 40 years (The study only considered cases in Western Europe, Canada and the United States). As with any study making these sorts of conclusions, it is important to take into account improved standards of screening and diagnosis; the general trend, however, remains striking. Some researchers attribute this rise to the fast pace of modern life; others claim
Painting courtesy of Edvard Munch
Sometimes you just want to scream...
INSIDE THIS ISSUE, YOU’RE GOING TO FIND... Innovations in maximizing the ability of pharmaceutical drugs to distribute in the body. Page 3
A chilling comparison of two creatures rampant in pop culture. Pages 4-5 Anton van Leeuwenhoek’s birthday? Time to get white girl wasted. Page 6 DNA sequencing and Tom Haffie. What are: things we love about biology? Page 6 The best damn comics section in the league. Page 7
that the hereditary nature of anxiety disorders points to an as-yet-unknown genetic cause. Another concern outlined in the study is the insidious nature of this type of disorder, in the sense that it can be difficult to distinguish between normal feelings of anxiety that most people experience before certain stressful situations, and the chronic, unmitigated anxiety that can be classified as a medical condition. In the interest of making the distinction clearer, anxiety disorders have been classified into a number of broad categories. The major ones include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While PTSD may be the most discussed disorder, GAD is almost certainly among the most common, affecting approximately 226,000 Canadians between the ages of 15 and 64. This disorder is characterized by feelings of excessive and persistent worry (lasting for at least 6 months), which can lead to irritability, insomnia and difficulty concentrating among other things. Although the root cause of GAD is currently unknown, a prominent hypothesis proposes that an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters in the brain (i.e. serotonin) may be to blame. As a result, the current course of treatment often involves administration of SSRIs and similar antidepressants. While the pharmaceutical approach does sometimes produce positive results, the side
effects of many of the drugs involved are extensive, so other treatment options are being explored. As the debate rages on as to the cause and best course of treatment for anxiety disorders, there is a general consensus amongst medical professionals that one of the main barriers to management of these disorders is a lack of knowledge on the part of the public. Too often individuals with serious medical conditions are dismissed as being “highstrung” and told to “just relax”. Doctors are also concerned that the stigma associated with mental health issues prevents many affected individuals from coming forward. Students who feel that they exhibit any of the above symptoms are encouraged to contact the London Mental Health Crisis Service, or arrange an appointment with the university's own counselling services. Hopefully this information can assist you in having a safe and psychologically sound Halloween.
According to a British Columbia survey: - 40% of students reported they felt under constant pressure to do more than they could handle. - 64% indicated they cut back on sleep to accomplish educational goals.
STUDENT LIFE
Horrible Habits
Debunking our midterm mannerisms Harmony Hsieh Features Editor
It's the beginning of October. All your neatly folded piles of clothes have now transformed into treacherous stumbling blocks for visitors. You promise your parents you're flossing, but the reality is you can't remember the last time you've showered. As you stumble through midterms, you'll gain new roommates in the form of freshly grown fungi and bacteria. Scurvy will soon set in, an inevitable result of eating only Ramen as your money is more wisely allocated toward your alcohol budget. Fear not, my dirty denizens! Here
I will question whether our collective title of “Foul Bachelor Frog” is rightly bestowed. But do the justifications of our laziness/uncleanliness that we use among our friends stand up to scientific scrutiny? “The less I shower, the stronger my body's immune system will be!” Ahh, the hygiene hypothesis. It proposes that the cleaner you are, the less infectious microorganisms you're exposed to, and the weaker your body is at fighting back later. This has links to the relatively recent rise of incidences of allergic and autoimmune diseases, and has a
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The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. Its contents do not reflect the opinion of the University Students’ Council of the University of Western Ontario (“USC”). The USC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.