According to research coming out of Edith Cowan University (ECU), stress can temporarily impair executive functions, i.e. mental processes like working memory, impulse control and flexibility, which crucial for regulating emotions and making decisions under pressure.

“These executive functions are vital for controlling emotional responses, especially in challenging situations,” said ECU master’s student Tee-Jay Scott, the first author of the study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.

The findings show that people with distress-related disorders may be especially vulnerable to stress-related disruptions, even if they do not have a formal diagnosis, Scott said.

The team reviewed 17 international studies and found that stress significantly affects working memory in people with depression, and weakens impulse control in those with borderline personality disorder.

These findings may explain why some people respond poorly to common treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, which rely on these very cognitive functions, said Joanne Dickson, the study’s co-author and a professor at ECU.

“If acute stress is interfering with the mental processes that support emotion regulation, it could undermine a person’s ability to benefit from these treatments, especially during periods of heightened distress,” Dickson explained.

The researchers are, therefore, calling for more adaptable treatments that account for the impact of stress on the brain, and suggest building up cognitive skills before tackling emotionally intense therapy sessions.