Women more 'prone to stress because of brain differences'

The brain chemistry in men and women could explain why women tend to be more prone to stress, new research claims.

A study by scientists from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found women may be more sensitive to an important stress hormone than men.

For the research, rats were subjected to swim stress tests, which revealed that the brains of female rats were more sensitive to a key stress hormone known as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). This organises stress responses in mammals.

"This may help to explain why women are twice as vulnerable as men to stress-related disorders," said US study leader Dr Rita Valentino.

"Although more research is certainly necessary to determine whether this translates to humans, this may help to explain why wom¬en are twice as vulnerable as men to stress-related disorders," she added.

Earlier this year, a study by Mind found that one in ten workers have begun taking antidepressants for stress and mental health problems, caused by the pressures of the recession on their workplace.