Research on depression and its treatment. Covers stress-response biology, ketamine and dopamine-targeting therapies, treatment-resistant cases, and brain mechanisms.
A University of Illinois study found that good marriage can buffer the effects of a dad's depression on his young children. When fathers report high emotional intimacy in their marriage, their children benefit from improved father-child interaction.
A new study suggests that disturbed sleep in adolescents is associated with more symptoms of depression. However, perceived support and acceptance from parents and teachers appear to have a protective effect on sleep disruptions and depressive symptoms. Support from peers does not offer the same benefits.
Researchers found that individuals with untreated major depression have increased telomerase activity in immune cells, which may help fight back against disease progression. The study also suggests a potential protective role for telomerase in the hippocampus and reducing depressive symptoms with treatment.
A study of 4,296 people found that those with both conditions had smaller brain tissue volumes than those with neither. The study suggests that people with both migraine and depression may require different treatment strategies.
A clinical study demonstrates the durability of NeuroStar TMS Therapy in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who have failed to respond to prior antidepressant medication. After acute treatment, patients maintained significant improvement and remission through 12 months, suggesting a long-term benefit of the therapy.
Hopkins researchers identify two genes, TTC9B and HP1BP3, that can predict postpartum depression with 85 percent certainty in pregnant women. The study's findings could lead to early intervention and treatment options for the condition.
A new study has identified risk factors for depression among COPD patients, including female patients and those experiencing significant shortness of breath. The study found that physical activity was a protective factor against depression, with patients who had higher levels of physical activity less prone to developing depression.
Researchers found ketamine to be effective in treating treatment-resistant depression within 24 hours, with a response rate of 63.8% compared to 28% in the placebo group. The antidepressant benefits were durable after seven days, making ketamine a promising new treatment option for patients with severe and refractory forms of depression.
A survey of 161 military personnel found that those with multiple head injuries face a significantly higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study's lead author says that knowing this association can provide valuable information for professionals treating wounded combat servicemen and women to help manage the risk of suicide.
Researchers found that depressed individuals express personal goals in vague terms, such as 'to be happy,' rather than specific objectives like improving a running time. This reduced specificity may be linked to the motivational deficits seen in depression, and could inform more effective psychotherapeutic approaches.
Researchers found that genes controlling circadian clock rhythms are profoundly altered in the brains of people with severe depression, suggesting a physical basis for many symptoms. The study provides clues for potential new classes of compounds to rapidly treat depression by resetting abnormal clock genes.
New guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommend against routine screening for depression in adults without apparent symptoms. The recommendations are based on a lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and harms of screening. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of depression in patients wi...
The Lancet Series on bipolar disorder offers a comprehensive overview of the condition, including its genetic basis, diagnostic challenges, and treatment limitations. The series highlights the need for more accurate diagnosis and personalized treatments, with neuroimaging research potentially transforming bipolar diagnosis.
Researchers found that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism weeks or months before patients begin to feel better. The treatment was able to improve symptoms of depression in 9 out of 13 participants, with significant changes in brain metabolism occurring far in advance of any improvement in mood.
A new study found that adults with depression and certain antidepressant medications are more likely to develop Clostridium difficile infections, a serious and costly hospital-associated infection. Individuals with major depression were 36% more likely to develop the infection than those without depression.
Researchers identified a key protein responsible for stress hormones' detrimental effect on brain cells. A new compound was found to block this effect, increasing the number of new brain cells in a potential new avenue for drug discovery.
A recent study has found a significant link between certain antidepressants and an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection. People with major depression were 36% more likely to develop CDI, while the use of mirtazapine and fluoxetine doubled the risk. Researchers stress that the exact cause of this association is unknown.
Researchers have developed a new, more precise form of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) called FEAST, which shows promising results in reducing depressive symptoms with minimal adverse cognitive effects. In a feasibility study, patients experienced significant improvements after just 10 sessions over four weeks.
A large randomised controlled trial found that exercise had no effect on reducing depression among frail elderly care home residents. Despite being well-received by residents and staff, the intervention failed to improve mental health or quality of life.
A new study found that only 38.4% of adults with clinician-identified depression met the 12-month criteria for depression. Many participants used prescription psychiatric medication despite not meeting the criteria, highlighting the need for improved diagnosis and treatment targeting in community settings.
Research reveals that strained relationships with spouses and low-quality social interactions significantly increase the risk of major depression. In contrast, individuals without a spouse are at no increased risk, highlighting the importance of relationship quality in mental health.
Early child adversity can lead to chronic physical and mental disability, as well as increase the risk of smoking, substance abuse, obesity, cardiovascular disease, depression, and attempted suicide. Effective interventions, such as maternal depression treatment and economic support, can reverse or attenuate these effects.
Flies develop depression-like symptoms in response to uncontrollable stress, slowing down and taking more frequent rests. The study offers insights into the biological basis of depression and presents a potential method for testing antidepressant drugs.
A new study reveals that a particular style of thinking can be contagious and increase symptoms of depression. College freshmen who were assigned to roommates with high levels of cognitive vulnerability showed an increase in their own vulnerability and depressive symptoms six months later.
A public-private partnership (PPP) successfully addressed the mental health needs of people in post-conflict northern Uganda, establishing five psycho-trauma centers and increasing clinic attendance from 300 to over 3,000. The most common diagnoses were depression, PTSD, epilepsy, and substance use disorders.
A study found that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can improve the quality of life for severely depressed patients who go into remission. However, patients may experience challenges with social function and emotional role after treatment.
Researchers at Bonn University Hospital have achieved remarkable results using deep brain stimulation to treat treatment-resistant major depression. In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved considerably and rapidly, with significant improvements observed in anxiety, despondence, listlessness, and joylessness.
A recent CWRU study found that mothers with postpartum depression prefer online interventions for anonymous access to professional advice. The study also highlights the need for accessible resources to help new mothers cope with depression, which affects up to 15% of new mothers.
Researchers found that untreated depression hinders anti-inflammatory effects of exercise and light-to-moderate alcohol consumption. Participants with depression showed no benefit in lowering C-reactive protein levels, despite normal physical activity levels.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation has awarded nearly $4 million in new NARSAD grants to 40 mid-career researchers pursuing innovative studies on depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses. The grants will focus on diagnostic tools, early intervention, new technologies, next-generation therapies, and basic research.
Researchers found that a patient-preference, centralized depression care approach significantly reduced depressive symptoms and improved health outcomes for heart attack survivors. The study showed that this type of treatment was feasible, effective, and potentially cost-neutral within six months.
Researchers found that moderate-to-severe depression in heart failure patients increases their risk of death by almost 60% and emergency room visits by 35%. The study's lead author emphasizes the need for tailored treatment programs to manage depression in these patients.
A study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers found that depression and cognitive status are independently associated with a more rapid decline in everyday living abilities. The findings suggest providing mental health treatment may slow the loss of independence.
New research reveals that heart disease patients with anxiety are twice as likely to die from any cause compared to those without anxiety. Those with both anxiety and depression face a tripled risk of death. The study suggests that anxiety may underlie the risk previously attributed solely to depression.
A new study challenges the long-held explanation that depression is caused by insufficient serotonin levels. Instead, researchers found that abnormal communication between brain cells is the root cause of depression. This discovery opens possibilities for new therapies targeting excitatory connections rather than serotonin.
Research suggests depression in childhood increases risk of obesity, smoking and physical inactivity in adolescence, leading to higher rates of heart disease. Depression appears to be a key factor in the development of cardiac risk behaviors, even after remission.
A large-scale study by Northwestern University researcher Katherine L. Wisner found that 14% of new mothers screened positive for depression, with many experiencing recurrent episodes of major depression. The study emphasizes the importance of prenatal and postpartum screening to prevent mental health issues in women and their infants.
A meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials found that adjunctive antipsychotic medications improve depressive symptoms but have limited effects on quality of life. The treatments are also linked to side effects such as weight gain, sedation, and akathisia.
Scientists at UCLA discovered a peptide called hypocretin that increases happiness and alertness in humans, while another peptide MCH plays a key role in sleep regulation. The study provides a potential new approach to treating psychiatric disorders like depression.
A pilot study found DBS to be effective in improving mood and BMI in severely anorexic patients. After surgery, patients began stabilizing or gaining weight, with three maintaining higher weights than before. Improvements in mood and obsessive-compulsive behavior were also observed.
A new study by UCLA life scientists suggests that pregnant women who receive strong social support from their families during pregnancy have lower levels of a stress hormone and reduced risk of postpartum depression. The research found that emotional support was the most powerful form of support, and early interventions may provide a b...
A new study found that pregnant women who received strong social support from their families had lower levels of a stress hormone and reduced depressive symptoms after giving birth. The researchers also discovered that emotional support was the most powerful form of support, while father support was not as strong of a protective factor.
New research investigates how social information processing patterns, urgency, and rumination contribute to adolescent mental health disorders. The studies found that Fast Track intervention improved antisocial behavior in youth, while urgency levels predicted depression, and individual differences in distraction shared genetic sources...
Researchers recommend 'low-intensity' interventions like self-help books and websites as a first step in treating depression. These interventions can provide significant clinical benefits, especially for patients with more severe depression at baseline.
Researchers found that using the method-of-loci technique improved recalling positive memories for individuals with depression, potentially elevating their mood. The study suggests this memory strategy may be an effective tool in managing depression.
A new study at Michigan State University finds that single workers face challenges maintaining friendships, taking care of their health, and finding leisure time beyond work demands. This negative impact on work-life balance is similar for both single and family-based workers.
A UCLA study found a link between untreated depression and decreased effectiveness of the shingles vaccine in older adults. Patients with depression showed a weaker immune response to the varicella-zoster virus, making them less responsive to the vaccine.
A psychiatrist proposes a new subspecialty to address the link between depression and heart disease. Interleukin-6 levels were found to be higher in depressed patients than healthy controls.
Adults undergoing bariatric surgery who are more physically active are less likely to have depressive symptoms and treatment for depression or anxiety. Moderate-intensity physical activity, such as one hour a week or 4,750 steps a day, was associated with lower odds of these conditions.
A study suggests a link between untreated depression and decreased response to the shingles vaccine in older adults. Depression treatment, however, boosts cell-mediated immunity and increases vaccine effectiveness.
A new study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that people who yearn for a more intimate partnership and those who crave more distance are equally at risk for having a problematic relationship. The study's lead author, David M. Frost, PhD, suggests that finding a way to attain an idealized level of closeness...
A 30-year study of nearly 400 men found that nearly one-third of major depressive episodes were seen only while they were drinking heavily. Heavy drinking is often mistaken for depression, but the symptoms typically resolve within weeks to a month of abstinence.
A recent study found that nearly 8% of stroke survivors in the US contemplate suicide, with risk factors including depression, age, and socioeconomic status. Regular screening for suicidal ideation is recommended to address this often-overlooked concern.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that 68% of Ugandan humanitarian aid workers experienced symptoms of depression, while 53% had anxiety disorders and 26% posttraumatic stress disorder. The study suggests that organizational environment significantly influences mental health and wellbeing.
Research finds that LGBTQ+ individuals who are out to others have lower stress hormone levels, fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improved overall wellbeing. This study suggests that self-acceptance and disclosure can lead to better physical and mental health outcomes.
A study by Jason Schnittker and colleagues reveals a long-lasting relationship between incarceration and psychiatric conditions affecting one's mood. The research suggests that mental health treatment could help former inmates reintegrate into society, addressing difficulties such as diminished social relationships and daily activities.
Survivors of heart attacks are three times more likely to develop depression due to their thought pattern about the event. Addressing threat perception through psychological interventions can help reduce this risk and promote a smoother recovery.
A new study in Biological Psychiatry suggests that reductions in ECT treatment have an economic basis, with a 43% drop in psychiatric inpatients receiving the procedure. ECT is being discontinued by US general hospitals, primarily due to cost and regulatory issues.
A study by Michigan Medicine found that two-thirds of mothers with sick babies in Ghana are at risk of postpartum depression. This condition can lead to poor infant growth and nutrition, as well as increased mortality rates for both mothers and babies.
Researchers found an association between elevated levels of C-reactive protein and increased risk of psychological distress and depression in a large Danish population. Elevated CRP levels were also linked to higher rates of antidepressant use and hospitalization with depression.