Research on depression and its treatment. Covers stress-response biology, ketamine and dopamine-targeting therapies, treatment-resistant cases, and brain mechanisms.
A new study published by the American Psychological Association found significant sex differences in mental illness prevalence, with women more likely to develop anxiety and depression. Men, on the other hand, are more prone to substance abuse and antisocial disorders. The study's findings suggest that treatment approaches for men and ...
A new study led by King's College London found that childhood maltreatment increases the risk of developing both multiple and long-lasting depressive episodes. Maltreated individuals are also more likely to respond poorly to treatment for depression, with antidepressant medication and psychological treatment being less effective.
A study published in Journal of School Health found that a suicide prevention program significantly reduced teen suicidal behaviors, with significant decreases in considering, planning, and attempting suicide. The Surviving the Teens program taught self-confidence and positive behavior to help teens cope with stress and depression.
A history of depression is linked to a 29% increased risk of total stroke in women, according to new research. Women who used anti-depressant medication also had a higher risk of stroke, likely due to underlying vascular disease or inflammation.
A comprehensive review article found that positive activity interventions (PAIs) may offer hope to individuals with depressive disorders who do not respond to medical therapy. PAIs, such as counting blessings and practicing optimism, teach patients ways to increase their positive cognitions and emotions without professional help.
A study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that 25% of people hospitalized for depression in Ontario needed emergency care or were readmitted within 30 days. The research highlights the need for better integration of care and transition planning for patients with mental illness.
Residents of Sri Lanka who were internally displaced during the civil conflict have a higher prevalence of war-related mental health conditions. The study found that displacement is significantly associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found that heavy smokers who quit experience an increase in MAO-A levels, a mood-related brain protein. This finding may explain why heavy smokers are at high risk for clinical depression and provides potential targets to prevent sad mood during cigarette withdrawal.
A national study in Australia found that most people would radically change their behavior if they knew they had a genetic susceptibility to depression. The survey suggests there would be widespread community support for genetic screening as a valuable tool for early intervention in high-risk groups.
A study found that a 4-day non-denominational spiritual retreat significantly lowered depression in heart patients, while also raising hope. The retreat included meditation, guided imagery, and outdoor activities, leading to immediate improvements in tests measuring depression and hopefulness.
Researchers propose Positive Activity Interventions (PAI) as a new and less expensive approach to treating depression. PAIs include activities like gratitude, optimism, and acts of kindness, which have been shown to increase positive thinking, affect, and behaviors.
A new study suggests that a small hippocampus is more likely an effect of depression rather than a cause. Researchers found that individuals with depression declined in volume over time, but those with smaller hippocampus were not at higher risk to develop depression.
A meta-analysis by McMaster researcher Paul Andrews found that patients who have used anti-depressant medications can be nearly twice as susceptible to future episodes of major depression. The study suggests that people who have not been taking any medication are at a 25 per cent risk of relapse, compared to 42 per cent or higher for t...
A simple survey can help identify Americans at risk of developing depression or PTSD after injury. The screening tool has nearly 100% accuracy in negative results and could facilitate early diagnosis and targeted mental health resources.
A recent trial found that sertraline and mirtazapine, commonly prescribed antidepressants for dementia patients with depression, provide no benefit but increase side effects. The study suggests that clinicians should reframe their approach to treating depression in Alzheimer's disease, considering alternative treatments.
A new study published in Addiction found that women in drug court with current major depression were more likely to use crack cocaine within four months. The study suggests that addressing depression could reduce the number of women who fail to beat crack addiction in drug court.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that people use two main strategies to regulate their emotions: distraction and reappraisal. When faced with low-intensity negative emotions, individuals tend to reappraise the situation by thinking through it, while high-intensity emotions trigger a distracting response.
A new study published in Psychological Science reveals that life experiences significantly influence the set points for anxiety and depression. Researchers used a large sample of over 12,000 twins to show that environmental factors have a lasting impact on mood stability.
A new study suggests that people with early life adversity or prior depressive episodes are more sensitive to later life stress. Individuals who experienced early parental loss or separation and those with a history of depression became depressed following lower levels of life stress than those without these predisposing factors.
Patients who received motivational interviews early after a stroke had normal mood, fewer instances of depression, and greater survival rates compared to those receiving standard care. After one year, 48% of patients with the intervention had normal mood, while the death rate was 6.5%, significantly lower than the control group.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that ghrelin, the 'hunger hormone', triggers comfort food cravings in stressed mice, leading to overeating and increased body weight. The study suggests that ghrelin signaling plays a crucial role in stress-induced food-reward behaviors.
A recent study by Lynne Murray and colleagues found that postnatal depression in mothers is associated with a substantially increased risk of depression in their children until age 16. The researchers also discovered that infant attachment issues and lower child ego resilience are linked to the development of depression.
A recent study by the Medical College of Georgia found that depressed pregnant women often receive inconsistent treatment, leading to longer hospital stays. The lack of uniformity in addressing perinatal depression is attributed to providers feeling burdened and isolated in making decisions about complex issues.
Researchers have discovered how ketamine produces a fast-acting antidepressant effect, shedding light on its potential as an emergency room treatment for high-risk patients. The study's findings could lead to the development of faster-acting and longer-lasting antidepressants.
Research finds one-third of pregnant women with depression have a history of eating disorders, while many others have experienced physical or sexual abuse. Mental health screenings are crucial to identify at-risk patients and provide early treatment.
A study at The University of Nottingham found that group therapy sessions can reduce anxiety and depression in MS patients, improving their quality of life. The treatment reduced costs for the NHS by almost £470 per patient, with savings also seen in GP visits and outpatient hospital costs.
A new study published by The Endocrine Society reveals that women with higher levels of the hormone leptin experience fewer symptoms of depression. This finding suggests that leptin may have antidepressant qualities and is independent of body mass index (BMI).
A new study suggests people with depression struggle to turn their attention away from bad thoughts due to difficulties with working memory. Researchers found that individuals with depression took longer to reorder words in reverse order, especially when the words had negative meanings.
A University of Toronto study found that formerly depressed patients' brain activity responses to sadness can predict future depression relapse. The research suggests that a frontal brain region's analysis and interpretation of sadness may perpetuate depression.
A new tool, REMIT, has been developed to improve the measurement of primary care depression outcomes. The tool adds a patient's subjective sense of recovery to existing measurements, showing that about one-third of patients with mild depression were not in remission, as their PHQ score would indicate.
Researchers at IUPUI are conducting a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of treating depression before a heart attack in reducing future heart disease risk. The study aims to investigate whether an evidence-based computerized treatment for depression can effectively lower heart disease risk.
A new study published in The Lancet suggests that agomelatine, a melatonin analogue, may have a role in treating major depression. The research found that agomelatine has similar antidepressant efficacy to other common medications while improving sleep quality and reducing relapse rates.
Research published in Injury Prevention found that young drivers who engage in risky behavior, such as speeding and using mobile phones while driving, are at a greater risk of psychological distress. The study also discovered that women are more likely to experience increased psychological distress compared to men.
A study by Queensland University of Technology found that anxiety and depression are linked to risk-taking in young drivers, with women being more likely to exhibit this behavior. The research suggests that identifying young drivers at risk of psychological distress could help target them with specific road safety countermeasures.
Researchers at Washington University and King's College London have independently identified a DNA region on chromosome 3 associated with depression. The region contains up to 90 genes and shows genome-wide significance, suggesting that many genes may be involved in depression.
Ostracism can lead to extended periods of pain and negative experiences due to its impact on human needs like belonging and self-esteem. The pain caused by social exclusion can linger for a long time if coping mechanisms are not effective, leading to depression, alienation, and feelings of unworthiness.
Children whose mothers are successfully treated for depression show progressive improvement in their own behaviors even a year after treatment discontinuation. The faster mothers get better, the faster and greater their children's improvements are.
Researchers at Wayne State University have found a new method to identify children with major depressive disorder (MDD), setting them apart from both healthy children and those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Cortical thickness in the brain was used as a key factor, revealing distinct differences between MDD patients and heal...
A new study finds that depressed individuals perform better than non-depressed peers in sequential decision tasks, approximating an optimal strategy more closely. This discovery provides evidence that clinical depression may carry some benefits, which could help uncover its evolutionary roots and open avenues for treatment.
A new study found that Latinas who endure domestic violence during or within a year of pregnancy are five times more likely to experience postpartum depression. The researchers suggest that recent exposure to intimate partner violence is a stronger predictor of postpartum depression than prenatal depression.
Research finds that women with heart failure who suppress their emotions tend to have higher symptoms of depression and anxiety, even with knowledge about their illness. This suggests that clinicians should consider individual coping styles when educating patients about their condition.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that combining two antidepressant medications does not hasten recovery from depression in a national study involving 665 patients. The study revealed similar remission and response rates across three treatment groups, but higher side effects in the third group.
A new study identifies SLC6A15 as a novel susceptibility gene for major depression, which may lead to the discovery of novel antidepressant drugs. The researchers found that lower expression of SLC6A15 in the hippocampus is linked to increased stress susceptibility and altered neuronal circuits.
Researchers identify a promising candidate gene, SLC6A15, involved in the regulation of glutamate, an important neurotransmitter. The study shows that changes in this gene's activity can be influenced by genetic variations and even stress, providing new insights into depression.
Researchers at Rockefeller University found that anti-inflammatory drugs decrease the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in treating depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The study suggests that this may be due to the overlap between depression, inflammation, and Alzheimer's disease.
A study by University of Washington psychologists found no correlation between positive emotions and stress/depression in Asian college students, suggesting therapies focusing on positivity may not work. Instead, mindfulness approaches that acknowledge both good and bad emotions may be more effective.
Researchers analyzed data from the largest study on depression treatment, finding that even responders experience residual symptoms like insomnia and decreased concentration. The study suggests a need for more targeted antidepressant therapies to decrease depressive symptoms and understand their association with concentration.
A history of childhood abuse increases adolescent depression risk by altering neuroendocrine response to stress. Cortisol levels build up over time, increasing risk for severe endocrine impairment and depression.
Researchers have identified a small molecule compound that specifically inhibits TrkB action, showing potent behavioral effects in mice and promising antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans. The discovery could lead to the development of a new class of psychiatric drugs for depression treatment.
A quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-administer physiological measure of pupil dilation in response to emotional words can predict which patients are likely to respond to cognitive therapy. This technology has the potential to improve treatment response rates in mental health clinics.
Scientists have discovered how anti-depressants make new brain cells by regulating the glucocorticoid receptor, a key protein involved in stress response. This finding holds promise for developing more effective anti-depressant treatments to combat depression.
A randomized trial of 52 pregnant women found that those consuming fish oil supplements had significantly lower postpartum depression symptoms and fewer anxiety-related issues. The study suggests that DHA consumption during pregnancy has the potential to decrease symptoms of postpartum depression.
Research suggests that treatment for depression may have long-term benefits, with depressed adults who use antidepressants being three times less likely to be depressed eight years later. Cognitive behavioral therapy has also been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression.
A new study found that long-term depression is associated with premature aging of immune cells, potentially leading to increased susceptibility to other illnesses. Researchers also discovered a link between telomere shortening and oxidative stress in depressed individuals.
A recent study published in Psychiatry Research found that 50% of patients with bipolar disorder experience work, social, or family disabilities. Factors associated with these disabilities include high recurrence of maniac episodes, recurrent psychiatric hospitalization, depression, and low educational levels.
A University of Pittsburgh study found that teenagers who spent more time listening to music were 8.3 times more likely to be depressed, compared to those who read books the most, which had a protective effect against depression. The study used an intensive 'real-life' methodology and involved 106 adolescent participants.
Mexican migrants to the U.S. are at a higher risk of experiencing clinically significant depression and anxiety disorders compared to non-migrants. The study found that those between 18 and 25 years old have nearly four-and-one-half times greater odds of developing a depressive disorder.
A study found that depression erodes intimate relationships by impairing partners' ability to perceive each other's thoughts and feelings. The more depressed a woman is, the less accurately she infers her partner's emotions, leading to increased alienation and depression in both partners.
A randomized trial of 208 Group Health patients found that online care management significantly reduced symptoms of depression and improved medication adherence. The study suggests that online messaging can be a convenient and affordable alternative to traditional phone calls for follow-up care.
Researchers found that combining tai chi with standard treatment for depressed elderly adults led to greater improvement in depression levels and quality of life. Participants who took escitalopram and participated in tai chi showed higher remission rates than those receiving health education.