A new study demonstrates that depression correlates with reduced levels of vitamin D, which our body produces when exposed to sunlight. Scientists examined over 12,000 individuals to make the conclusion, and suggest that screening levels of vitamin D may be an important tool when assessing a patient’s risk for the condition. Low levels of vitamin… [Continue Reading]
Disparities in the Treatment of Depression Based on Ethnicity and Race
December 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Under-treatment of depression in certain groups has a big impact on public health, new research suggests. The elderly and African-Americans are less likely to receive treatment for the disorder. Despite improvements to diagnostic tools and therapies in the two last decades, significant disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of depression remain, according to Rutgers research… [Continue Reading]
New Research on Drugs for Schizophrenia Reveals Underlying Molecular Pathways
November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Researchers have discovered the molecular action of a drug used to treat schizophrenia, making a major breakthrough in understanding the disease. The new study, published in a top scientific journal, has found that clozapine changes the balance of two different signaling molecules used in the brain, and has important implications for developing new, more effective… [Continue Reading]
Link Between Depression and Heart Health Found in Young People
November 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Depression is correlated with a significantly increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a new study has found, even after accounting for possible differences in lifestyle and diet. Researchers suspect that depression may cause particular physiological conditions, such as an increased level of certain hormones, that could have harmful effects on the heart. The negative… [Continue Reading]
New Methods Developed to Screen for Drugs For Mood Disorders
September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Serotonin, a chemical the cells in the brain use to communicate, plays a key role in modulating mood. Scientists have developed a new method to find compounds that can affect how serotonin affects the brain, which could one day be used as drugs to treat mood disorders, such as depression. Psychiatric ailments such as depression,… [Continue Reading]
Supermom Attitude Puts Women At Risk for Depression
August 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Women who work outside the home are less likely to suffer from depression than their stay at home counterparts. However, among working mothers, attitudes that they should be able to “do it all” predict depression risk. Researchers say these higher expectations may lead to frustration and guilt, which may play a role in depressive symptoms…. [Continue Reading]
Suicide Prevention Program Helps Teens At Risk
August 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Suicide is the third most common cause of death in teens, and a program aimed at this age group is giving them coping skills for dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. The program, tested in Cincinnati and whose results were published yesterday, educates kids on the risk factors for suicide and how to discuss their… [Continue Reading]
Antidepressant Prescriptions Increasing For Patients Without Clear Diagnosis
August 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Antidepressants are more widely prescribed than ever, and some experts are worried that many are taken them without a proper diagnosis or being seen by a mental health specialist. Despite recent evidence that patients with severe depression are best helped by the drug, the bulk of people with prescriptions describe only mild or moderate symptoms…. [Continue Reading]
Understanding How Antidepressants Function Gives Insight Into Origins of Depression
June 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Although certain drugs have a demonstrated anti-depressant effect on patients, in many cases, it is not entirely clear why. Investigating how the drugs work may give insights into how depression arises, and new research just published in one of the top scientific journals has done just this. In studying the effect of the drug ketamine,… [Continue Reading]
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Calm Bipolar and Addictive Behavior
June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Work in mouse models suggests that omega-3 fatty acids could have a therapeutic effect for bipolar disorder and addiction. The work, published recently, shows that mouse models of bipolar disorder, which are prone to addiction, show more normal brain function after consuming omega-3, which is found in high levels in fish oil. Omega 3 fatty… [Continue Reading]