Depression
Biological Link Between Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Scientists at the University of Western Ontario have discovered the biological link between stress, anxiety and depression. By identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, this high impact research led by Stephen Ferguson of Robarts Research Institute shows exactly how stress and anxiety could lead to depression. The study also reveals a small molecule inhibitor developed by Ferguson, which may provide a new and better way to treat anxiety, depression and other related disorders. The findings are published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
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Some Anti-Seizure Drugs Associated with Higher Risk of Suicide
Some anti-seizure drugs used to treat epilepsy as well as depression, chronic pain, migraine, bipolar disorder, and other conditions are associated with a higher risk of suicide and violent death than other drugs in the same class, according to a new study.
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Study Examines Connection of Stress, Anxiety and Depression in the Brain
Is there a biological link between stress, anxiety and depression? Researchers at the Robarts Research Institute and the University of Western Ontario think so, as presented in this recent Science Daily post. They believe that by identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, the research demonstrates exactly how stress and anxiety can lead to depression.
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Molecule Could Lead to New Treatments for Depression
There has been little progress in the way we treat depression and anxiety for over thirty years, but a recent study at EPFL Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) may open the door to new strategies. In an article published online in Molecular Psychiatry, researchers from two laboratories at the Brain Mind Institute at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) explain how understanding the functioning of a molecule called MIF, or macrophage migration inhibitory factor, may change the way we treat depression.
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Mental Health Providers Should Promote Exercise for Those with Depression and Anxiety
Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies.
“Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health,” says Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “The more therapists who are trained in exercise therapy, the better off patients will be.”
Stroke Patients Experience Better Depression Recovery When Given Psychosocial Therapy
Recovering from a stroke can be a tumultuous time for anyone, especially if recovery includes extensive therapy or even permanent damage. Now, a new study demonstrates the value delivered in psychological therapy combined with medication.
According to a Science Daily report, adding psychosocial therapy improved depression scores short term. In addition, these improvements were sustained long term. At the one year stage, depression scores dropped 47 percent in patients receiving eight weeks of psychological/behavioral therapy and antidepressants. At the same time, scores dropped 32 percent for those receiving the usual care, such as taking antidepressants.
UK Moving to Improve Therapy for Patients Suffering with Depression
Individuals suffering with depression need more than simply a prescription to popular medications – they also need psychological therapy. According to a BBC News piece, however, 65 percent of UK doctors say they can rarely offer such therapy to depression sufferers within two months of referral.
This finding is according to the Royal College of GPs survey of 590 UK doctors reported that access to psychological services was only usually possible in that time frame. This survey is the result of the government’s efforts in working with RCGP to provide better access to therapies.
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Antidepressants Effective in Individuals with Physical Ailments
When depression is mixed with physical illnesses, the challenge in treatment can intensify. According to a new systematic review by Cochrane researchers at King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Center in the UK, antidepressants are effective in the treatment of depression in those with physical illnesses.
A recent Science Daily release focused on this study and its approach to examining the effects physical illness can have on mental health. Research in the industry indicates that more than 10 percent of patients suffering from physical diseases also suffer from depression.
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Therapy via Teleconference Proves Effective
New research finds that obtaining therapy via teleconference is just as effective as face-to-face sessions. “Previous studies have shown that phobia therapy via teleconferencing was just as efficient as face to face contact,” says lead researcher Dr. Stéphane Guay, a psychiatry professor at the Université de Montréal who is also director of the Trauma Studies Centre at the Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital’s Fernand-Seguin Research Centre. “We wanted to see if the process could also be used for post-traumatic stress treatment.”
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Failed College Dreams Don’t Spell Depression
A wise person once said, “It is better to shoot for the stars and miss than aim at the gutter and hit it.” That’s right on, says Florida State University Sociology Professor John R. Reynolds, who just completed a study to determine whether unrealized educational expectations are associated with depression among adults. Reynolds also is the director of the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy at Florida State.
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