Antidepressant News and Research

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Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. Your doctor can prescribe them for you. They can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. It may take several weeks for them to help. There are several types of antidepressants. You and your doctor may have to try several before finding what works best for you.

GeneSight test-guided treatment leads to faster remission and response in patients with depression

Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostic testing and precision medicine, today announced a post-hoc analysis of the Precision Medicine in Mental Health Care (PRIME) study showed that treatment informed by the GeneSight® test led to faster initial remission and response in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

31 Oct 2025

Sertraline contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms

One of the most common antidepressants, sertraline, contributes to a modest improvement in core depression and anxiety symptoms, including low mood, within two weeks, finds a new analysis of a major clinical trial led by UCL researchers.

30 Oct 2025

Repeated ketamine infusions offer no extra benefit for people hospitalized with depression

Findings from a randomized and blinded clinical trial investigating repeated ketamine infusions for treating depression have revealed no extra benefit for ketamine when added onto standard care for people admitted to hospital for depression.

22 Oct 2025

Analysis highlights the differing physical side effects of antidepressants

Antidepressants can differ widely in how they physically affect the body, including around a 4 kg difference in weight change between certain drugs (approximately 2.5 kg weight loss from agomelatine and 2kg weight gain from maprotiline), confirms a systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet.

22 Oct 2025

Genetic inflammatory signature defines depression subtypes and treatment response

Researchers led by Prof. Alessandro Serretti at Kore University of Enna have identified a genetic inflammatory signature that defines specific depression subtypes and influences how patients respond to antidepressant medications, according to new peer-reviewed research published today in Genomic Psychiatry.

21 Oct 2025

Exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviors induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets

Researchers led by Professor Yvonne Nolan at University College Cork have identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioral effects of consuming a Western-style cafeteria diet.

21 Oct 2025

Rapid heart rate changes predict response to magnetic brain stimulation in depression

Researchers led by Dr. Roberto Goya-Maldonado at the University Medical Center Göttingen have identified a rapid physiological marker that predicts which patients with major depression will respond to magnetic brain stimulation therapy.

14 Oct 2025

Brain serotonin levels linked to sexual side effects from antidepressants

Researchers have discovered that the ability to have an erection or to orgasm is related to the levels of serotonin in the brain, but this relation only applies to depressed patients taking SSRI antidepressants.

13 Oct 2025

Cops on ketamine? Largely unregulated mental health treatment faces hurdles

A few months ago, Waynesville Police Sgt. Paige Shell was about to give up hope of getting better. The daily drip of violence, death, and misery from almost 20 years in law enforcement had left a mark. Her sleep was poor, depression was a stubborn companion, and thoughts of suicide had taken root.

10 Oct 2025

Drinking soft drinks may fuel depression by altering gut bacteria

A study links soft drink consumption to increased depression risk, highlighting gut microbiome changes, particularly in women. Learn more about the findings.

10 Oct 2025

Common painkiller and antidepressant combo may increase seizure risk in older adults

When older adults living in nursing homes are prescribed the pain medicine tramadol alongside certain antidepressants, their risk of seizures may go up, according to a study published October 8, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

8 Oct 2025

Depression during pregnancy raises risk of gestational diabetes

Findings indicate that antenatal depression increases the risk of gestational diabetes, underscoring the need for early intervention and lifestyle support.

8 Oct 2025

Reelin protein may help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression

What if a protein could be injected to help heal both "leaky gut" and severe depression? New research from the University of Victoria (UVic), published in Chronic Stress, shows that a glycoprotein called Reelin may one day be able to do just that.

7 Oct 2025

Depression can affect surgical outcomes and postoperative costs

Depression is known to be associated with physical health challenges, in everything from disrupting sleep to an increased cancer risk.

3 Oct 2025

Antidepressant fluoxetine alters brain energy use and boosts neural plasticity

A new study shows that the widely used antidepressant fluoxetine does more than boost serotonin levels: it changes how brain cells manage their energy and rebuild their connections, potentially helping the brain "loosen up" and adapt during depression treatment.

25 Sep 2025

‘Sick to my stomach’: Trump distorts facts on autism, tylenol, and vaccines, scientists say

Ann Bauer, a researcher who studies Tylenol and autism, felt queasy with anxiety in the weeks leading up to the White House's much-anticipated autism announcement.

22 Sep 2025

Psychological distress after a heart attack emerges as a critical risk factor for heart health

Many people experience one or more types of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, psychosocial stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after a heart attack, which can affect their physical recovery and long-term heart health, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, published today in the American Heart Association's flagship, peer-reviewed journal Circulation.

22 Sep 2025

Review highlights immunomodulatory and therapeutic effects of ginseng

Ginseng has long been used in traditional medicine to replenish Qi and address deficiency syndromes, often manifesting as fatigue and immune compromise.

13 Sep 2025

Mushrooms deliver nutrition medicine and sustainability solutions in one package

This Food Science & Nutrition review highlights mushrooms as nutrient-rich functional foods packed with bioactive compounds that support human health. It explores their therapeutic, industrial, and environmental applications, from disease prevention and drug discovery to bioremediation and bioenergy.

8 Sep 2025

New molecular mechanism offers hope for treating depression in the elderly

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses worldwide, but its molecular causes have still not been clearly identified.

25 Aug 2025