Clinical Depression News and Research

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An 11-year study found the same social media pattern again and again

Across 11 annual U.S. surveys involving about 183,000 adults, higher social media use was consistently associated with self-reported depression, with social media ranking among the strongest predictors in machine-learning models. SHAP analyses suggested that social media use became a stronger positive signal for depression at around 150 minutes per day, although the authors stress that this is not an established clinical threshold and requires longitudinal and experimental testing.

24 Aug 2026

Compulsive smartphone use linked to higher depression risk in older adults

Compulsive smartphone habits in older adults can be linked to a higher risk of depression, according to a study led by a Rutgers researcher.

1 Jul 2026

Ghrelin rises in depression despite obesity’s usual appetite-hormone suppression

Researchers found that both acylated and deacylated ghrelin were elevated in unmedicated adults with major depressive disorder and obesity compared with non-depressed adults with obesity. The cross-sectional findings suggest ghrelin-system dysregulation may be linked to depression in obesity, but larger longitudinal studies are needed to test whether ghrelin is a reliable biomarker.

27 May 2026

Global study reveals how inequality limits access to exercise and why it matters for health

A global analysis of physical activity data from 68 countries shows large socioeconomic and gender inequalities in access to choice-based exercise, particularly active leisure. The study also synthesizes evidence linking physical activity to lower risks of severe infectious disease, depression, and cancer mortality, and proposes a new “physical activity for health and wellbeing” public health framework.

10 Mar 2026

Analysis finds aerobic exercise to be most effective for reducing depression and anxiety

Aerobic exercise, such as running, swimming, and dancing, may be most effective for relieving the symptoms of depression and anxiety, finds an overarching (umbrella) review and data synthesis of the available evidence, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

10 Feb 2026

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

Stress & Distress: Designing clinical trials for maximum efficacy

To be decided by the editor

From Atlantia Clinical Trials 28 Feb 2025

Exploring the link between cholestasis and depression

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. The prevalence of depressive-like behavior is significantly higher in patients with cholestatic liver disease, leading to a notable reduction in the quality of life.

23 Feb 2025

Hormonal markers could lead to early detection of postpartum depression

Women who go on to develop postpartum depression (PPD) may have characteristic levels of neuroactive steroids, molecules derived from the hormone progesterone, in their blood during the third trimester of pregnancy, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

30 Jan 2025

New genetic risk factors for depression identified across global populations

New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity.

15 Jan 2025

Researchers enhance longevity of neural implants with protective coating

Neural implants contain integrated circuits (ICs) — commonly called chips — built on silicon. These implants need to be small and flexible to mimic circumstances inside the human body.

7 Jan 2025

Persistent and increasing depression linked to higher mortality risk in Chinese adults

Study reveals five depressive symptom trajectories, with stable-high and increasing patterns significantly raising all-cause mortality risk in older adults.

7 Jan 2025

Exercise reduces severity of postpartum depression and anxiety

Exercise-only programmes help cut the severity of the 'baby blues' and the risk of major clinical depression in new mums, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

7 Nov 2024

Brain scans reveal link between SSRI use and cognitive function

Researchers have found that SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive functions, such as verbal memory. They measured brain function in patients before and after taking the SSRI escitalopram and correlated this to a drop in the level of one of the serotonin receptors in the brain and to cognitive improvements during treatment.

22 Sep 2024

Study sheds light on potential demand for psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression in the U.S.

In the wake of mounting evidence for the efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering approving psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," for treating depression in the near future.

13 Sep 2024

Machine learning reveals sleep quality and anxiety as major predictors of depression

Researchers applied machine learning to predict depressive symptoms, revealing sleep quality and anxiety as key factors across diverse populations and datasets.

12 Sep 2024

Brain scans reveal hidden clues to depression susceptibility

By repeatedly scanning the brains of a small group of patients for a year and a half, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have identified a distinct pattern of neuronal interactions that appears to predispose some people to developing depression.

4 Sep 2024

Black employees experience greater depression and sleep loss due to workplace mistreatment

Workplace mistreatment results in higher rates of depression and sleep loss in Black employees than white employees according to research from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in Bloomington.

9 Aug 2024

Study links internet exclusion to increased depression in older adults

Older adults excluded from the internet are at a higher risk of depressive symptoms, especially among the economically deprived and those with lower education levels. Addressing internet exclusion is crucial to improving mental health in this population.

7 Aug 2024

Addressing the mental health crisis among prostate cancer patients

Mental health screenings must be incorporated in routine prostate cancer diagnoses say University of South Australia researchers. The call follows new research that shows men need more supports both during and immediately after a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

6 Aug 2024