Major Depressive Disorder News and Research

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by depressed mood or anhedonia (significant loss of interest or pleasure). The condition affects more than 15.7 million adults and approximately 3 million adolescents (aged 13 to 17 years) in the USA each year.

Columbia researchers explore molecular mechanisms of treatment-resistant depression

Major depressive disorder is a debilitating illness that affects more than 350 million people around the world.

14 Mar 2019

UNH study finds how gender-biased protein may play role in autism

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire are one step closer to helping answer the question of why autism is four times more common in boys than in girls after identifying and characterizing the connection of certain proteins in the brain to autism spectrum disorders.

12 Mar 2019

Review of research evidence suggests increased suicide rates in high-altitude areas

High-altitude areas-; particularly the US intermountain states-; have increased rates of suicide and depression, suggests a review of research evidence in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

11 Mar 2019

Multivitamins do not help stave off depression but lifestyle coaching may work

A new study has contradicted the existing understanding that taking daily nutritional supplements may help to prevent depression.

6 Mar 2019

Daily consumption of nutritional supplements does not prevent depression

MooDFOOD, the largest randomized clinical trial to study the effects of nutritional strategies on the prevention of major depressive disorder concludes that daily intake of nutritional supplements cannot prevent depression.

5 Mar 2019

Researchers find cost-effective way to improve mental health in prisons

Of the 4 million prisoners released each year, 23 percent have suffered from major depressive disorder. Due to resource shortages, many go without adequate treatment while in prison. Oftentimes they rejoin society in worse mental shape than before their incarceration - which could be prevented with the right care.

22 Feb 2019

Brain imaging indicates potential success of drug therapy in depressive patients

Working with international partners, a MedUni Vienna research group has shown that imaging techniques carried out prior to treatment indicate the potential success of drug therapy in depressive patients.

19 Feb 2019

Activating gene that helps excite neurons reverses depression in male mice

Directly activating a gene important to exciting our excitatory neurons and associated with major depression may help turn around classic symptoms like social isolation and loss of interest, at least for males, scientists report.

18 Feb 2019

Salk researchers pin down why some patients don't respond to common antidepressants

The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, lift the fog of depression for many people. But for around a third of people with major depressive disorder, SSRIs don't make much of a difference.

1 Feb 2019

Mental health problems common after concussion

A new study reveals that approximately 1 in 5 individuals may experience mental health symptoms up to six months after mild traumatic brain injury, suggesting the importance of follow-up care for these patients.

30 Jan 2019

Study of Millennials highlights social media behaviors linked with major depression

Certain social media factors were linked with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a Journal of Applied Biobehavioural Research study of Millennials.

9 Jan 2019

Experts analyze data that can guide antidepressant discontinuation

There has been a lot of attention to problems patients face in discontinuing antidepressant drugs. However, there appear to be few indications, particularly in guidelines and reviews.

13 Dec 2018

Obsessive-compulsive disorder may protect individuals from obesity

A new study led by Amitai Abramovitch, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Texas State University, shows that individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are significantly less likely to become overweight or obese.

12 Dec 2018

Study: Self-guided, internet-based therapy platforms effectively reduce depression

In a sweeping new study, Indiana University psychologists have found that a series of self-guided, internet-based therapy platforms effectively reduce depression.

11 Dec 2018

New tool swiftly provides accurate measure of patients' cognitive difficulties

A new tool, developed by researchers from the University of Adelaide, will assist clinicians to assess people suffering from major depressive disorder.

11 Dec 2018

Veterans who suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries are at greater risk for suicide

A new Veterans Affairs study finds that post-9-11 veterans with a history of repeated traumatic brain injuries--versus none--are at much greater risk for considering suicide.

28 Nov 2018

Pharmacogenetic tests don't provide much information for prescribing antidepressants or antipsychotics

Pharmacogenetic tests are marketed as an aid to psychiatrists in selecting the antidepressant or antipsychotic medication that will work best in individual patients, based on their genetic makeup.

21 Nov 2018

Higher body mass index could cause depression even without health problems

A largescale genomic analysis has found the strongest evidence yet that being overweight causes depression, even in the absence of other health problems.

13 Nov 2018

Study reveals safety, efficacy of brexpiprazole for schizophrenia patients with severe psychotic symptoms

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S announced study results on the safety and efficacy of brexpiprazole in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia experiencing severe psychotic symptoms during an acute episode. The data will be presented at the upcoming Psych Congress, held in Orlando from October 25-28, 2018.

26 Oct 2018

Supervised aerobic exercise can support major depression treatment

An analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials indicates that supervised aerobic exercise has large antidepressant treatment effects for patients with major depression. The systematic review and meta-analysis is published in Depression and Anxiety.

18 Oct 2018