Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life.

Clinical Depression: Diagnosis, Causes & Treatment

Depression is a clinical condition that, contrary to popular opinion, cannot simply be overcome with time and it needs to be treated.

Prisoner Depression and Low Mood

How Can I Tell if My Child is Depressed?

How Does Your Diet Affect Depression?

How is Depression in Children Diagnosed?

Contributing Factors to Post-Adoption Depression

Antidepressants and Weight Changes

Treatment of Depression

The Science Behind the Winter Blues: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Symptoms of Depression

Intrusive Thoughts and Depression

Treatment Options for Children with Depression

See more featured articles »

Depression Diagnosis

Depression and Sleep Length

Depression in children

Ghrelin and Depression

Link Between Chronic Illness and Depression

Situational Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Can Depression and Anxiety Occur Together?

5 Facts You May Not Know About Depression

Supporting Children with Mental Health Disorders

Genes and Depression

Food Insecurity and Depression

Causes of Depression

Latest Depression News and Research

Hidden cellular layers in the hippocampus' CA1 region revealed

Researchers at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have identified a previously unknown pattern of organization in one of the brain's most important areas for learning and memory.

3 Dec 2025

11 genetic loci that shape impulsive decision-making

Researchers identify distinct genetic loci involved in delay discounting and how these variants are involved in physical and psychiatric health outcomes.

3 Dec 2025

Automated EHR system triages cancer symptoms, improves care team efficiency

For many people living with cancer, symptoms such as pain, anxiety or insomnia can quickly spiral into an emergency room visit. Such visits can be financially costly and take an emotional toll on patients and their caregivers.

3 Dec 2025

Study reveals the overlooked mental health challenges faced by new parents

Intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences among new parents are far more common than previously thought - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

2 Dec 2025

Maternal eating disorders linked to higher asthma and wheezing risks in children

Eating disorders in mums-to-be are linked to a heightened risk of asthma and wheezing in their children, irrespective of the type of disorder, presence of co-existing depression/anxiety, or the timing of their child's exposure, finds research published online in the journal Thorax.

2 Dec 2025

Hallucinogen-related hospital care linked to higher risk of future mania

People who have received emergency or hospital care in Canada due to hallucinogen use have a six-fold increased risk of receiving care for mania in the next three years, according to a study published December 2nd in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Daniel Myran from North York General Hospital in Canada and colleagues.

2 Dec 2025

Study finds sharp rise in long-term antidepressant use among young Australians

Long-term antidepressant use in Australia has risen steadily over the past decade, with the largest increase seen in young people aged 10-24, where rates have more than doubled.

2 Dec 2025

New study reveals how brain biology shapes thought and behavior

A new study from experts with Georgia State University has achieved a long-standing goal in neuroscience: showing how the brain's smallest components build the systems that shape thought, emotion and behavior.

2 Dec 2025

Unique stressors impact mental health of sexual minority individuals

A new study conducted by scientists at Åbo Akademi University, Finland, shows that sexual minority individuals continue to report higher levels of mental health symptoms compared to the rest of the population.

2 Dec 2025

Most of the world falls short on omega-3 intake

More than three-quarters of the global population aren't getting enough Omega-3, according to new research from the University of East Anglia, the University of Southampton and Holland & Barrett.

1 Dec 2025

Rethinking community spaces and their impact on youth mental health

Parks, libraries, recreation centers, and sidewalks, ideally, would serve to improve the quality of living for residents, but it is not that simple, especially for youth. Research by Melissa Villodas, whose work focuses on understanding how social determinants of health impact the mental health of vulnerable young people, reveals that the relationship between neighborhood amenities and youth mental health is much more complex.

1 Dec 2025

Short-term nitrous oxide treatment could benefit patients with major depressive disorder

Patients with major depressive disorder, including those who have not responded to first-line antidepressants, may benefit from short-term nitrous oxide treatment, a major meta-analysis led by the University of Birmingham has found.

1 Dec 2025

WHO releases first-ever global guideline for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility

The World Health Organization (WHO) today called on countries to make fertility care safer, fairer and more affordable for all in its first-ever global guideline for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

29 Nov 2025

Social support plays an important role in health and well-being of older adults

Two recent studies from the University of Eastern Finland show that social support plays an important role in health and well-being in later life. Having access to adequate social support is associated with longevity among older adults, and with better quality of life among home care recipients.

27 Nov 2025

Ultrasound technique modifies human reward learning for the first time

The nucleus accumbens is a tiny element of the human brain triggered when we experience something enjoyable, and used to help us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.

27 Nov 2025

Chronic drinking weakens the blood-brain barrier through the gut

Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the blood-brain barrier, but Faecalibacterium prausnitzii shows promise in repairing this damage and improving cognition.

27 Nov 2025

Poor lung gas exchange may help explain lingering brain symptoms in Long COVID

This study found that people with Long COVID more than two years after infection showed normal lung tests and brain structure, yet reported significant sleep and cognitive symptoms. Subtle correlations revealed that poorer lung gas exchange was linked with higher brain perfusion, worse sleep, and weaker executive function, suggesting a possible lung–brain connection.

25 Nov 2025

Daily walking patterns help flag early Parkinson’s signs in large UK study

Accelerometer data from nearly 95,000 adults show that higher daily step counts predict lower short-term Parkinson’s disease risk. But as follow-up extends, the association fades, indicating that reduced steps are more likely an early marker than a cause.

25 Nov 2025

Genetic signals reveal why erectile dysfunction develops and who is most at risk

This multi-ancestry genomic study identifies key genetic loci underlying erectile dysfunction and shows that ED risk is shaped by both cardiometabolic and substance use–related genetic pathways. Using EHR-linked data, the researchers uncover SIM1-related mechanisms, modest PRS performance, and bidirectional genetic links with obesity, diabetes, and addiction traits.

25 Nov 2025