Depression News and Research

Latest Depression News and Research

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation: an interview with Dr Leon Ekchian, President and CEO of NeuroSigma

Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) is a novel medical treatment in which mild electrical signals stimulate branches of the trigeminal nerve in order to change the activity of targeted brain regions. The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve, and provides sensation to the face and head. Because it is a large sensory nerve, the trigeminal offers a high-bandwidth pathway for electrical signals to enter the brain. The brain areas targeted by TNS are known to play key roles in seizures, mood, and attention.

14 Sep 2012

Longer looks: The smells to treat PTSD; Nudging healthy choices; When a disabled daughter was shunned

On an Orlando college campus, veterans and active duty soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder inhale the unmistakable smell of burning tires, rotting garbage and Middle Eastern spices as part of a virtual reality treatment for the psychological wounds of war. Participants sit in a chair wearing a head-mounted display and video goggles connected to a computer system and a scent machine that puffs out the odors, recreating their memories of war.

14 Sep 2012

Moderate exercise may help people cope with future anxiety and stress

Moderate exercise may help people cope with anxiety and stress for an extended period of time post-workout, according to a study by kinesiology researchers in the University of Maryland School of Public Health published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

14 Sep 2012

Kynurenic acid levels reduced in suicide attempters with schizophrenia

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of kynurenic acid are significantly lower in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with a history of suicide attempts than in those without, researchers report.

13 Sep 2012

Stigma impacts functioning in bipolar disorder

Higher levels of perceived stigma are associated with poorer functioning in patients with bipolar disorder, research shows.

13 Sep 2012

Think ‘glass half full’ to reduce pain after breast surgery

Women who undergo surgery for breast cancer are less likely to experience postoperative pain if they have an optimistic personality, but are more likely to experience it if they already had preoperative pain, shows an analysis of the Study of Recovery after Breast Surgery.

13 Sep 2012

Multiple interventions improve medication adherence for patients with chronic conditions

Although patients with chronic conditions who do not take medications as prescribed tend to have poorer health outcomes and higher health care costs than those who adhere to medication regimens, a new report sheds light on the potential for multiple interventions to improve medication adherence.

13 Sep 2012

Drugs to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may increase risk of driving accident

Drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia may increase patients’ risk of being involved in motor vehicle accidents, according to a recent study, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Based on the findings, the researchers suggested doctors should consider advising patients not to drive while taking these drugs.

13 Sep 2012

GPs not always using reliable online resources for information on tinnitus

GPs are not always using the most comprehensive and reliable online resources to support them in treating patients with the debilitating hearing condition tinnitus, researchers have found.

13 Sep 2012

Health ambiguity strongly linked to depression among male stroke survivors

Post-stroke depression is a major issue affecting approximately 33% of stroke survivors. A new study published in the current issue of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reports that the level to which survivors are uncertain about the outcome of their illness is strongly linked to depression. The relationship is more pronounced for men than for women.

12 Sep 2012

Problem shared is a problem halved for mothers of cardiac defect babies

Posttraumatic stress, depression, and anxiety are common in pregnant women after receiving a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease, say researchers.

11 Sep 2012

Four steps to help curb military suicide

The suicide rate in the U.S. Army now exceeds the rate in the general population, and psychiatric admission is now the most common reason for hospitalization in the Army.

11 Sep 2012

Research focuses on how we can improve care and outcomes for patients with multimorbidity

A research review carried out by the HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, based in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and published in this month's edition of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has focused on how we can improve care and outcomes for patients with multimorbidity (co-existence of two or more long-terms health conditions in an individual).

11 Sep 2012

Heptares uses StaR technology to solve structure of CRF-1 receptor

Heptares Therapeutics today announces that it has used its StaR technology to solve entirely in-house the first structure of a Family B sub-class G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR).

10 Sep 2012

Employment may reduce risk of mental health problems among Somalis in London

Somali immigrants to the UK and USA appear to integrate better and have fewer mental health problems if they are allowed to work and they receive practical support during the first few years of their time in the new country, according to a study led by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London (UK) and published in BioMed Central Public Health.

10 Sep 2012

Bullying prevention experts available for comment

Bullying was once considered a childhood rite of passage. Today, however, bullying is recognized as a serious problem. Up to half of all children are bullied at some point during their school years, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. And thanks to tech-savvy kids, cyberbullying and other forms of electronic harassment are now commonplace.

7 Sep 2012

Bipolar conversion in children linked to family history

Conversion from bipolar disorder not otherwise specified to a diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder is common among children, research confirms, and is predicted by a family history of mood disorders.

7 Sep 2012

Study uncovers growing drink problem in older generation

A study has uncovered a growing drink problem among older people and researchers are now urging the Government to review its UK health strategy to support society's "invisible addicts".

7 Sep 2012

Maternal posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety common after prenatal diagnosis of CHD

Heart defects are the most common form of congenital malformations affecting newborns. Infants who were prenatally diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) are more stable and have better outcomes than infants who were diagnosed after birth. Diagnosing CHD in a fetus also allows mothers to educate themselves on heart malformations, consider their options, and potentially plan for intervention or surgery after birth.

7 Sep 2012

Hebrew University researcher develops anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs

A synthetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic family of drugs to combat a variety of illnesses while avoiding detrimental side effects has been developed by a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.

7 Sep 2012