Depression News and Research

Latest Depression News and Research

Employees in workplaces with no smoking restrictions smoke five more cigarettes daily

Employees in workplaces with no smoking restrictions smoke almost five more cigarettes daily than those whose workplaces completely ban smoking, says a study by the University of Toronto's Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU).

1 Nov 2004

Electroconvulsive therapy improves quality of life in patients with major depression

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) improves mood, quality of life and activities of daily living in patients with major depression, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

1 Nov 2004

Researchers found that sedentary lifestyles can lead to higher medical costs

Lack of physical activity is costly not just to people’s health but to their wallets as well, a new study suggests.

25 Oct 2004

Many patients with sleep apnea or insomnia also have attention deficit disorder

People who have difficulty sleeping at night or staying awake during the day may suffer from more than just a sleep disorder.

25 Oct 2004

Fish oil reverses age-related ailments

University of Bradford student Samantha Little has been awarded a Young Investigators Award at an international congress for her work on the effect of fish oil on the ageing brain.

25 Oct 2004

Treating childhood sexual abuse

Women with a history of childhood sexual abuse take many years to report what happened – but derive benefit from one-on-one therapy as adults.

25 Oct 2004

Researchers are comparing two drugs used to treat pediatric bipolar disorder

University of Illinois at Chicago researchers are comparing two drugs used to treat pediatric bipolar disorder patients to evaluate how the drugs affect brain function in children with the disorder.

25 Oct 2004

Stress early in life can have varying lifelong impacts

Scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University National Primate Research Center and the University of Pittsburgh report significant stress early in life can have varying lifelong impacts depending of the timing of the stress exposure.

24 Oct 2004

Deep brain stimulation could help alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms on both sides of the body

For many patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation can mean the difference between having difficulty walking and being able to run.

22 Oct 2004

New advice on prescribing anti-depressants

New Zealands's Medsafe has sent a letter to all prescribers informing them about new advice relating to the known risks and benefits associated with prescribing medications to treat depression in young people and in adults.

22 Oct 2004

New Yorkers' use of mental health services rose only slightly after 9//11

New Yorkers' use of mental health services rose only slightly during the year after the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks compared with the year before the attacks, a recent study suggests. But the number of mental health visits among people already receiving treatment increased after the attacks.

22 Oct 2004

Adults who were abused or neglected as children tend to visit doctors more often

"Many patients visit doctors with symptoms that cannot be explained by underlying physical disease," says researcher Francis Creed, M.D., of the University of Manchester. "Common examples are headache, abdominal and chest pains and constant tiredness."

21 Oct 2004

Leading endocrinologist supports RMIT menopause research

Leading endocrinologist Dr Helena Teede has joined the research team of an RMIT University study that might shed light on the treatment of menopausal symptoms using herbal medicines.

21 Oct 2004

Women with late effects of polio experience menopause differently than their non-disabled peers

Women with late effects of polio experience menopause differently than their non-disabled peers – physiologically, physically and psychologically – according to a new study funded by Post-Polio Health International.

19 Oct 2004

Air fresheners and aerosols can make babies and their mothers ill

The researchers found that frequent use of air fresheners and aerosols during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with higher levels of diarrhoea, earache and other symptoms in infants, as well as headaches and depression in mothers.

19 Oct 2004

Awareness helps primary doctors prevent patients' suicide

Although few of their patients commit suicide in a year, primary care physicians should use office visits to note possible risk factors for suicidal behavior, bolstered by candid discussions if needed, according to a review of recent research.

18 Oct 2004

Cymbalta significantly reduced pain in more than half of women treated for fibromyalgia, with and without major depression

The antidepressant Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl), a dual-reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, 60 mg once or twice daily, significantly reduced pain in more than half of women treated for fibromyalgia, with and without major depression, according to 12-week data presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

18 Oct 2004

FDA issues warning on adolescent use of antidepressants

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Public Health Advisory announcing a multi-pronged strategy to warn the public about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior ("suicidality") in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.

18 Oct 2004

Dermatologists now have many treatment options that can significantly reduce the appearance of scars or make them disappear all together

The scar you received when you fell off your bike at age 12 or from a recent car accident may be a constant and painful reminder of the event. While you may not feel any physical pain from these wounds, scars can make you feel self-conscious or embarrassed, particularly if they are located on exposed skin.

13 Oct 2004

Ecstasy study identifies potentially lethal combination

Some ecstasy users are using a variety of pharmaceutical drugs to increase the effect of ecstasy or to combat the negative effects of the drug a new study released today has found. The results suggest that some of these combinations are potentially lethal and could result in 'serotonin syndrome'.

12 Oct 2004