All Depression Articles

Some women experience a roller coaster of emotions as they transition into menopause. For individuals with a history of depression, those mood swings can be debilitating. Whether the disruption of hormonal rhythms that come with diminishing estrogen is the direct cause of depression in women vulnerable to mood disorders, or tied to the domino effect such changes can trigger (for instance, less Read more...

People who are depressed are literally sick at heart: They have a significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and no one knows exactly why. Three new studies have tried to explain this, and they arrive at subtly different conclusions. The first, led by Dr. Mary Whooley of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco, studied 1,017 patients with coronary artery disease for Read more...

"The sun will come out tomorrow." "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." "Put on a happy face." Nothing's more annoying than a handful of trite clichés when you're battling adversity and would really prefer a little sympathy. But these Pollyanna-like clichés point out that it is far more healthy to develop the ability to bounce back from Read more...

WASHINGTON - The government has approved the first noninvasive brain stimulator to treat depression -- a device that beams magnetic pulses through the skull. Those pulses trigger small electrical charges that spark brain cells to fire. Yet it doesn't cause the risks of surgically implanted electrodes or the treatment of last resort, shock therapy. Called transcranial magnetic Read more...

Heart patients are particularly vulnerable to depression and should be screened, and if necessary treated, to improve their recovery, U.S. researchers said. "Depression and heart disease seem to be very much intertwined," Judith H. Lichtman of Yale University of School of Public Health said in a statement. "You can't treat the heart in isolation from the patient's mental Read more...

A few years ago, you probably never gave the FDIC, or the deposit insurance it provides, a second thought. But with banks falling like dominoes and struggling financial institutions of all stripes in the news, you're probably wondering if there are exceptions to the FDIC's $100,000 guarantee. It is almost always there for you. But understanding FDIC rules is worth the effort, because Read more...

MAOI Diet by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD What Is Tyramine? Tyramine is found in many foods, including wines, ripe cheeses, and fermented or aged foods. Why Should I Follow a Low-Tyramine Diet? A low-tyramine diet is recommended if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a type of drug found in certain antidepressants, Parkinson’s medications, and Read more...

by Jacquelyn Rudis Many people, health professionals and laymen alike, believe that depression , anxiety, and suicide rates rise during the holidays. The media often links suicides during this time of year to the “holiday blues.” However, various studies have shown no relationship between depression and suicide, and the holiday season. In fact, researchers found that depression rates and Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPH The mad genius, the tormented artist, the melancholy poet. History is filled with writers, poets, artists, musicians, composers, and other creative people who wrestled with mood disorders. A list of just a few of them would include Dickinson, Poe, Emerson, Dickens, Faulkner, Hemingway, Melville, Tolstoy, O'Keefe, Gaugin, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPH After two weeks of taking isotretinoin (Accutane), an acne medication, 19-year-old Joe began experiencing fatigue, lack of motivation, sleep problems, and crying spells. He was diagnosed with depression (something his healthcare provider eventually believed was related to his use of Accutane). When Joe stopped taking the medication, his symptoms quickly resolved. In 1998, Read more...

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), St. John's Wort Other Proposed Natural Treatments • 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Beta-carotene, Chromium, Damiana, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Exercise, Fish Oil, Folate, Ginkgo, Hatha Yoga, Inositol, Lavender, Massage, Multivitamins, Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideYou have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk factors and/or experience with depression. By talking openly and regularly with your Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideDepression can be devastating to family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school. Symptoms of depression vary a great deal from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideThe purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.Screening Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideA risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.It is possible to develop depression with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideAmerican Foundation for Suicide PreventionAddress:120 Wall St, 22nd floorNew York, NY 10005Phone:1-888-333-AFSP (1-888-333-2377)Internet Address:http://www.afsp.orgDescription of Services Provided:This site is devoted Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource Guide It may not always be possible to prevent depression. However, the following strategies may help reduce your risk of becoming depressed: Be aware of your personal risk of depression.Have a psychiatric evaluation and Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPHMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Depression | Resource GuideYour healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. He or she can also perform a mental health evaluation and search for physical causes of depression. Your healthcare Read more...

by Laurie B. Rosenblum, MPH Many people have difficulty dealing with the darker, shorter days of winter. They struggle to get out of bed in the morning, have less energy, feel down, and gain weight. For people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) , these changes are severe enough to cause significant problems in their everyday lives. But what exactly is SAD? How does it differ from the Read more...

by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD If you have been diagnosed with depression , bulimia , obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) , or panic disorder , among other conditions, your doctor may prescribe a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Several different drugs are considered SSRIs, but in one way or another they all work to increase levels of serotonin in the brain, a chemical believed to Read more...