People between ages 18 and 29 and those without a high school degree are more likely to experience anxiety or depression during the pandemic and also are least likely to seek mental health treatment, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that surveyed nearly 800,000 households from August 2020 to February 2021.
Tag: Depression
Blood test for depression, bipolar disorder offers promise of personalized treatment
Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will suffer from a depressive episode in their lifetime.
While current diagnosis and treatment approaches are largely trial and error, a breakthrough study by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers sheds new light on the biological basis of mood disorders and offers a promising blood test aimed at a precision-medicine approach to treatment.
U-M Depression Center to be named for Eisenberg family, in recognition of $30M in giving
The University of Michigan Board of Regents today approved the renaming of the U-M Depression Center for Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg and their family, in recognition of their transformational $30 million total giving to depression research and scholarship.
Programs help shield Black youth from effects of racism
Family-centered prevention programs that foster protective caregiving can buffer the negative effects of racial discrimination on young Black people, according to a study published by University of Georgia researchers.
Psychedelic Science Holds Promise for Mainstream Medicine
A team of UNLV neuroscientists are uncovering how psychedelics affect brain activity. Their work, published recently in Nature: Scientific Reports, shows a strong connection in rodent models between brain activity and behaviors resulting from psychedelic treatment, a step forward in the quest to better understand their potential therapeutic effects.
Depression sufferer? Tele-mental health can help those seeking access to mental health services.
https://www.paloaltou.edu/faculty/sheperis-donna-s-phd-lpc-ncc-acs-ccmhc https://www.paloaltou.edu/faculty/ricardo-munoz
Brain sensor offers Alzheimer’s answers
Scientists have found an explanation for why Alzheimer’s drugs have limited effectiveness and why patients get much worse after going off of them.
A Remote, Computerized Training Program Eases Anxiety in Children
Using a computerized and completely remote training program, researchers have found a way to mitigate negative emotions in children. Results support the link between inhibitory control dysfunction and anxiety/depression. EEG results also provide evidence of frontal alpha asymmetry shifting to the left after completing an emotional version of the training. Computerized cognitive training programs can be highly beneficial for children, not just for academics, but for psychological and emotional functioning during a challenging time in their development.
Study Maps Key Proteins Linked to Epilepsy, Revealing New Drug Targets
An analysis of adult human brain tissue reveals over 900 proteins tied to epilepsy. The brain disorder, estimated to afflict more than 3 million Americans, is mostly known for symptoms of hallucinations, dreamlike states, and uncontrolled, often disabling bodily seizures.
Decreases in Exercise Closely Linked with Higher Rates of Depression during the Pandemic
Exercise has long-been recommended as a cognitive-behavioral therapy for patients of depression, yet new evidence from the University of California of San Diego suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the nature of the relationship between physical activity and mental health.
With unfair police treatment, the tragedy is not limited to the incident itself
Research using a nationally representative sample of more than 12,000 participants shows the collateral consequences victims are likely to confront following unfair treatment by police. Those who are unjustly stopped, searched or questioned by law enforcement will likely experience a range of detrimental outcomes associated with the encounter, including depression, suicidal thoughts, drug use, and a loss of self-efficacy, according to the results.
Researchers Identify Brain Ion Channel as New Approach to Treating Depression
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a drug that works against depression by a completely different mechanism than existing treatments.
Collaborative Research Institute Offers March 3, March 24 Webinars on Gut Microbiome
Research on the relationship between the gut microbiome and diet can provide insights into diseases like depression and other health conditions.
COVID-19 Blood Flow Changes May Be Reason for ‘Brain Fog,’ Depression
A new review suggests that blood vessel damage and impaired oxygen delivery related to COVID-19 play a role in mood changes and cognitive difficulties that people with the disease face during illness and recovery. The review is published in Physiological Reports.
Depressed and out of work? Therapy may help you find a job
If depression is making it more difficult for some unemployed people to land a job, one type of therapy may help, research suggests.
Irregular sleep schedules connected to bad moods and depression, study shows
Irregular sleep schedules can affect mood and risk of developing symptoms of depression according to a study of first-year medical residents that used Fitbits and smartphones.
Dr. Dror Ben-Zeev heads center for accessible mental health using technology
Dror Ben-Zeev, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, is an expert on mental health apps. He is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in technology-based approaches in the study, assessment, and…
Mental health app equally effective, half the cost
Digital mental health apps and internet-based treatments could overcome both access problems and provider shortages. But these apps have yet to be adopted in the U.S. healthcare system. One reason is that these apps need payment and reimbursement models that would enable broad adoption.
Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine recently published results to help propel policymakers to create these payment models. They proved that an app to help people with serious mental illness was just as effective as a clinic-based group intervention for half the cost.
Low-Income Middle-Aged African-American Women with Hypertension Are Likely to Suffer from Depression
Low-income middle-aged African-American women with high blood pressure very commonly suffer from depression and should be better screened for this serious mental health condition.
Depressed Moms Who Breastfeed Boost Babies’ Mood, Neuroprotection and Mutual Touch
Feeding method and affectionate touch patterns in depressed and non-depressed mothers and babies as well as infant’s EEG activity showed that mother-infant affectionate touch differed as a function of mood and feeding method (breastfeeding and bottle-feeding). Infants in the depressed and bottle-fed group reduced touch toward their mothers while breastfeeding had a positive effect on both mother and baby. Infants of depressed and breastfeeding mothers showed neither behavioral nor brain development dysregulation previously found in infants of depressed mothers.
Sleep keeps teens on track for good mental health
As families settle back into a new school year, sleep experts at the University of South Australia are reminding parents about the importance of teenagers getting enough sleep, cautioning them that insufficient sleep can negatively affect their mental health.
The Medical Minute: Understanding seasonal affective disorder
Clinical depression that sets in at a season’s start and goes into remission at the end is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. With a proper diagnosis, effective treatment is available.
World’s first test to accurately predict depression and bipolar disorder
University of South Australia scientists have developed the world’s first test to accurately predict mood disorders in people, based on the levels of a specific protein found in the brain.
COVID-19 vaccine creates incentive to improve our health
While we wait for our turn to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, we could – and probably should – use the time to make sure we bring our healthiest emotional and physical selves to the treatment, a new review of previous research suggests.
Depression and Stress Could Dampen Efficacy of COVID-19 Vaccines
Health behaviors and emotional stressors can alter the body’s ability to develop an immune response to vaccines, including—potentially—the new COVID-19 vaccines. Simple interventions, including exercising and getting a good night’s sleep in the 24 hours before vaccination, may maximize the vaccine’s initial effectiveness.
Metabolism May Play Role in Recurrent Major Depression
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine, in collaboration with Dutch scientists, have found that certain metabolites — small molecules produced by the process of metabolism — may be predictive indicators for persons at risk for recurrent major depressive disorder.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Your Everyday Guide to Stress Management
January 6 @ 12pm EST Q&A With Dr. Chris Palmer on Getting Stress Under Control There’s no denying that we all experience stress in our day-to-day lives. While small doses of stress are good for us, it can cause big…
One psychedelic experience may lessen trauma of racial injustice
A single positive experience on a psychedelic drug may help reduce stress, depression and anxiety symptoms in Black, Indigenous and people of color whose encounters with racism have had lasting harm, a new study suggests.
Dallas Heart Study Yields New Insights About Depression
DALLAS – Dec. 14, 2020 – Recently published UT Southwestern research reveals new insights about risk factors for depression based on data from a landmark longitudinal study focused on heart disease.
Rewiring stroke survivors brains could alleviate depression
University of South Australia researchers have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of depression after stroke, using a high frequency brain stimulation device to improve low moods.
Engaged Dads Can Reduce Adolescent Behavioral Problems, Improve Well-Being
In low-income families, fathers who are engaged in their children’s lives can help to improve their mental health and behavior, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study published in the journal Social Service Review.
Stay-at-home orders tied to an increase in harmful alcohol consumption, study finds
Binge drinkers increased their alcohol consumption by nearly 20% during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, according to new research by public health experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Their study, published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, is one of the first to analyze the association of stress caused by the pandemic and dangerous alcohol consumption.
Discrimination on social media results in higher depression, anxiety among minority males
Exposure to ethnic discrimination on social media is associated with higher symptoms of depression and anxiety among young Hispanic males, according to a study by researchers at Florida International University’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work.
McLean Hospital Webinar Series: Everything You Want to Know About Anxiety
December 3 @ 11am EST Dr. Lisa Coyne Answers Burning Questions About Anxiety Anxiety can be our friend—or foe. All of us experience anxiety, but it can be worse during stressful events, like public speaking, social events, relationship problems, stress…
Research finds postpartum depression may last 3 years
A recent study found that a mother’s postpartum depression can last for a full three years after the birth of their baby and in some cases, get worse over time.
Giving Thanks Can Ease Pandemic Stress, SLU Expert Says
This time of year is usually a time of joy and celebration with family and friends. Yet, as COVID-19 cases surge across the country, Thanksgiving in 2020 will look different than it has in other years. A global pandemic, like COVID-19, can have a profound impact on a person’s psyche.
Changes in vaping, other substance use, another side effect of COVID-19
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, information about the dangers of vaping was emerging. To investigate the potentially serious health and respiratory implications of vaping, Mayo Clinic researchers wanted to better understand the factors influencing vaping in the community.
Depression Screening Tools in Patients with Kidney Failure
• A recent analysis found limited research evaluating depression screening tools in patients with kidney failure.
• Many studies were small in size and had other shortcomings.
More Young Adults Are Thinking About Suicide and Death, National Survey Finds
More than one-third of young adults in the United States report having thoughts of death and suicide, while nearly half show at least moderate symptoms of depression, according to a nationwide survey led by researchers from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Harvard Medical School, Northeastern, Harvard and Northwestern universities.
New Software Focuses On Better Targeting Mental Health Resources
Researchers have developed a prototype software system that aims to help policymakers and healthcare providers better address mental health challenges facing Hispanic populations across the United States.
Brain magnetic stimulation for veterans with concussion: Need is high, but evidence is limited
Studies using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive technique, to help veterans and active-duty service members living with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other lasting consequences of concussion have shown promise. However, there’s an urgent need for studies designed to address the unique patterns of post-concussion symptoms seen in military populations, concludes a review in the November/December issue of the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation (JHTR). The official journal of the Brain Injury Association of America, JHTR is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
Patients with Depression, Anxiety, and Bulimia at Heightened Risk of Unhealthy Drinking and Associated Health Issues
People experiencing depression, anxiety disorder, or bulimia are at heightened risk of unhealthy drinking, according to a new study involving more than two million patients. Unhealthy drinking is known to frequently co-occur with behavioral health conditions, potentially impeding disease management and leading to more serious problems such as alcohol use disorder (AUD) and chronic medical issues. Although one in four US adults drink beyond recommended limits, little is known about the relationship between particular psychiatric diagnoses and varying levels of alcohol consumption. The study in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research aimed to change that.
Psychedelic Treatment with Psilocybin Relieves Major Depression, Study Shows
In a small study of adults with major depression, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that two doses of the psychedelic substance psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, produced rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms, with most participants showing improvement and half of study participants achieving remission through the four-week follow-up.
Where you get depression care matters, study finds
Research shows that collaborative care programs in which primary-care providers work with a depression care manager and a designated psychiatric consultant can more than double the likelihood of improving depression outcomes. But a new study published in Health Affairs shows that not all care is equal.
Faculty Receives Grant to Examine Depression Among Black Mothers
Rutgers School of Public Health instructor, Slawa Rokicki, has been awarded a New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science grant to develop community-centered approaches to prevent perinatal depression for low-income and Black women.
CHOP Genomic Study Reveals Role for Hypothalamus in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Using sophisticated 3D genomic mapping and integrating with public data resulting from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found significant genetic correlations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and stress and depression. The researchers went on to implicate new genes involved in IBD risk that are enriched in both derived hypothalamic neurons, from a part of the brain that has a vital role in controlling stress and depression, and organoids derived from colon cells, a region more commonly studied in the context of IBD.
UCLA expert available to offer advice on how to navigate emotions on Election Day
Emanuel Maidenberg is a clinical professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He can comment on how to navigate emotions on Election Day and how to devise a mental health plan to help…
Multiple Paths to Recovery Among Patients With Co-Occurring Alcohol Use and Mental Health Disorders
A study has revealed diverse routes to recovery among people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders admitted for psychiatric inpatient care, while highlighting that some patients need additional support. Problem drinkers who also have a psychiatric condition — such as major depressive disorder (MDD) — often struggle to sustain long-term recovery following treatment. Mutual health groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can provide an ongoing source of recovery support for alcohol misuse, and involvement with AA is also linked to improvement in depression. However, it was not known how depression and involvement influence drinking during and after inpatient psychiatric treatment, and how they predict recovery. The new study, reported in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, investigated long-term trajectories of alcohol use, depression, and AA involvement over time among patients with co-occurring diagnoses.
Recognizing signs of depression in teens as we head into a difficult winter
As National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month comes to a close, and health officials warn of a difficult pandemic winter ahead, it’s important for parents to know how to identify symptoms of depression in their teenagers — and what…
McLean Hospital Sponsors National Stop a Suicide Today Town Hall
October 21 is National Stop a Suicide Today. In a collaboration between Stop a Suicide Today, the American Psychiatric Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and McLean Hospital, have scheduled a virtual Town Hall featuring talks by leading experts on the rising suicide rate, stigma, safety, the impact of COVID-19, and more.