Stop Depression Naturally

Types of Depression

2009-02-04T23:40:00.000-08:00

Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses such as heart disease. Three of the most common types of depressive disorders are discussed here. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.

Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.

A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by cycling mood changes: severe highs (mania) and lows (depression). Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, overtalkative, and have a great deal of energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, the individual in a manic phase may feel elated, full of grand schemes that might range from unwise business decisions to romantic sprees. Mania, left untreated, may worsen to a psychotic state.

Adult Depression Linked To TV Time As A Teen

2009-02-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

A recent study revealed that teens who spend most of their time watching tv have a higher risk of having depression when they grow up.

The more than 4,100 adolescents in the study were first asked in 1995 about the number of hours they had spent the previous week watching television or videocassettes, playing computer games, or listening to the radio. They reported an average daily exposure of about 5.7 hours, including 2.3 hours of television viewing.

Seven years later, at an average age of almost 22, 308 (7.4 percent) of the young people had developed symptoms consistent with depression. The incidence of those symptoms was directly related with the number of hours of exposure to television and other electronic media reported at the start of the study, the researchers noted.

However, "while we were able to control for a lot of variables such as socioeconomic status and education, in the final analysis we cannot be sure it was cause-and-effect," researchers said.

It's possible to speculate about why watching television might lead to depression, they said. "One theory is that you see a lot of depressing events on television and are likely to internalize them," researchers said. "Television emphasizes bad news, and repeated exposure to it might be internalized."

Depression and Anxiety Hinders the Quality of Life After Stroke

2009-02-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

Many people who survive a subarachnoid hemorrhage stroke have a poor quality of life due to anxiety, depression and fatigue, Dutch researchers report.

A subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) stroke occurs when a blood vessel on the brain surface ruptures and bleeds into the space between the skull and the brain, but not into the brain. This study included 141 women and men, average age 51, living in the community two to four years after an SAH stroke.

Using the Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale, the researchers found that 32 percent of the survivors reported anxiety, 23 percent reported depression, and 67 percent reported fatigue. Overall, the best scores were in physical function, while the lowest scores were in emotional and social areas.

"The major point is to look beyond physical symptoms and look at psychological symptoms and personality characteristics to evaluate quality of life. These characteristics are important to planning rehabilitation and targeting an intervention to help improve quality of life," study author Dr. Anne Visser-Meily, a rehabilitation specialist at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, said in an American Heart Association news release.

"When you analyze depression, anxiety and fatigue [in SAH survivors], you find there is a strong correlation with a passive coping style and neuroticism. Those with a passive coping style need psychological support to encourage them to be more independent," Visser-Meily said.

She and her colleagues also found that cognitive function is another important determinant of quality of life associated with coping style. Survivors were more likely to have neuropsychological problems if they had a passive coping style and were depressed.

"This emphasizes the need to take personality into account as a potential vulnerability factor for decreased QOL [quality of life]," Visser-Meily said.

A separate study also led by Visser-Meily found that coping is the most important predictor of psychological well-being of spouses of stroke survivors. The study, which included 211 stroke survivors and their spouses (average age 54), found that active coping strategies were associated with less stress and higher levels of participation, while a passive coping style was associated with negative outcomes.

While caregiver burden decreased significantly over time, 43 percent of spouses still scored above the cut-off point for burden three years after their partner's stroke. The study also found that the number of spouses with depressive symptoms decreased from 68 percent at the start of rehab to 53 percent at two months after rehab. But there was no further decrease in depressive symptoms, and there was a steady decline in relationship harmony and social relations.

"These findings highlight the need to monitor the long-term psychosocial functioning of the spouses of stroke patients as part of a family-centered approach," Visser-Meily said. "It is a very difficult job to be a caregiver. You not only have to manage the care of the stroke patient, you also have to take care of yourself. Not only burden, but also depressive mood, harmony in the relationship, and social relations need more attention in clinical practice."

Persistent Insomnia in Teens may Lead to Depression

2009-02-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

Persistent bouts of insomnia in young adults can increase their risk of developing depression, says a new report.

A long-term study of almost 600 young adults found that those with annual one-month periods of insomnia found the incidents of sleeplessness gradually increased over two decades, especially among women. In 40 percent of subjects, insomnia developed into more chronic forms over time,.

Insomnia lasting two weeks or longer predicted major depressive episodes and disorders, according to the report. Seventeen percent to 50 percent of subjects with insomnia lasting two weeks or longer later developed a major depressive episode.

"The results show that insomnia seems to be followed by depression more consistently than the other way around. In addition, we found that insomnia tended to be a chronic problem that gets more persistent over time, whereas depression was a more intermittent problem," study author Dr. Daniel J. Buysse, of the University of Pittsburgh, said in a prepared statement.

"We used to think that insomnia was most often just a symptom of depression. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that insomnia is not just a symptom of depression, but that it may actually precede depression. In other words, people who have insomnia but no depression are at increased risk for later developing depression," Buysee said.

Insomnia, the most common of all sleep disorders, is when a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. About 30 percent of adults have symptoms of insomnia.

Insomnia is more common among elderly people. According to a separate Sleep study from University of Rochester researchers in New York, elderly patients being treated for depression were almost two to four times more likely to remain depressed if they had persistent insomnia, compared with patients with no insomnia. Elderly patients receiving standard care for their depression fared worse than those receiving more enhanced care.

Herbal Solutions To Counter Depression

2009-01-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

In the past few years, much interest has risen in the use of herbs in the treatment of both depression and anxiety. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), an herb used extensively in the treatment of mild to moderate depression in Europe, has recently aroused interest in the United States. St. John's wort, an attractive bushy, low-growing plant covered with yellow flowers in summer, has been used for centuries in many folk and herbal remedies. Today in Germany, Hypericum is used in the treatment of depression more than any other antidepressant. However, the scientific studies that have been conducted on its use have been short-term and have used several different doses.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a Public Health Advisory on February 10, 2000. It stated that St. John's wort appears to affect an important metabolic pathway that is used by many drugs prescribed to treat conditions such as AIDS, heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and rejection of transplants. Therefore, health care providers should alert their patients about these potential drug interactions.

Some other herbal supplements frequently used that have not been evaluated in large-scale clinical trials are ephedra, gingko biloba, echinacea, and ginseng. Any herbal supplement should be taken only after consultation with the doctor or other health care provider.

Depression May Be A Big Factor In Poor Health

2009-01-28T19:30:00.000-08:00

Depression has a greater impact on overall health than arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests.

Based on interviews with almost 250,000 people living in 60 countries, WHO researchers found depression to be a greater predictor of poor health in patients with these chronic conditions than having one or more chronic medical conditions without depression.

People who had arthritis, diabetes, angina, or asthma were more likely to suffer from depression than people without these conditions.

And consistent across different countries and cultures, people with depression plus one or more of the chronic diseases included in the study had the worst overall health scores.

The findings, which appear in the Sept. 8 issue of The Lancet, illustrate the urgency of identifying and treating depression in patients with other chronic health problems and in the population as a whole, the WHO researchers conclude.

"We have to recognize that mental health is not a luxury. It is a necessity for good overall health," researcher Somnath Chatterji, MD, tells WebMD.

"Health care providers are so focused on the physical health of their patients that they often miss the signs of depression. But treating depression can have a big impact on overall health."

Symptoms of Depression

2009-01-28T00:40:00.000-08:00

Prolonged period of sadness or not feeling “up to it,” people who are always feeling not in the mood, who’d rather mope around the house and feel sorry for one’s self is the best example for this symptom of depression.

Feels hopeless, perennial pessimist: speaking of feeling sorry for one’s self, another common symptom of depression is when a person actually feels like he/she has nothing to look forward to in his or her life. As for being the perennial pessimist, those who show this symptom of depression are usually very negative about things, again, the feeling of hopelessness comes in to mind.

Guilt-driven, loss of self-worth and helplessness: other symptoms of depression that can be easily seen on people who prefer to mope around all day long are these. Whenever a person feels so guilty over something, that actually makes one a very sad person who feels like he or she doesn’t deserve to be happy.

Thus, the loss of self-worth, if that person feels like he or she isn’t worthy of being happy or enjoying one’s self then that’s clear tell-tale symptom of depression. Helplessness also contribute to being depressed, when assuming that things won’t simply go your way, it’s already a clear saying that you have absolutely no hope in your body at all.

Isn’t interested in finding or taking pleasure; just dropping the hobbies as well as the other things that one used to enjoy: this tell-tale symptom of depression just shows how depressed a person can be, if one is actually too sad to take pleasure even in the very things that one loves then that person is seriously lacking something, rather, that person might well have caught the depression bug.

Fatigue, always tired: people suffering from depression, since they’ve lost whatever interest in life that they may have had before are actually lacking of physical energy at all times, if one would prefer to just mope around, probably won’t even eat not get enough sleep, a depressed person may well be on their way to not just a mental illness but depression can actually be terrible for one’s physical health as well.

Having trouble concentrating, having bad memory and is indecisive: a person who is suffering from depression easily gives away this tell-tale symptom of depression. Wherein one’s lack of interest with regards to the outside world or for just about anything for that matter can lead to that person’s inability to lose track of things and actually not be able to remember things that happened or what other people said. Lack of interest actually makes depressed people very inattentive.

There are actually more symptoms of depression that can actually help you see if a person (or you) needs to be brought to the doctor to get some help when it comes to depression: lacking sleep, sleeping too much or waking up at wee hours of the morning are all symptoms of depression (if it happens on a daily basis), appetite loss as well as eating too much may show one’s lack of enthusiasm for life.

Be weary of sudden weight loss or weight gain in those around you. Being suicidal, talking about death, about wanting to die is another clear indication that that person is depressed. Being restless and irritable and physical symptoms that are usually brought about by poor mental health such as headaches, digestive disorders and various body pains.

Depression In Senior Citizens

2009-01-26T23:50:00.000-08:00

Depression isn't a normal part of aging. But it is common in people older than age 65, and symptoms of depression can be different for seniors than for younger people.

The American Academy of Family Physicians lists these common symptoms of depression in seniors:

Losing interest in activities that were once enjoyed.

Feelings of sadness, numbness, worthlessness or guilt.

Suddenly crying for no reason, or crying frequently.

Feeling tired, slow, restless or irritable.

A sudden change in appetite, or unexplained change in weight.

Changes in sleep patterns, including sleeping too much or difficulty sleeping.

Difficulty remembering or concentrating, and making decisions.

Having frequent headaches, back pain or digestive problems.

Thoughts about death or suicide.

Rejections Can Be Costly

2009-01-26T00:47:00.000-08:00

A study from San Francisco State University’s Family Acceptance Project has confirmed what many of us instinctively or experientially knew: there is a clear link between a negative family reaction to an out gay child and harmful health risks to that young person. Dr. Caitlin Ryan, author of the study entitled "Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Young Adults," has found that gay adolescents facing family rejection were at increased risk of depression, illegal drug use, HIV infection, and suicide attempts in early adulthood.

"This study clearly shows the tremendous harm of family rejection, even if parents think they are well-intentioned, following deeply held beliefs or even protecting their children," said Dr. Sten Vermund of Nashville’s Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Ryan’s research also indicates that parents and caregivers can modify rejecting behavior once they understand the serious impact their words and actions have on their LGBT children’s health. Dr. Ryan’s Family Acceptance Project had success in helping parents and caregivers learn how to support their LGBT children and to prevent the extremely high levels of risk related to family rejection. Even a little change in parenting behavior had positives outcomes for young people.

The results of this study make it all the more shocking and sad that the homophobic right continues to encourage parents to reject the sexual orientation of their gay children. While the "religious right" hopes their ongoing war against the gay community reduces the number of Americans who identify as gay, in actuality it only serves to compromise the physical and mental health of vulnerable young people.

Although the "religious right" shamelessly uses the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among gay males as a weapon to fight against gay civil rights and equality, the San Francisco State study indicates that the anti-gay environment championed by the right actually promotes new HIV infections. Dr. Vermund is concerned about this correlation: "In today’s often hostile climate for LGBT youth, it is especially important to note that both mental health issues like depression and suicide and HIV risk behaviors were greatly increased by rejection. Given the ongoing HIV epidemic in America, in which half of all new cases of HIV are found in men who have sex with men and there is a growing concern about prevention messages reaching young people, it is vital that we share these findings with parents and service providers who work with youth in every way."

One organization that encourages families to reject the gay sexual orientation of their loved ones is Focus on the Family. Their 10-year-old "ex-gay" ministry known as "Love Won Out" seeks to "cure" gays of their homosexuality. The promotional material for their conferences states that parents will learn how to "prevent your child from embracing this destructive way of life," clearly encouraging parents to adopt attitudes and behave in ways that are being found to have harmful repercussions for the health of gay youth.

Remedy Depression The Natural Way

2009-01-22T22:52:00.000-08:00

Depression is one of the most common emotional disorder's that is growing fast in today's hectic lifestyle. A variety of psychological and physical symptoms are produced by depression which as a whole constitute a syndrome.

Depression is one of the most unpleasant experiences in a person's daily life. It has a large number of adverse effects on the body and mind and is far more difficult to cope up than a physical bodily ailment. In today's modern life everyone has to face day to day mental stress and tensions and as a result it causes depression. When this disease becomes complex, it may lead to other mental disorders and even suicide.

The symptoms of depression are most difficult to analyze. It usually begins with the onset of symptoms such as inexplicable sadness and acute sense of loss, loss of interest and loss of energy. The patient usually lacks interest in the world around him and also feels tired. There is also a problem of sleeplessness or insomnia faced frequently. Other symptoms of depression are nausea, giddiness, itching, agitation, aches and pains, impotence, constipation, lack of power of decision making and lack of concentration.

One of the most common causes of depression is depleted function of adrenal glands. Irregular eating habits also lead to digestive disorders and indigestion which in turn reduce the supply of oxygen to tissues and raises carbon dioxide causing general depression. Depression is also caused by the indiscriminate and excessive use of drugs which leads to faulty assimilation of vitamins and minerals by the body.

Depression During Pregnancy (part 1)

2009-01-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

Pregnancy is a time of many changes not only for your body, but also for your mind. Your mood can swing from sunny to dark, and you'll probably start worrying more than usual. And no matter how much you’re looking forward to your baby’s arrival, you just might find yourself feeling depressed.

By some estimates, depression strikes one in five women during pregnancy. If you're feeling down during pregnancy, you may be tempted to overlook your feelings or beat yourself up for feeling sad at a time that ought to be one of the happiest occasions of your life. But you don't have to let depression take over your life. By taking depression seriously, you can rediscover the joys of pregnancy, worries and all.

Far too many women accept depression as a part of pregnancy. A recent survey of 1,837 pregnant women in Michigan found that only 33 percent of those who were experiencing major depression received any treatment. This may be because of the general misconception that pregnancy is a purely blissful state and that if a woman isn't happy, she should be. But depression is not something to be ashamed of, and if you deny your feelings you may be less likely to take care of yourself -- and your unborn child. The consequences can be extreme: Some studies have shown that maternal depression may raise the risk of preterm birth, low birthweight, and low Apgar scores in newborns.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Mood swings are common during pregnancy, largely because of the dramatic increase in hormones coursing through a woman's system. But if you find that you are having trouble shaking the blues, or if you don't have the energy or will to perform routine tasks, you may be suffering from depression.

Symptoms of depression can include irritability, ongoing sadness, appetite loss, compulsive eating, constant fatigue, disturbed sleep, inability to focus or think clearly, extreme mood swings, and anxiety. If any of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, they could signal depression.

What causes depression during pregnancy?

Leah Seidler, a San Francisco psychotherapist who specializes in pregnancy-related issues, says that a wide range of feelings are to be expected during pregnancy, not all of them positive. "It is a rich and multifaceted experience that includes fear and loneliness, as well as joy and excitement," she says.

Seidler points out that pregnancy has been increasingly medicalized in recent years as Western medicine has become more sophisticated, and pregnancy treatments and interventions more elaborate. This is a positive change in many ways, because it has made childbirth generally safer. On the other hand, says Seidler, "We now treat pregnancy like a disease, rather than a joyful, powerful transition in a woman's life."

Am I at risk for depression during pregnancy?

If you've experienced depression before, or if you have close family members who have wrestled with the problem, you are more vulnerable to depression after you become pregnant. Financial concerns or relationship problems also put you at risk.

Pregnancy can be especially nerve-racking if you've had infertility problems or miscarriages in the past. As months go by, that anxiety can easily shift to depression. Finally, if you have recently experienced a significant life change -- a move to a new city, a job loss, a recent breakup, or the death of a loved one -- you are more vulnerable to depression.

Bullying In Teens May Cause Depression

2009-01-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Teenagers who are subjected to bullying and teasing are at risk of becoming depressed, but those from either low-income or wealthier families may be particularly vulnerable, new research hints.

The study of nearly 5,400 Swedish high school students found that those who said they'd often been ridiculed or teased were at greater risk of having symptoms of depression.

However, that risk was influenced by family "social status": bullying seemed to have more of an effect on teens from either low-income or high-income families than it did on their middle-class peers.

The findings suggest that teenagers from middle-income families -- who may feel "the same as everyone else" -- are somewhat protected from developing depression in response to bullying, said lead researcher Cecilia Aslund, of Uppsala University in Sweden.

It's likely, she told Reuters Health, that poorer and wealthier kids are more vulnerable for different reasons.

One possibility is that teenagers from high-income families have more demands on them to "be successful," Aslund and her colleagues note in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. That stress may make it more difficult to deal with the emotional effects of bullying.

Similarly, the chronic stress associated with lower social status may make low-income teens more vulnerable.

Aslund and her colleagues based their findings on surveys of 5,396 high school students who reported on any instances of verbal and emotional bullying they'd suffered in the past few months -- times that they'd been ridiculed or insulted in front of others.

The students also completed a standard questionnaire used to diagnose depression.

Overall, the study found, 21 percent of students were depressed. Teens who reported "many" instances of bullying were at greater risk, but that varied according to family income.

Teenagers from either low- or high-income families were five to seven times more likely to have depression symptoms than their peers from middle-income families who said they'd rarely been bullied.

The findings have implications for school programs aimed at preventing bullying and its consequences, Aslund said, since it's important for adults to be aware that certain kids may be more vulnerable to depression.

She also noted that, in general, higher family income is typically linked to lower risks of health-related problems in kids. But this study shows that this is not always the case.

Facts About Depression

2009-01-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

* Depression affects about 15 million American adults each year.

* Depression affects women nearly twice as often as men.

* As many as one out of every eight women will develop depression in her lifetime.

* Anyone can develop depression, regardless of their age, race or social class.

* Many people with depression do not even realize that they are depressed and initially see their primary care doctor to treat what they believe is a physical disorder.

* Depression cannot be prevented. However, more than 80 percent of people who have it can be treated successfully with psychotherapy, medical therapy or a combination of both.

* Although a depressive episode can last from a few weeks to many years, most episodes last between six and nine months.

* Antidepressant medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

* The risk of depression may be as high as 25 percent in first-degree relatives (parents, children and siblings) of patients with a history of depression.

* About one-third of depressed individuals also suffer from some form of substance abuse or dependence, although for some, the depression is a result of the substance abuse problem.

* As many as 15 percent of patients with depression eventually commit suicide.

* About 5 to 10 percent of people who have had a depressive episode actually have bipolar disorder and eventually have a manic episode (elevated mood and excessive energy and optimism). If their depression occurs before a manic episode, they may be misdiagnosed as depressed.

* Depression is commonly associated with other conditions, including eating disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and borderline personality disorder.

* Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States and internationally.

12 Cost-Free Ways To Treat Depression

2009-01-18T22:49:00.000-08:00

Although therapy and antidepressant medication are the most effective treatments for depression, home treatment is also important. There are many steps you can take to help yourself during a depressive episode and to prevent future episodes.

Set realistic goals for yourself, and take on a reasonable amount of responsibility.

Break large tasks into small ones, and set priorities. Do what you can when you are able.

Postpone major life decisions (such as changing jobs, moving, or getting married or divorced) when you are depressed.

Try to share your feelings with someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.

Let your family and friends help you.

Even if you don't feel motivated, try to participate in religious, social, or other activities.

Get regular exercise.

Eat a balanced diet. If you lack an appetite, eat small snacks rather than large meals.

Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs or medications that have not been prescribed to you.
They may interfere with your medications or make your depression worse.

Get adequate sleep. If you have problems sleeping:

Go to bed at the same time every night and, more importantly, get up at the same time every morning.

Keep your bedroom dark and free of noise.

Don't exercise after 5:00 p.m.

Avoid caffeinated beverages after 5:00 p.m.

Avoid the use of nonprescription sleeping pills or alcohol, because they can make your sleep restless and may interact with your depression medications.

Be patient and kind to yourself. Remember that depression is not your fault and is not something you can overcome with willpower alone. Treatment is necessary for depression, just like for any other illness.

Try to maintain a positive attitude—remember that feeling better takes time, and your mood will improve little by little.

Depression Makes You More Sensitive To Pain

2009-01-15T23:48:00.000-08:00

When anticipating pain, the brains of people with depression kick into overdrive and hinder their ability to handle hurt, a new study shows. Brain imaging also reveals that during the painful experience, activity then decreases in other areas, including those regions that handle pain modulation.

"The anticipatory brain response may indicate hypervigilance to impending threat, which may lead to increased helplessness and maladaptative modulation during the experience of heat pain," the authors wrote. "This mechanism could in part explain the high comorbidity of pain and depression when these conditions become chronic."

Chronic pain and depression often overlap, the authors wrote. More than 75 percent of depression patients have recurring or chronic pain, while between 30 percent and 60 percent of chronic pain patients also report symptoms of depression.

"Understanding the neurobiological basis of this relationship is important, because the presence of comorbid pain contributes significantly to poorer outcomes and increased cost of treatment in major depressive disorder," they wrote.

The research team, from the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla, studied 30 adults, half with a major depressive disorder but not on medication for the condition and half without it. All wore devices that could heat their arms to painful levels, and all were given visual signals before the exercise as to whether they would feel painful heat or a more mild warmth.

The patients with depression also completed a questionnaire about their tendencies to magnify, ruminate over or feel helpless in the face of pain.

Compared with the controls, patients with depression showed increased activation in certain areas of their brain, including the right amygdala -- a brain region tied to emotional responses. This increased activity also correlated to higher helplessness scores on the questionnaires of the patients with depression.

"Future studies that directly examine whether maladaptive response to pain in major depressive disorder is due to emotional allodynia [a pain response to a non-painful stimulus], maladaptive control responses, lack of resilience and/or ineffectual recruitment of positive energy resources will further our understanding of pain-depression comorbidity," the authors concluded.

Phone Psychotherapy: Fewer Hang-ups?

2009-01-11T22:15:00.000-08:00

Patients who receive psychotherapy over the phone -- an increasingly common practice -- may be less likely to drop out of treatment than patients who attend face-to-face sessions, according to a new analysis of existing studies about telephone psychotherapy.

The average attrition rate was 7.6% for phone patients vs. another study's finding of 46.9% for traditional psychotherapy. Also, phone therapy seems to be just as effective as traditional therapy at reducing patients' depressive symptoms.
12 studies about telephone psychotherapy for adults were analyzed, all focused on therapy that was conducted exclusively over the phone, that included at least four sessions and that had a clearly defined treatment approach.

"The problem with face-to-face treatment has always been very few people who can benefit from it actually receive it because of emotional and structural barriers," David Mohr, PhD, professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and lead author of the study, says in a statement.

There can be logistical challenges such as getting transportation to appointments or taking time off of work, as well as emotional challenges.

"One of the symptoms of depression is people lose motivation. It's hard for them to do the things they are supposed to do. Showing up for appointments is one of those things," Mohr says.
The researchers emphasize that it is too early to generalize their findings too broadly. Mohr says more original research is needed, including a definitive study with a randomly selected population of patients that directly compares therapy delivered face-to-face to phone therapy.

Natural Methods As Main Depression Treatment

2009-01-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

Antidepressant medication, psychotherapy, or combinations of the two represent the most common treatment for depressive illness. However, a variety of natural treatment of depression also can be used to help alleviate depression. These include:

Exercise or Yoga - One exercise and depression study showed that the improvement in mood begins just ten minutes after you start exercising. Mood was found to continue to get better for up to twenty minutes. Studies show that jogging for 30 minutes three times a week can be as effective as psychotherapy in treating depression. Learn more about depression and exercise.

Massage Therapy

Relaxation or Deep Breathing

Meditation or Prayer - Meditation is a very effective technique for improving your creativity and problem solving capacity.meditation is an exercise, aiming to prevent thoughts in a natural way, by deeply relaxing the physical body and then trying to keep the mind completely "blank" with no thoughts whatsoever. Learn more about it.

Clarocet NRI - Clarocet NRI uses a combination effect of many different herbs that are known to help relieve stress, anxiety and depression.

A typical explanation of effectiveness of massage therapy, guided imagery, or biofeedback is that, it might be possible to decrease stress and anxiety by learning to control involuntary functions such as heart rate and muscle tension.

Some of these natural treatment of depression may be used as an adjunct to pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments, while others are used alone. Scientific evidence supports several non pharmacological approaches for reduction of depressive symptoms, such as exercise (both aerobic and anaerobic), relaxation techniques, and at least one herbal remedy for depression treatment. It is important to consult your healthcare provider before beginning any exercise program. It is also important to inform your doctor about any nutritional supplements or herbs that you are taking so as to avoid harmful drug interactions.

Mental Woes More Common In Infertile Couples

2009-01-07T22:20:00.000-08:00

Depression, anxiety and certain other mental health conditions are more common among infertile couples than those who are able to conceive on their own, a small study suggests.

The findings, say researchers, imply that routine mental health screening could benefit patients being treated for infertility.

While most of the 81 infertile couples in the study did not suffer from any of the psychiatric conditions the researchers assessed, they did have higher rates of certain disorders when compared with 70 fertile couples.

The biggest difference, the researchers found, was in the diagnosis of "adjustment disorder," particularly among women. Adjustment disorder refers to symptoms of depression and anxiety in response to an identifiable cause -- which, in these cases, was most likely patients' infertility.

Among infertile women, 28 percent had an adjustment disorder marked by depression and anxiety, versus 3 percent of fertile women.

In addition, 18 percent of infertile women currently had binge-eating disorder, whereas none of their fertile counterparts did, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Chiara Sbaragli of the University of Siena School of Medicine in Italy.

Among men, there was evidence that infertility patients had higher rates of "subclinical" obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia -- meaning signs and symptoms of these anxiety disorders were there, but not significant enough for a diagnosis.

According to the researchers, it's not possible to say whether these mental health problems were the result of -- or possibly a contributing factor to -- patients' infertility.

In the case of adjustment disorders, Sbaragli and her colleagues note, it's likely that patients' symptoms were a response to their fertility problems. However, they add, such symptoms could potentially make it harder for patients to recover from infertility; the effects of depression and anxiety on the nervous system, for instance, could in turn affect their reproductive function.

Quit-smoking aid may cause depression

2009-01-07T00:46:00.001-08:00

Here's something new! If you're planning on quitting smoking, you may actually be setting yourself up to be depressed.

Health Canada issued a reminder to Canadians who are taking, or considering taking, the smoking-cessation aid called Champix, saying the drug has a risk of "serious psychiatric adverse effects."

The federal health agency says it is still in the process of creating stronger wording on product labels to warn consumers of the risks.

"While Champix can be an effective tool for quitting smoking when used as part of a support program, there have been reports in some patients of unusual feelings of agitation, depressed mood, hostility, changes in behaviour, or impulsive or disturbing thoughts such as thoughts of self-harm or harm to others," the agency said in a news release Tuesday.

It is unclear at this time whether Champix is the cause of these psychiatric symptoms, said Health Canada.

Depression Increases Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease

2009-01-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

People who have had depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who have never had depression.
The study involved 486 people age 60 to 90 who had no dementia. Of those, 134 people had experienced at least one episode of depression that prompted them to seek medical advice.
The participants were followed for an average of six years. During that time 33 people developed Alzheimer's disease. People who had experienced depression were 2.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who had never had depression. The risk was even higher for those whose depression occurred before the age of 60; they were nearly four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those with no depression.
"We don't know yet whether depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease or whether another unknown factor causes both depression and dementia," said study author Monique M.B. Breteler, MD, PhD, with the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. "We'll need to do more studies to understand the relationship between depression and dementia."
One theory was that depression leads to loss of cells in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which then contributes to Alzheimer's disease. But this study found no difference in the size of these two brain areas between people with depression and people who had never had depression.

Men Sexually Abused In Childhood 10 Times More Likely To Contemplate Suicide

2009-01-05T00:39:00.001-08:00

Sexual abuse in childhood increases the risk of suicide in men by up to ten times, say researchers from the University of Bath. A recent study of Australian men has found that those who were sexually abused as children are more likely than women to contemplate taking their own lives.

Whilst gender and mental health problems are the most important risk factors for contemplating suicide, it is increasingly acknowledged that traumatic experiences such as childhood sexual abuse may be a significant risk factor.

Dr Patrick O'Leary and Professor Nick Gould from the University's Department of Social & Policy Sciences conducted a series of surveys and face-to-face interviews with men in a study funded by the University of South Australia. The findings have been published online in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Social Work.

They found that men who were sexually abused as children were up to ten times more likely to have suicidal tendencies; many of these men had not been clinically diagnosed as depressed.

Dr O'Leary said: "Childhood sexual abuse is an under-recognised problem in men - most of the studies exploring the link with suicide have been in women.

"Men are particularly vulnerable because they don't like to talk to others about their problems. It's difficult for anyone to come to terms with traumatic experiences such as childhood sexual abuse, but for men the stigma is worse because they don't tend to confide in their friends as much.

"Many suffer feelings of failure and isolation and think that it is a sign of weakness to discuss their past abuse with others. Men also tend to visit their doctors less frequently, so those who are at risk of suicide often slip under the radar of the healthcare system.

"Men are particularly vulnerable to suicide and are three and a half times more likely than women to end their own lives, with more than 2,000 men dying as a result of suicide in the UK each year. However it is estimated that for every suicide, there are between 20 and 25 failed attempts.

"We carried out the study in Australia, which shares a similar 'stiff upper lip' culture that we see in the UK. We're planning to do our next study in the UK to see if there are any differences."

Dr O'Leary suggested that lives could be potentially saved if abuse victims are identified earlier.

He explained: "The abuse that these men have suffered as children often sees them attempting to cope by suppressing the experience through substance abuse, alcohol abuse and obsessive behaviour, with many ending up in the criminal justice system.

"Greater awareness in the healthcare and criminal justice systems will help identify those who are at risk and give them treatment before it is too late."

Study links family rejection of gay youth to child's likelihood of depression and drug use

2008-12-28T22:05:00.000-08:00

Young gay people whose parents or guardians responded negatively when they revealed their sexual orientation were more likely to attempt suicide, experience severe depression and use drugs than those whose families accepted the news, according to a new study. The way in which parents or guardians respond to a youth's sexual orientation profoundly influences the child's mental health as an adult, say researchers at San Francisco State University.

"Parents love their children and want the best for them," said lead researcher Caitlin Ryan, a social worker who directs the university's Family Acceptance Project. "Now that we have measured all these behaviors, we can see that some of them put youth at extremely high risk and others are wellness-promoting."

Among other findings, the study showed that teens who experienced negative feedback were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly six times as vulnerable to severe depression and more than three times at risk of drug use.

More significantly, Ryan said, ongoing work at San Francisco State suggests that parents who take even baby steps to respond with equanimity instead of rejection can dramatically improve a gay youth's mental health outlook.

One of the most startling findings was that being forbidden to associate with gay peers was as damaging as being physically beaten or verbally abused by their parents in terms of negative feedback, Ryan said.

Child Adversity and Depression Linked

2008-12-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

U.S. researchers warn increasing poverty among U.S. children and its effects, including early family adversity and depressive symptoms, have a lasting impact.

Iowa State University researchers found family adversity persists in children by initiating depressive symptoms in adolescence. That influence increases the occurrence of early disruptive life events such as leaving home and also affects the adolescent's social, academic and occupational attainments.

"The main finding shows the continuity of family adversity over generations -- from family-of-origin to a young adult's family. In other words, it's the transmission of poverty," lead researcher K.A.S. Wickrama said in a statement. "Other articles have shown inter-generational transmission of adversity, but our study also shows the mechanisms that this influence operates through."

Wickrama's study, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, tracked almost 500 adolescents from 1991-2001.

"Our research shows that if you rush to adulthood, it is very stressful because you are not ready for that," Wickrama said. "These two mechanisms, early events and depressive symptoms, mutually reinforce each other and ultimately contribute to failures in young adulthood -- such as low educational level, unemployment, poor close relations, poor parent relationships and less social participation."

Heart And Blood Vessels Damaged By Depression, Anxiety Which Spur Poor Health Habits

2008-12-22T22:58:00.000-08:00

Anyone will tell you that stress is bad for the heart. Many people also know about the toxic effects of anxiety and depression. But how exactly do these negative emotions cripple the cardiovascular system - and what can be done about it?

New research shows that many people who experience psychological distress also slip into poor health habits, particularly smoking and physical inactivity. Over several years, these two factors alone may account for nearly two-thirds of the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular illnesses in people with depression and anxiety.

"This study helps us to better understand the relative contributions of stress-related changes in behavior and physiology leading to heart disease," said Roland von Känel, M.D., a professor of medicine and psychiatry, and head of the psychocardiology unit of the Swiss Cardiovascular Center at the University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland.

Antidepressants may cause bad semen quality

2008-12-22T00:05:00.000-08:00

The US scientists say that antidepressants that are taken by millions of men to alleviate depression may harm their sperm.

The researchers gave the antidepressant paroxetine to a small number of healthy men for four weeks and found that these men had far higher levels of sperm with damaged DNA.

The outcomes of the study have been reported in New Scientist magazine and they do not necessarily indicate that these men would have serious problems to become a father. But a UK fertility specialist considers them a cause for concern.

The researchers examined these “before” and “after” samples and apparently didn’t find any difference in them as the shape and movement of sperm was normal in both these samples, but they noticed a different result while testing “DNA fragmentation”

Some sperm with DNA problems are found in every sample and in this study almost 13.8% sperm were found fragmented before treatment, but after four weeks the damage rose to 30.3%

Safety Can Be Learned - And Helps Combat Depression

2008-12-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

Learning a feeling of safety activates cellular and molecular processes that act against depression. This has been analysed using a new animal model that helps examine and explain the relevant cell biology processes more effectively.

The findings show that "learned safety" can have an anti-depressive effect comparable to pharmacological antidepressants but that this effect is controlled by other molecular processes. The project supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF was carried out by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Columbia University in the U.S.

Fear is good. It protects us from all kinds of danger and is therefore both part of our instinct and can also be learned. However, fear can also become aggravating or even chronic and cause various psychological conditions such as depression.

Original publication:
An Animal Model of a Behavioral Intervention for Depression.
Neuron 60, 149-161, DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.07.041

Depression Research: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

2008-12-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

Research revealed today outlines the success of group-taught meditation therapies, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) when treating depression.

The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine offers a course of MBCT sessions that aim to teach patients the skills needed to help recognise and cope with the signs of depression.

Dr Richard Fuller of The Dove Clinic says, "Mindfulness approaches help us to focus on the present moment, rather than re-living the past or pre-living the future. This can help to halt the escalation of negative thought spirals and help with regaining control and confidence, and increase self-esteem."

New Test For Depression

2008-12-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

A new universal test to predict the risk of someone succumbing to major depression has been developed by UCL (University College London) researchers. The online tool, predictD, could eventually be used by family doctors and local clinics to identify those at risk of depression for whom prevention might be most useful.

The risk algorithm, developed by a team led by UCL Professors Michael King and Irwin Nazareth, was tested in 6,000 people visiting their family doctor in six countries in Europe (UK, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Estonia). Its accuracy was also tested in nearly 3,000 GP attendees in a further country, Chile, in South America. The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, followed-up the participants at six and 12 months. The team modelled their approach on risk indices for heart disease, which provide a percentage risk estimate over a given time period. The algorithm was as accurate at predicting future episodes of depression as similar instruments developed in Europe to predict future risk of heart problems.

What Happens During Depression?

2008-12-02T23:43:00.000-08:00

Depression may begin with symptoms of anxiety (such as excessive worrying) or symptoms such as sadness or lack of energy that last for days or months before the onset of full-blown depression. You may have trouble concentrating or remembering, experience a loss of pleasure in things you used to enjoy, feel hopeless, and have low energy and changes in sleeping and eating patterns. You may withdraw socially from others and lose interest in sexual activity.

The course of depression varies from one person to another. You might have mild or severe symptoms of depression for a long time, or you may have them for a brief time. A small number of people feel depressed for most of their lives and require ongoing treatment. Most people who have depression can be treated successfully with medication, professional counseling, or a combination of the two.

Depressive disorders are classified according to their severity and duration. Depression may be mild, moderate, or severe. It may start suddenly (acute) or be long-lasting (chronic). Dysthymic disorder, for example, is chronic mild depression. Some people may experience an episode of major depression on top of dysthymic disorder (double depression).

For severe depression, you may need to be admitted to a hospital for a short time, especially if you are having thoughts of suicide. Because depression puts you at a higher risk for attempting suicide, you should seek immediate treatment if you are having self-destructive thoughts.

Depression linked to belly fat

2008-12-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

I would be depressed too if I had a big belly to look at everytime I wake up in the morning.

Older adults with symptoms of depression appear more likely to gain abdominal fat, but not overall fat -- over a five-year period, Dutch researchers said.

Nicole Vogelzangs of VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam and colleagues studied 2,088 adults age 70-79 years. Participants were screened for depression at the beginning of the study and their overall and abdominal obesity was recorded then and again after five years.

At the beginning of the study, 4 percent of participants had depression.

The study found that after adjusting for sociodemographic and other characteristics associated with weight changes, depression was associated with an increase in sagittal diameter and visceral fat over five years.

"Such an association was not found for an increase in overall obesity and also appeared to be independent of changes in overall obesity, suggesting that depressive symptoms are rather specifically associated with fat gain in the visceral region," the study authors said in a statement.

Chronic stress and depression may activate certain brain areas and lead to increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which promotes the accumulation of visceral fat, Vogelzangs said. In addition, individuals with depression may have unhealthier lifestyles, including a poor diet, that could interact with other physiological factors to produce an increase in abdominal obesity.

How Depression Harms Your Heart

2008-11-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

There is little doubt that depression is bad for the heart. Much as fatty diets, cigarette smoking, inactivity and obesity are linked with an increased risk of heart disease, recent evidence suggests that mental health has a similarly powerful impact. The question has always been, why?

Now, researchers provide the first data that may explain the association. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the findings suggest that depression contributes to heart disease indirectly — by fostering unhealthy behaviors like smoking — rather than directly. Certain biological factors linked with depression, such as inflammation and the levels of brain chemicals like serotonin, may play some role in heart health, researchers say, but the new study found that the factors that most increased heart disease risk in depressed people were the ones you might expect: lack of exercise and smoking.

"We looked at all sorts of biological markers that could potentially play a role in linking depression and heart disease," says Dr. Mary Whooley, an internist at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco, and lead author of the new study. "We measured all of those, and found that they did not explain the association. All we needed to do was to ask the patient how much they were exercising to be able to explain the link."

Depression May Up Heart Attack Risk

2008-11-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

Cardiac patients who are depressed are less likely to exercise, which increases their risk of a cardiac event such as a heart attack or heart failure, a new study suggests.
So heart patients who experience depression may be able to lower their cardiac risk simply by getting more physical activity.
It's long been recognized that patients who suffer from depression are more likely to have heart attacks or other cardiac events. But the reason for the association has been unclear. According to the new study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, the higher risk may be due to behavioral factors, especially physical activity levels.
Researchers looked at 1,017 heart disease patients. All were outpatients at clinics in the San Francisco area. They were recruited between 2000 and 2002, and followed until early 2008.
Participants completed a questionnaire to gauge whether or not they had depressive symptoms. Out of the group, 199 had depressive symptoms. The depressed patients were more likely to smoke, were less likely to take their medications as prescribed, and were less physically active.
Among the participants with depression, 10% had a cardiac event during the follow-up period. Among the non-depressed participants, 6.7% had a cardiac event. Cardiac events included heart failure, heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attack (sometimes referred to as a "mini-stroke"), or death.
Even when the researchers made mathematical adjustments that accounted for other health issues and the severity of heart disease at the outset of the study, the group with depression was still 31% more likely to have a cardiac event than the group without depression. However, when lifestyle factors were also accounted for, there was largely no difference between the likelihood of a cardiac event for the depressed group and for the non-depressed group. In the final statistical model, the researchers found that physical inactivity alone was associated with a 44% greater rate of cardiovascular events.
"These findings raise the hypothesis that the increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with depression could potentially be preventable with behavior modification, especially exercise," the researchers write. "Exercise training can improve both depressive symptoms and markers for cardiovascular risk."
The researchers point out that their study could not discern whether depression led to inactivity or if inactivity led to depression. Regardless, the incorporation of exercise into a comprehensive depression treatment plan may be beneficial to many patients who suffer from both depression and heart disease.

Babies Placed In Incubators Decrease Risk Of Depression As Adults

2008-11-24T22:22:00.000-08:00

According to a new study published in the journal Psychiatry Research, babies who receive incubator care after birth are two to three times less likely to suffer depression as adults.

The surprising discovery was made by scientists from the Université de Montréal and Sainte Justine Hospital Research Center in collaboration with researchers from McGill University, the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College in the U.K.

"In mammals, separation between mother and child after birth has always been considered a major stressor that can cause behavioural problems well into adulthood," says coauthor Richard E. Tremblay a professor of psychology, pediatrics and psychiatry at the Université de Montréal and director of the Research Unit on Children's Psycho-Social Maladjustment at the Sainte Justine Hospital Research Center. "Our hypothesis was that mother-baby separation resulting from incubator care could heighten depression in adolescence or adulthood. Instead, we found that incubator care could decrease the risk of depression two-to-threefold by the age of 21."

Study Improves Recovery For Mothers With Depression

2008-11-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a therapy programme to treat depression in women in developing countries.

Although depression is a major health problem world-wide, experts say its impact is greatest in developing countries where 80% of the population live. Often there are no resources available to treat sufferers.

Professor Atif Rahman from the School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences developed a therapy programme while working as a Wellcome Trust Career Fellow in Tropical Medicine in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

"Depression is one of the leading causes of mental illness in the world and when the condition affects mothers with newborn babies, it can lead to serious consequences" he says. "The impacts include low birth-weight, poor growth, frequent diarrhoea and the mother failing to ensure the child is properly immunised. These conditions tend to remain untreated in countries like Pakistan where only a fraction of the Government's budget is spent on health.

Parrot given Prozac after owner dies

2008-11-20T22:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, I couldn't resist this one. Apparently, an African grey parrot named Fred was given prozac after its owner, George Dance, died.

After Mr Dance died nine months ago, Fred became depressed and bit off all of his neck feathers. He also began to bob his head up and down all day as a result of his low mood.

George's widow Helen, from Somerset, told The Sun: "He has been in quite a state since my husband died.

"Fred was very close to George and became depressed."

According to experts, tropical birds are extremely emotional and the number who require anti-depressants is growing.

Late last year, a collie-Labrador cross called Winnie was given Clomicalm after it began to cry and pace nervously.

An animal behaviourist diagnosed Winnie with canine separation anxiety, and the mood-altering drug now helps her to cope.

I wonder what we can think of next? Animals addicted to Oxycontin?

Prognosis After Attempted Suicide Impaired By Psychiatric Disorder

2008-11-19T23:16:00.000-08:00

People who have attempted suicide at some point in their lives are more likely to actually succeed in committing suicide at a later date. The risk is particularly high for people with serious psychiatric disorder, according to a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.

One in ten suicide attempters actually commit suicide later on in life. However, knowledge of the factors affecting the risk of suicide is limited, which makes it hard to identify, and help, the people who are at the greatest risk.

The study, which followed up people over a period of 21 years or more, also shows that many of the completed suicides were committed in the first years after the first suicide attempt. The short-term prognosis was particularly poor for people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression.

"These results can be of use in acute risk assessments following attempted suicide," says Professor Bo Runeson, who led the study. "Psychiatric disorder is a key factor in the planning of patient aftercare and evaluation. The medical treatment given and the psychological support provided must both take account of the diagnosis and be personalised."

A Raisin for Depression

2008-11-18T23:05:00.000-08:00

That's what a recent study in Australia revealed. It revolves around a single raisin and you're not even supposed to eat it.

Called Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, participants in the study literally stare at the raisin, looking at it very closely and then roll it around in their fingers. Then, they explore the raisin’s ridges and let it crinkle next to their ear. In traditional cognitive therapy, you train to notice negative thoughts that might provoke depression, debate them and try to change their content. But MBCT is about holding your thoughts lightly, not changing the content of the (negative) thought but changing your personal relationship to the thought.

It is thought that the meditation can keep your mind full enough to ward off depression. Also, if you are able to recognize the dangerous thought patterns of depression early enough, you can control your mind before it controls you.

Depression and Divorce: Inevitable?

2008-11-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

Is it really?

The depression itself doesn't lead directly to divorce, experts say. Rather, it is the consequences of not addressing the depression.

We don't usually hear, "I got a divorce because my wife was depressed." Much more typical is: "My spouse became distant and had an affair."

"Depression can lead to other problems," agrees Constance Ahrons, PhD, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and an author and speaker based in San Diego who has researched and written about divorce. Affairs aren't the only problems, she says. Often, one partner may get so depressed he stops working, and that can lead to a cascade of other problems.

But there's hope, mental health experts say, if couples address the depression. Try to understand how it affects each partner, determine its roots, keep communication open, and get professional help if needed.

Depression Can Hamper Glucose Control In People With Diabetes

2008-11-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

If you're diabetic, the worst thing you can do is be depressed. According to a recent study, depression can cause diabetes patients to suffer from higher glucose levels over time compared to those who are not depressed.

Through a combination of diet, exercise and medication, people with type 2 diabetes work to keep their blood glucose levels within a certain range. Past research has shown that those who are also depressed have a tougher time doing so. About 30 percent of adults with diabetes have depression and the combination is linked to poor glucose control, higher complication rates, decreased quality of life and increased risk of death.

It's like adding insult to injury. I guess patients should just try to look at the bright side and remember that it's not the end of the world.

Junk Food May Lower Stress

2008-11-12T22:31:00.000-08:00

I can hear the cheering now! Can this even be real? Apparently, a new Aussie research found that eating junk food that are high in fat and sugar may lower stress levels. Now it may make you calmer but it doesn't mean it's good for you. You have to look at this both ways and somehow find a compromise.

I remember some people I know who would just eat more when they were having problems. Well somehow, these Aussies found a scientific reason as to why we some people eat more when they're depressed.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales gave young rats who had been taken away from their mothers a diet of either junk food or healthy food.

Professor Margaret Morris from the University of New South Wales says they noticed a difference in the animals' behavior.

"What we found was that the animals that had the junk diet were much less anxious than those that who ate the junk food, so what we think is that animals are using junk food to relax themselves," she said.

Animals given the low fat diet had double the stress levels of the junk food eaters.

And while it might seem quite a leap from mice to humans, researchers say brain pathways controlling appetite are similar in both species.

"People do use food in this way as a kind of a medication to soothe themselves," Professor Morris said.

This is probably where we got the term "comfort food". Ironically still, this might just explain why a lot of people fail in their diets.

It's also a coincidence that exercise was also supposed to relieve stress. Now which one really works?

Spirituality Protects Against Depression Better Than Church Attendance

2008-11-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

Those who worship a higher power often do so in different ways. Whether they are active in their religious community, or prefer to simply pray or meditate, new research out of Temple University suggests that a person's religiousness - also called religiosity - can offer insight into their risk for depression.

In a study published on-line this month in Psychological Medicine, lead researcher Joanna Maselko, Sc.D and fellow researchers compared each domain of religiosity to their risk of depression, and were surprised to find that the group with higher levels of religious well-being were 1.5 times more likely to have had depression than those with lower levels of religious well-being.

Maselko theorizes this is because people with depression tend to use religion as a coping mechanism. As a result, they're more closely relating to God and praying more.

Researchers also found that those who attended religious services were 30 percent less likely to have had depression in their lifetime, and those who had high levels of existential well-being were 70 percent less likely to have had depression than those who had low levels of existential well-being.

Maselko says involvement in the church provides the opportunity for community interaction, which could help forge attachments to others, an important factor in preventing depression. She added that those with higher levels of existential-well being have a strong sense of their place in the world.

Maselko admits that researchers have yet to determine which comes first: depression or being religious, but is currently investigating the time sequence of this over people's lives to figure out the answer.

Babies Who Get Incubator Care After Birth Have Lower Risk Of Depression As Adults

2008-11-10T22:18:00.000-08:00

You heard it right, babies who receive incubator care after birth are two to three times less likely to suffer depression as adults according to a new study published in the journal Pyschiatry Research.

Researchers feel that the separation of the baby and the mother is what makes this work. "In mammals, separation between mother and child after birth has always been considered a major stressor that can cause behavioural problems well into adulthood," says coauthor Richard E. Tremblay a professor of psychology, pediatrics and psychiatry at the Université de Montréal and director of the Research Unit on Children's Psycho-Social Maladjustment at the Sainte Justine Hospital Research Center.

"Our hypothesis was that mother-baby separation resulting from incubator care could heighten depression in adolescence or adulthood. Instead, we found that incubator care could decrease the risk of depression two-to-threefold by the age of 21."

Stillbirth And Newborn Deaths Linked To Mental Health

2008-11-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

A new researched has revealed that women with a history of serious mental illness are much more likely to have babies that are stillborn or die within the first month of life. The risk was calculated to be at least twice as much compared to mothers without mental illnesses.

Women with other psychotic illnesses, including mood-affective disorders, manic depression and drug and alcohol addiction, were also shown to have a much greater risk of stillborn and newborn deaths.

The risk of stillbirth due to complications during delivery among women with drug and alcohol problems was more than double that of healthy women.

Women with affective disorders were more than twice as likely to give birth to babies with congenital abnormalities, leading to stillbirth.

Lead researcher Dr Kathryn Abel, working with Danish colleagues at Arhus University, said: "We found that the chances of stillborn or newborn death from all causes were greater for babies whose mothers had a serious mental-health illness.

"For most causes of death, offspring of women with schizophrenia had no greater risk of stillbirth or neonatal death than other psychiatrically-ill mothers," said Dr Abel, who is based in the University's School of Medicine.

"The fact that the link between the cause of death and the illness of the mother varies, suggests that factors other than the mental disorder itself are involved.

"Lifestyle, such as smoking and poor diet, and less antenatal care and poverty can also increase the chances of complication during childbirth. "These findings suggest that further resources are needed to support these vulnerable women and their children."

Altered Response To Pain Shown by Depression Patients

2008-11-06T23:45:00.000-08:00

When anticipating pain, the brains of subjects with major depressive disorder appear to react more strongly, and appear to display altered functioning of the neural network that moderates pain sensitivity.

Patients with depression tended to have increased activation in specific areas of the brain, including the right amygdala, when they anticipated painful stimuli, in comparison to the reactions of the controls. Depressed patients also showed decreased activation in other areas, such as those responsible for modifying pain by adjusting sensitivity, over the course of the painful experience.

The percentage change in activation in the amygdala was then examined in the context of the survey descriptions of helplessness, rumination and victimization, to see if this action was associated with passive coping styles. The authors write that the correlation existed: "Significant positive correlations were observed in the major depressive disorder group between greater helplessness scores and greater activity in the right amygdala during the anticipation of pain."

This study indicates that this association could help elucidate the basis behind the common comorbidity of chronic pain and depression.

MRI Reveals Relationship Between Depression And Pain

2008-11-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

According to a recent study, the brains of individuals with major depressive disorder appear to react more strongly when anticipating pain and also display altered functioning of the neural network that modifies pain sensitivity.

Chronic pain and depression are common and often overlapping syndromes. Recurring or chronic pain occurs in more than 75 percent of patients with depression, and between 30 percent and 60 percent of patients with chronic pain report symptoms of depression. Understanding the neurobiological basis of this relationship is important because the presence of comorbid pain contributes significantly to poorer outcomes and increased cost of treatment in major depressive disorder.

The anticipatory brain response may indicate hypervigilance to impending threat, which may lead to increased helplessness and maladaptative modulation during the experience of heat pain. This mechanism could in part explain the high comorbidity of pain and depression when these conditions become chronic. Future studies that directly examine whether maladaptive response to pain in major depressive disorder is due to emotional allodynia (a pain response to a non-painful stimulus), maladaptive control responses, lack of resilience and/or ineffectual recruitment of positive energy resources will further our understanding of pain-depression comorbidity.

Parents' Wartime Deployment Associated With Children's Behavior Problems

2008-11-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

According to a new report, children ages 3 to 5 with a parent deployed to a war zone appear to exhibit more behavior problems than their peers whose parents are not deployed.

More than 2 million U.S. children have had parents deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan during the wars there, according to background information in the article. About 40 percent of these children are younger than 5. Recent policy statements from the American Psychological Association and the Department of Defense Task Force on Mental Health have called for research on the effect of wartime deployments on children in military families.

It is a big possibility since it can make the kids worry. Actually, it can make anyone depressed. Just the thought of not seeing a loved one again is painful enough.

Of the 169 families, 55 (33 percent) had a deployed parent, with an average deployment length of 3.9 months. Children age 3 and older who had a deployed parent had significantly higher scores on measures of externalizing and overall behavior problems than children of the same age without a deployed parent. Such reported differences might be dismissed as distorted perceptions of the child by the distressed non-deployed parent; however, the association remained after controlling for parental stress and depressive symptoms. In addition, childcare providers reported similarly elevated scores.

Predicting Depression In People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

2008-11-03T18:35:00.000-08:00

Disability and a recent diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with a greater risk for depression according to research funded by the Arthritis Foundation and presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco.

Studies show that people with RA who are depressed have worse outcomes - including death - as compared to people with RA who are not depressed. Previous studies regarding RA and depression included a primarily Caucasian population. To remedy this bias, scientists from University of California, San Francisco, designed a study to evaluate predictors of depression in patients from a multiethnic group of people with RA at an urban hospital.

Of the 210 people with RA enrolled in the study, 39 percent had scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 that indicated at least moderate depression. Patient-, disease-, and treatment-related information was gathered to see if any of these factors are associated with depression. The study found that race/ethnicity, disease activity and medications are not associated with depression. The variables associated with depression are shorter disease duration and increased disability as scored on the Health Assessment Questionnaire.

Lead scientist Mary Margaretten, MD, says, "RA affects people both physically and psychologically. Given that comorbid depressive symptoms are known to worsen health outcomes, it is useful to parse out the determinants of depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis."

Program To Engage School Leaders In Teen Suicide Prevention

2008-11-02T23:06:00.000-08:00

In Wyoming, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youths aged 15-19. That is why the department of health is beginning a new program with public and private partners to help address the role of schools in youth suicide prevention.

"Because we are a community here in Wyoming it hurts us all when our youth lose faith in their future and consider suicide as their only option," says Keith Hotle, suicide prevention team leader with the Wyoming Department of Health's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division. "That's why it's important to act aggressively and strategically to counter these tragic and avoidable deaths."

The initiative known as Well AwareTM, is designed to inform education leaders and policy influencers about the link between emotional wellbeing and academic achievement. The program includes an online and print quarterly bulletin for school leaders, including school board members, superintendents, principals and central office administration.

This is a big step towards prevention and I hope other regions will adopt this program as well. It isn't only Wyoming that's having a problem with this but most of the world. I sincerely hope that we learn a lot from what they started and eventually have our own.

Depression During Pregnancy Can Double Risk Of Preterm Delivery

2008-10-28T20:24:00.000-07:00

Depressed pregnant women have twice the risk of preterm delivery than pregnant women with no symptoms of depression, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. The study is published online in the Oxford University Press's journal Human Reproduction on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

The study found that pregnant women with symptoms of depression have an increased risk of preterm delivery, and that the risk grows with the severity of the depressive symptoms. These findings also provide preliminary evidence that social and reproductive risk factors, obesity, and stressful events may exacerbate the depression-preterm delivery link, according to the researchers.

Because the majority of the women in the study did not use anti-depressants, the study provides a clear look at the link between depression and preterm delivery.

The study -- which is among the first to examine depression and pre-term delivery in a representative and diverse population in the United States -- looked at 791 pregnant Kaiser Permanente members in San Francisco city and county from October 1996 through October 1998.

Researchers interviewed the women around their 10th week of pregnancy and found that 41 percent of the women reported significant or severe depressive symptoms. The women with less severe depressive symptoms had a 60 percent higher risk of preterm delivery -- defined as delivery at less than 37 completed weeks of gestation -- compared with women without significant depressive symptoms, and the women with severe depressive symptoms had more than twice the risk.

"Preterm delivery is the leading cause of infant mortality, and yet we don't know what causes it. What we do know is that a healthy pregnancy requires a healthy placenta, and that placental function is influenced by hormones, which are in turn influenced by the brain," said lead author Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland.

"This study adds to emerging evidence that depression during early pregnancy may interfere with the neuroendocrine pathways and subsequently placental function. The placenta and neuroendocrine functions play an important role in maintaining the health of a pregnancy and determining the onset of labor," Li explained.

"Post-partum depression has been extensively studied and discussed by the public, but depression during pregnancy is significantly under-recognized and under-diagnosed. Clinicians should pay close attention to depression during pregnancy to catch it early," Li said. "If prenatal depression is indeed as prevalent as reported in this and other studies and doubles the risk of preterm delivery, then bringing depression to the forefront of prenatal care could lead to a significant reduction of preterm deliveries."

In addition to being the leading cause of infant mortality and morbidity, preterm delivery is also the leading medical expenditure for infants, with estimated annual cost of about $26 billion in the United States alone. Presently, other than a prior history of preterm delivery and some pregnancy complications, very little is known for its risk factors and origins.

"The key strengths of this study are that it ascertained the depressive symptoms early in pregnancy, long before the preterm delivery occurred, therefore avoiding recall bias. In addition, the study was not clouded by antidepressant use because only 1.5 percent of the study population was prescribed antidepressants and we could exclude them in the analyses," Li said. "Considering the increased use of antidepressants among pregnant women, this study's findings may provide a rare opportunity to evaluate the effect of depression on risk of preterm delivery without the entanglements of antidepressants."

Just last February, my wife also gave birth to a preterm baby. He was two months early when he came out. I admit that during my wife's pregnancy, she was feeling down. I can't really say depressed but she wasn't happy, that's for sure. Now, I feel like it's my fault why she gave birth earlier than expected.

Youth from Poor Neighborhoods are 4 Times More Likely to Commit Suicide

2008-10-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

According to a recent study, it was found that youth in their late teens are four times more likely to commit suicide than those who live in better neighborhoods. It was also found that these kids from poor neighborhoods were twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts.

The study showed that late teens from disadvantaged neighborhoods had higher levels of depressive symptoms along with lower levels of social support. Although it is not entirely clear why this is so. It is thought that they were more vulnerable because difficult events, such as personally knowing someone who has committed suicide or experiencing a painful breakup with a romantic partner, apparently led to increased suicidal thoughts or attempts," says Véronique Dupéré, lead author and a post-doctoral fellow at Tufts University who completed the research at the Université de Montréal. "In other words, difficult events seemed to have a more dramatic impact on these teenagers."

With they way the economy has been shaping lately, it can be a disturbing thought that we might expect more of these as harder times arrive. All we can do is hope and pray.

Genomic Changes Discovered In The Brains Of People Who Commit Suicide

2008-10-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

Are genes destiny? Alternatively, are we simply the products of our environment? There is a growing sense that neither of these two possibilities fully captures the essence of the risk for psychiatric disorders.

There are an increasing variety of epigenetic mechanisms that have been described, including the regulation of gene function via the methylation or demethylation of DNA. The study by Drs. Michael Poulter and Hymie Anisman and colleagues in the October 15th issue of Biological Psychiatry illustrates one exciting new example in this area of research, an epigenetic study of depression/suicide. The researchers compared the brain tissues of those who had major depressive disorder and committed suicide to those from a control group who died suddenly, from heart attacks and other causes.

They found the genome in people who have committed suicide as a result of major depression was being chemically modified by a process that is normally involved in regulating cell development. As Poulter explains, "We have about 40,000 genes in every cell and the only reason a skin cell becomes a skin cell as opposed to a heart cell is because only a fraction of the genes are being expressed, and the other genes not being expressed are shut down by this genetic process of DNA methylation." The rate of methylation in the suicide brains was found to be nearly ten times that of the control group, and the gene being shut down was a neurotransmitter receptor that plays a major role in regulating behavior. John H. Krystal, M.D., Editor of Biological Psychiatry and affiliated with both Yale University School of Medicine and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, comments, "This is exciting new evidence that genetic and environmental factors may interact to produce specific and long-lasting modifications in brain circuits. Further, these modifications may shape the course of one's life in extremely important ways, including increasing the risk for major depressive disorder and perhaps suicide."

"The whole idea that the genome is so malleable in the brain is surprising, because brain cells don't divide. You get dealt your neurons at the start of life, so the idea that there are still epigenetic mechanisms going on is pretty unusual," adds Poulter. The authors note that these observations open an entirely new avenue of research and potential therapeutic interventions.

Scary thought, huh? Like, you could never run away from being crazy.

10 Common Signs of Teen Depression

2008-10-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

We may not know or notice it but sometimes what we think are just temporary mood swings in our teens are actually signs of depression already. Knowing the signs can be very important for us.

1. Some teens who are feeling depressed will show signs of sadness. They may show this by dressing up gloomily in black clothes or write poems based on morbid subjects. They may start preferring depressing music and even cry without any reason. This is one of the very obvious depression symptoms and parents should not have any difficulty in recognizing the underlying state of depression.

2. Feelings of hopelessness can cause depression in teens. At some point a teen may think that life is not worth living and this will reflect in their indifference to their personal appearance and hygiene. They get the idea that a particular negative situation is here to stay and they develop a pessimistic view of life.

3. Some teens suffering from depression will express a sense of boredom and will have low levels of energy. They will avoid school or miss classes. This will reflect in their lower grades. A sudden drop in academic performance should raise the red flag for parents. When my daughter was 13 she suddenly started complaining of being bored with everything and started keeping to herself. We had a frank discussion and I persuaded her to consult a therapist who had treated me earlier and was known to our family. He diagnosed depression. Fortunately the therapy for depression and some medications helped and now she is completely out of it.

4. The sudden lack of communication and avoidance of social events and gatherings by teen who were earlier quite sociable may indicate depression. Teens suffering from depression may suddenly drop out of sports activities and clubs. This isolation may not always be total and sometimes it may involve drifting towards a different group and less communication with parents. Enthusiasm for activities that they found exciting earlier will not seem much fun anymore.

5. Depression may sometimes cause feelings of inadequacy, failure, shame and ugliness in teens. Their sense of self worth and self esteem is lowered. They will feel that they are not good enough and will give up very soon. This lowering of self esteem can affect overall performance which in turn will lower their self esteem even more.

6. rather than showing less energy some depressed teens may show the reverse emotions of irritability, aggressive behavior, short temper and hostility towards friends and family who show sympathy towards them. As a defensive response they will try to reject those close to them before being rejected themselves. They will become sarcastic, critical and abusive.

7. On the physical side depressed teens may fall ill frequently complaining of stomachaches and headaches. Back pains, nausea and dizziness are also common physical symptoms. Other symptoms include menstrual problems.

8. Lack of concentration can also be caused by depression. These teens who had no such problem earlier will suddenly find it difficult to concentrate in school and while studying. In fact they will even find concentrating on conversations and TV programs rather difficult. The performance of a good student will show a sudden decline.

9. Depression in teens may even cause sudden changes in sleeping and eating patterns. These children may start watching TV all night and feel sleepy during daytime. Lack of appetite may result in bulimia or anorexia. On the other hand they may indulge in binge eating leading to obesity.

10 The most serious problem arising from teen depression is a suicidal tendency. Any talk of suicide, or ending life by teens should be taken seriously by parents. Also if there are any signs of self-injury or violent behavior professional help parents should seek professional help.

Depression May Be Contagious During Troubled Times

2008-10-16T00:32:00.000-07:00

More Koreans are showing symptoms of depression amid the economic crisis and a spate of recent celebrity suicides.

Psychiatrist Lee Chang-han said the number of depression sufferers he has seen has nearly doubled over the last few weeks. Fellow psychiatrist Park Jin-seng said the number of people suffering from depression for economic reasons has soared.

◆ Depression is contagious.

Experts warn that a kind of "collective depression" in Korean society has reached serious proportions. Ha ji-hyun, a professor of psychiatry at Konkuk University Medical Center said depression usually associated with middle-aged people is spreading, and now more and more people in their 20s and 30s are affected. He added many young people are also suffering from the illness in the wake of the economic recession.

Kim Ho-ki, a professor of sociology at Yonsei University, said, "It's natural that the number of depression sufferers increases amid rampant individualism. The big problem is society's failure to embrace or help people with depression."

Experts are advising people to look at things cool-headedly. "Readjust your life goals to a realistic level, and reduce the risk of psychological impact." Ha said.

Kim Chung-woon, a professor of cultural psychology at Myongji University, advises moving a lot. “If you move your body, you will have a different perception of environments and a different way of accepting your own situation."

Inactive Teens are at Risk of Behavioral Problems

2008-10-15T00:49:00.000-07:00

In adolescents, physical inactivity is associated with emotional and behavioral problems, suggests a Finnish study of more than 7,000 teenagers who took part in a survey that assessed their levels of physical activity and mental and emotional health.

Boys who reported less than one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week had more symptoms of anxiety, withdrawal and depression than boys who were more active. Inactive girls had similar problems, and were more likely than inactive boys to also report sleep problems and rule-breaking behaviors.

Both inactive boys and girls were more likely than active peers to have social and attention problems.

"Adolescence is already a complicated and sometimes difficult stage of life -- emotionally, mentally and physically," study author Marko T. Kantomaa said in an American College of Sports Medicine news release.

"Compounding that with negative mental and emotional effects brought on by physical inactivity does not help young people ease into adulthood. Physical activity could be a highly effective and relatively easy way to help that transition and could, in addition, lead to establishment of lifelong healthy habits," Kantomaa said.

The researchers noted that a growing body of evidence suggests that an increase in physical activity helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in both adolescents and adults.

"It seems that there is a psychological and physiological connection that, when operating together, help explain the beneficial effects of exercise on mental health," Kantomaa said.

This can be very disturbing for parents with kids who would rather stay at home watching tv or playing computer games. I think parents today should start re-introducing their kids to sports and outdoor activities. Basically show them how cool it was then to be active.

Older Diabetics With Depression Face Higher Death Rate

2008-10-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

According to a new study, diabetics with depression face higher death rate. Publishing in the October issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers from the University of Washington tracked 10,704 Medicare beneficiaries (average age of 75.6 years) who had diabetes and were enrolled in a disease management program in Florida. The participants' depression status was assessed by physician diagnosis, patient reports of antidepressant use, and answers to a brief screening test.

The researchers followed the participants for two years and recorded any deaths and causes of death that took place during that time.

The participants who had both diabetes and depression had an approximately 36 percent to 38 percent increased risk of dying from any cause. A total of 12.1 percent of these participants died during the study, compared with 10.4 percent of the participants without depression.

Participants who were treated with antidepressant medications in the year prior to the study had a 24 percent increased risk of death, compared to the participants who were not depressed. The study's authors suspect that the participants treated with antidepressants may have had more severe depression than other mildly depressed participants.

There was no difference in the incidence of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events between the participants who took antidepressants and those who were not depressed.

"Rates of mortality from vascular disease may be decreasing in recent years among patients with diabetes due to more aggressive treatment of high blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels, as well as widespread use of preventative medications such as aspirin and beta blockers," the researchers surmised.

The study's authors said there were several reasons why depression was associated with increased risk of death among the participants in their study.

First, depression has been associated with poor self-care and increased risk of poor health habits such as smoking and overeating. And, depression has been linked with nervous system disorders, endocrine system disorders, and inflammatory markers.

The authors noted that their study has certain limitations. The participants were selected from only one area of the United States, and the follow-up period was relatively short. And the study did not collect information on education, income, weight, smoking habits, physical activity, or compliance in taking medications.

Article is from The American Academy of Family Physicians

St. John's Wort Helps Some Patients With Major Depression

2008-10-13T00:42:00.000-07:00

Take note that the effects are on a case to case basis. Contrary to a recent post on the web that St. John's Wort doesn't work, it does. But not for all.

The herbal medicine St. John's wort appears to work just as well as some prescribed antidepressants for treating patients with major depression, a new review finds. However, patients in German-speaking countries might experience the best benefits.

While there is public interest in the United States about whether St. John's wort adequately treats depression, in some countries, like Germany, doctors commonly prescribe it for mild symptoms. Authors of the review found that studies with German patients did, in fact, have the best results.

"The most striking finding from our review is that trials from German-speaking countries have clearly more positive effects, both compared to placebo and standard antidepressants, than trials from elsewhere," said lead reviewer Klaus Linde of the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at Technical University in Munich. "In principle, we can say that hypericum extracts work in German-speaking countries, but we are less certain for other countries."

Exactly how the herb works to treat depression is unclear, partly because the extracts can contain at least seven groups of components, according to the reviewers. There is also no regulation on what the extract must contain.

"There is no patent protection on herbs; therefore, more or less anyone can market hypericum extracts," Linde said. "The products on the market vary enormously in their quality and content in active ingredients."

I really think they should have more study regarding the German market because it seems that their mix is the most effective. Hopefully, they can make a working mix that everyone can use. If they can do it, then this will be a major breakthrough for natural medicine as opposed to chemical drugs.

Teen Depression Can Become Life-long But is Usually Short-lived

2008-10-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

Teenage depression is widespread and can become a life-long illness, but is more often transitory, said UCLA Psychology Professor Constance Hammen.

"Adolescent depression can be as high as 20 percent or higher," said Hammen, who has studied depression for more than 30 years. "While these numbers are alarming, and depression can be impairing, most of the depressions will be short-lived and most of these kids will not go on to have further depression.

"Many things can make teenagers depressed, but in about 60 percent of the cases, the depression does not foretell future depression. Of those who have adolescent depression, perhaps 40 percent will have recurring depression, and many of those will likely be life-long."

Parents normally cannot see their child's depression. "Parents often don't pick up on inner despair or distress, and notice depression mainly as irritability or loss of enjoyment of activities their kids used to enjoy," Hammen said. "If it goes on for a month, I think the parent should pay more attention and not just dismiss the behavior as part of adolescence."

"A lot of people think depression stems from a weakness in character, and that you should just keep a stiff upper lip," Hammen said. "It's a myth. People cannot simply will depression away. It can be a serious impairment, and may require treatment. It's not a weakness of will."

Sometimes, we have to be more sensitive to our child's needs small they may be. We never know, we might have started depression in our child without knowing it.

Researchers To Study Depression And Disability In Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients

2008-10-09T00:14:00.000-07:00

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It gradually destroys sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. In some cases, the disease advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, it progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.

"Vision loss in the elderly is a major risk factor for depression. The disease robs older persons of their ability to perform everyday activities and limits their independence," said Dr. Rovner. "The loss of these abilities and having to give up valued activities can lead to depression. We want to find ways to improve the vision skills of people with AMD and thereby prevent depression."

The Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial will test a combined treatment to prevent depression and disability associated with AMD. It will test the efficacy of a low vision rehabilitation and psychological intervention program designed to treat/prevent depression in patients diagnosed with the disease by helping them maintain their independence and participation in enjoyable activities. The study consists of two low vision optometry visits, in which specially trained optometrists will evaluate visual function and develop a rehabilitative plan; and six in-home occupational therapy visits where low-vision occupational therapists will teach compensatory strategies to improve visual ability and administer a behavioral treatment to activate subjects and enable them to remain engaged in valued activities.

"Vision loss in the elderly is extremely distressing, significantly impacts quality of life, and is a risk factor for nursing home placement," said Dr. Casten. "Finding ways to help these patients maintain their independence and engagement with life is key to promoting successful aging."

Adapted from the original press release

"Hope Therapy" Fights Depression

2008-10-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

In this day and age of "popping a pill", a recent study suggests that there is a potent way to fight symptoms of depression that doesn’t involve getting a prescription.

The secret weapon? Hope!

Yes, you heard it right. “We’re finding that hope is consistently associated with fewer symptoms of depression. And the good news is that hope is something that can be taught, and can be developed in many of the people who need it,” said Jennifer Cheavens, assistant professor of psychology at Ohio State University.

Cheavens measures hope in people using a 12-item questionnaire developed by her mentor, the late C.R. Snyder of the University of Kansas. In this measure, hope has two components: a map or pathway to get what you want, and the motivation and strength to follow that path.

“If you feel you know how to get what you want out of life, and you have that desire to make that happen, then you have hope,” Cheavens said.

Hope is different from optimism, which is a generalized expectancy that good things will happen, she said. Hope involves having goals, along with the desire and plan to achieve them.

The potential of hope as a way to fight depression is apparent in a recent study of patients and caregivers that Cheavens discussed in her APA presentation.

This is great news for us knowing that hope can be a lifesaver after all.

Higher Rates Of Symptoms Of Depression And Anxiety In People With MS Confirmed

2008-10-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Researchers in Norway found symptoms of depression and anxiety to be significantly higher among people with MS compared with those without MS. This study provides important data on the occurrence of emotional changes in people with MS, and the necessity to increase treatment of these symptoms.

Emotional changes are very common in MS, both as a reaction to the stress of living with a chronic, unpredictable illness and because of neurologic changes caused by the disease. Severe depression, mood swings, irritability, and episodes of uncontrollable laughing and crying pose significant challenges for people with MS and their family members.

A total of 31.4% of people with MS reported symptoms of depression, significantly higher than the 16.1% reported in the general population; 19.3% of people with MS had anxiety, significantly higher than the 10.9% among controls.

In the group with MS, fatigue and younger age at onset were significantly associated with symptoms of depression. Symptoms of anxiety were associated with fatigue and pain, less disease activity and younger age at onset. Compared to those without fatigue, those with fatigue were almost four times as likely to have depressive symptoms and more than five times as likely to have symptoms of anxiety. In addition, individuals with pain were more than four times as likely to have symptoms of anxiety. Only 15.9% reported having undergone treatment for depression and 11.1% for anxiety. Of untreated people who reported having these symptoms, 18.2% expressed the need for treatment.

"Symptoms of depression and anxiety both independently and in interaction with other MS symptoms affect patients' functioning," write the authors. "Thus, depressive and anxiety symptoms have to be identified and treated, and not interpreted as a natural and inevitable consequence of the disease course."

From the National MS Society

Techy, Computer-Based Depression Treatment Coming Soon

2008-10-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Computers are really the way to go these days and it seems that it's really destines to be a part of everyone's life. Enter the new computer-based depression treatment.

Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an interactive, multi-media program that will assist astronauts in recognizing and effectively managing depression and other psychosocial problems, which can pose a substantial threat to crew safety and mission operations during long-duration spaceflights. Although initially made for NASA, they believe it can also do good right here on earth.

The system's multi-media approach for depression includes graphics and video featuring a psychologist who leads the user through a straightforward process called Problem-Solving Treatment. The system provides feedback based upon the information provided when answering a series of questions.

The first step of the process is to make a problem list and select a problem on which to work. The second and third steps are setting goals and brainstorming ways to reach them. The final two steps are assessing the pros and cons of possible solutions and making an action plan to implement them. The program also helps users plan and schedule enjoyable activities, which people who have depression often stop doing. Additionally, the program provides preventative and educational information on depression. Hopefully, very soon, depression help will only be a mouse-click away.

Restless Nights Put Older Adults At Risk For Depression Recurrence

2008-10-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Nearly 60 percent of the nation's elderly have trouble sleeping, whether it's a lot of tossing and turning or outright bouts of insomnia. While for most people sleeplessness can be annoying at best or unhealthy at worst, for elderly individuals who have suffered from depression in the past, poor sleep may be the first sign that a new bout of depression is coming on.

"Insomnia is the most frequent sleep disturbance in depressed patients and is viewed as a symptom of current depression," said Irwin, who also directs the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. "But when sleep disturbances begin to emerge in an otherwise healthy adult who has experienced depression in the past, we found that it may serve as a precursor to another attack of depression."

This is a very good study with one major problem. Most cases of insomnia are attributed to getting old. So how do you pick out the depressed ones from the lot?

To identify older adults at risk for depression, Irwin said, a two-step strategy can be employed. One step involves assessment of whether individuals have had a prior episode of depression, the other whether they have current and ongoing sleep disturbance.

"Given that sleep disturbance is a modifiable risk factor," he said, "these findings tell us that we need to develop treatments that target sleep disturbances for the prevention of depression recurrence in older adults."

Smoking Causes Depression

2008-10-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

We often see depressed people "self-medicate" with cigarettes. But Melbourne researchers have discovered hard evidence that smoking can cause depression as well as being a symptom of it, with heavy smokers nearly twice as likely to develop the illness than non-smokers.
Although this study involved only women, they're following it up with a study with males. "There will be hormonal variations but we suspect we'll get similar worrisome results with men," according to researchers.

The group hopes to do a clinical trial to determine if tossing out the cigarettes helps people with depression. But it did find that "the more you smoke, the more likely you are to become depressed at some point in your life".

Biological psychiatrist Jayashri Kulkarni welcomed the research, reported online yesterday in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

"This is a very important piece of work that strongly underlines the need for smoking cessation for people with mental illness," said Professor Kulkarni, of the Monash Alfred Psychiatric Research Centre at Melbourne's Alfred hospital.

Professor Kulkarni, who was not part of the team, agreed with Professor Pasco that smoking may trigger depression by "dysregulating" the activity of dopamine, a brain chemical linked to addiction and depression. "If so, then this work has implications for all sorts of psychiatric illnesses for which dopamine is a main pathway, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder," Professor Kulkarni said.

Both researchers suggested smoking might increase the likelihood of depression because it also produces tissue-damaging compounds called free radicals.

Along with Professor Pasco's colleague Michael Berk, Professor Kulkarni reported last July that a safe and readily available antioxidant called N-acetyl cysteine dramatically reduced some symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Acupuncture Taking The Pressure Off Today's Emotional Stresses

2008-09-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, more and more people have been turning to traditional acupuncture to ease the symptoms caused by the emotional strains of everyday life.

A recent survey reveals that the tolls of the 21st century are affecting younger people with under-40s seeking traditional acupuncture treatment for emotional issues such as depression, stress and anxiety. 57% of those citing emotional issues are under 40 - a third of who are men.

Life has been really tough lately and it seems to be taking its toll on more and more people. It has been revealed that the top three emotional issues for which acupuncture treatment is sought are depression (18%), anxiety (13%) and insomnia (10%) with stress following closely behind.

At least one person in every six becomes depressed in the course of their lives. One in 20 is clinically depressed. This is the sad truth in today's society. Dealing with our daily lives is not as easy as it used to be. Good thing there are treatments we can turn to such as acupuncture.

Distinguishing A Bad Mood From Depression In Teenagers

2008-09-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

The teenage years can be time of extremes. So how do you pinpoint the typical teenage mood swings and rebellion from the real deal?

We all know that depression can strike at any age, it has been noted that it affects teens more than young children. Symptoms can start appearing at age 13 and usually peaks between 16 to 24 years of age. Yet depression can be difficult to diagnose in young people, because symptoms seldom involve mood alone. One study concluded that fewer than half of teen patients suffered mainly from depressive symptoms. More often, they developed a mix of mood and behavioral problems, for example, agitation, anxiety, attention difficulties, or defiant behaviors.

Dr. Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, says experts have identified the following ways to distinguish mood swings from depression in adolescents:

Severity - The more pronounced the symptoms (changes in mood, behaviors, feelings, thoughts), the more likely that the problem is depression and not a passing mood.
Duration - Any deterioration in behavior or mood that lasts two weeks or longer, without a break, may indicate depression.
Domains - Problems noticed in several areas of a teen's functioning-at home, in school, and in interactions with friends-may indicate depression.

If you notice these from your child, you should consider taking a closer look at the problem. It may be more serious than we think.

Antidepressants Linked to 2 Kinds of Diabetes

2008-09-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

While analyzing data from Saskatchewan health databases, Lauren Brown, researcher with the U of A's School of Public Health, found people with a history of depression had a 30 per cent increased risk of type 2 Diabetes.

In the study, the group was divided into four categories. Those who took antidepressants that were considered older therapies, patients who were using newer treatments, those using a combination of both an old and new treatments and people who were switching medications.

It was found that the risk of diabetes almost doubled for the patients who were using two types of therapies at the same time, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

It is believed that the results of this study demonstrates an increased risk in of type 2 diabetes in people with depression, emphasize the need for regular screening for type 2 diabetes in people with depression, particularly those taking more than one antidepressant.

Really, would you even consider taking drugs to cure your depression? We have news everyday of so many negative things that are connected to the use of drugs for healing. Hopefully, we all have opened our eyes and make the switch to natural means.

Surviving Depression

2008-09-24T22:10:00.001-07:00

When you're doing your best trying to get over the depression hill, there will be times when you hit a speed bump of some sort. Nobody's perfect and it is a fact that getting your life back on track can be very exhausting. Well, this article is to give you a few advices on what you can do to avoid making the speed bump a permanent one.

Remind yourself of ONE thing: you are not your depression. This state of pain or panic is not an integral part of you, and it is not your fault. And it will go.
Tell ONE friend how you're feeling. You may feel awkward at first, but this is exactly what good friends are for.
Figure out ONE thing that someone has done that might have triggered your current feelings, and let them know not to do it again.
Tell someone ONE thing they could do to meet a need of yours, whether it's inviting you out to the movies or pouring you a cup of tea or coffee.
Take ONE walk today, optimally in a park or natural setting, and notice anything that strikes you're a colorful, pleasing to your senses or beautiful.
Take ONE minute to talk to your Higher Power, God, guardian angel or Universal Spirit--however you think of this kindly presence, even if you don't really believe in it. Offer this presence your gratitude, plea for help or even your anger-don't hold back any emotion at all.

Depression in Young Adults Linked to Insomnia

2008-09-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

A recent study confirms the persistent nature of insomnia and the increased risk of subsequent depression among individuals with insomnia.

The study, conducted by Jules Angst, MD, of Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital in Switzerland, focused on 591 young adults, whose psychiatric, physical, and sleep symptoms were assessed with six interviews spanning 20 years. Four duration-based subtypes of insomnia were distinguished: one-month insomnia associated with significant distress, two-to-three-week insomnia, recurrent brief insomnia, and occasional brief insomnia.

Based on the results, the annual prevalence of one-month insomnia increased gradually over time, with a cumulative prevalence rate of 20 percent and a greater than two-fold risk among women. In 40 percent of subjects, insomnia developed into more chronic forms over time. Insomnia either with or without comorbid depression was highly stable over time. Insomnia lasting two weeks or longer predicted major depressive episodes and major depressive disorder at subsequent interviews. Seventeen to 50 percent of subjects with insomnia lasting two weeks or longer developed a major depressive episode reported in a later interview. "Pure" insomnia and "pure" depression were not longitudinally related to each other, whereas insomnia comorbid with depression was longitudinally related to both.

It was thought before that insomnia was a symptom of depression but lately, it has gotten a second look and it seems that it is not just a symptom but has seem more like it precedes depression. To put it simply, people with insomnia but no depression may actually have a higher chance of developing depression.

Obesity And Depression May Be Linked

2008-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

A study revealed that people who are obese are more likely to be depressed and people who are depressed are also more likely to become obese. People who are obese may be more likely to become depressed because they experience themselves as in poor health and are dissatisfied with their appearance. This occurrence was particularly prevalent among women and those of high socio-economic status. People who are depressed may be more likely to become obese because of physiological changes in their hormone and immune systems that occur in depression. Also, they have more difficulty taking good care of themselves because of symptoms and consequences of depression, such as difficulty adhering to fitness regiments, overeating, and having negative thoughts.

The only way to help ease both of these problems at probably the same time is to start doing exercises. We know for a fact that exercise can make us physically fit while recent studies have also shown that exercise can help curb depression.

Teenagers And Anxiety Disorders

2008-09-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

Is it possible for scientists to predict who will develop anxiety disorders years in advance? UCLA psychology professor Michelle Craske thinks so. She is now 4 years into the most comprehensive study about identifying risk factors for the development of anxiety and depression.

Craske and her colleagues are finding that neuroticism - the tendency to experience negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, sadness or anger, is a powerful predictor of both anxiety and depression. Researchers have reported that teenagers who are high in neuroticism appear to become unnecessarily anxious in ways that are out of proportion with actual circumstances.

These findings suggest that anxiety and risk for anxiety in children are associated with "elevated excitatory responding to 'threat' cues and impaired inhibition of responses to 'safe' cues," according to Craske. The latter finding parallels the findings of unnecessary anxiety to conditions surrounding threatening events in adolescents high in neuroticism.

Craske and her colleagues have developed treatments for anxiety disorders in adults, including a computer-assisted form of cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people to change their anxious behaviors and anxious appraisals. She has a third NIMH-funded study, of more than 1,000 patients at primary care clinics near four sites - UCLA, UC San Diego, the University of Washington, and the University of Arkansas - who have an anxiety disorder. Patients learn skills to reduce fear and anxiety by confronting their fears and learning to reappraise situations so they are no longer judged to be dangerous.

Hopefully, this study will shed new light into the mystery of depression. This will be able to help countless of children as they grow up.

"Runner's High" a Cure Against Depression?

2008-09-17T18:12:00.001-07:00

In a recent post we saw how the possibility of exercising can help cure depression. Today, we take a closer look at phenylethylamine or PEA, a natural stimulant produced by the body. It is related to amphetamines but does not have the long-lasting effects that make "speed" or "ice" such deadly drugs.

It has been noted that exercise can increase the amount of PEA in the body while those people who are depressed tend to have lower amounts. This is probably the first explanation why exercise has a natural antidepressant action and why it causes the euphoric mood often called "runners' high."

Although this is also not a guarantee since there are different results for different people. Some will respond to exercise, some won't. But you know, there's no harm in trying and you'll always get the benefit of being healthy after your exercise.

Feeling Depressed? Eat Up!

2008-09-16T19:18:00.001-07:00

There are times when we feel down. Maybe a mood swing? Most of us do have that feeling at some point in our lives. Well, eating up can help us get over it. However, if you feel that you are feeling low on a regular or much frequent basis, it might be a reason for concern. Recurrent gloominess and melancholy is one of the major signs of depression. It is very necessary to recognize them in early stages and take corrective measures, lest they get out of control and develop into severe depression. One of the best ways to fight depression is by consuming the right diet.

Here is a list of what you should have more in your diet to be more cheerful.

Vitamin B

It has been seen that foods rich in B vitamins has a positive effect on the mood of a person. Even low folate and thiamin levels in the body have been associated with depression. In other words, a diet rich in folate and thiamin can help you fight the blues. So start having fruits and vegetables like spinach, asparagus, avocados, sweet potatoes, navy beans, bananas, black beans, watermelon, etc, along with whole-wheat breads & meats.

Iron

If you feel sullen and morose all the time, it is possible that you are suffering from iron deficiency. Apart from pale skin, lethargy and low concentration, depression or low mood is another symptom of iron-deficiency anemia. In such a case, you should start having foods that are rich in iron. This will include apples, legumes, fortified cereals, quinoa, kale and other green leafy vegetables, along with vitamin C-rich food items like lemon juice.

Selenium

Selenium has long been renowned as a cancer-fighting food. However, very few are aware of the fact that a diet rich in selenium can help you fight the symptoms of depression too. It has been seen that people consuming a low selenium diet are often grouchier than those who have a high selenium intake. Start eating foods like seafood, poultry, mushrooms, sea vegetables and wheat, and see the difference!

Carbohydrates

Studies have revealed that people who have a diet rich in carbohydrates are able to handle stress in a much better way than those who consume foods low in carbohydrates. It is believed that carbohydrate diet raises the level of tryptophan in the brain, which helps the body in making serotonin, the "happy" neurotransmitter. So, next time you feel too bogged down by work pressure, try having white bread, cereals, pasta, rice, potatoes, and the like.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

More than 50 percent of our brain is made up of fats. The right kind of fats, if consumed in appropriate amounts, can help it in running smoothly. On the other hand, a low-fat diet or a diet rich in wrong kind of fats can play havoc with it. Omega-3 fatty acids are the ones that have been associated with boosting the mood of an individual and driving depression away. If you are feeling down, try and indulge in seafoods, like salmon, tuna or mackerel fish, along with nut oils.

Depression Increases Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease

2008-09-15T23:01:00.000-07:00

This study has given us more reason to stay away from depression. A total of 486 people aged 60 to 90 who had no dementia. 134 people had experienced at least one episode of depression that prompted them to seek medical advice.

The participants were then followed for an average period of 6 years and during that time, 33 people developed Alzheimer's disease. It showed that people who experienced depression was 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease than those who have never experienced depression.

Although the connection is still not clear, one theory was that depression leads to loss of cells in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which then contributes to Alzheimer's disease. But this study found no difference in the size of these two brain areas between people with depression and people who had never had depression.

If this study proves the connection, then we might as well start smiling and try forgetting our problems.

Depression and Anxiety Relieved by Incense

2008-09-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

Looks like incense isn't just for hippies and members of certain religions after all. Recent study has shown that it can actually help relieve depression and anxiety. Many religious traditions have held to the notion that burning frankincense incense (made out of resin from the Boswellia plant) is good for the soul and now, it is also apparently good for the brain.

This is good news for the millions who are looking for non-drug alternatives in fighting depression and anxiety. According to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15 to 44 and affects about 14.8 million American adults. Anxiety disorders, which often go along with depression, affect 40 million Americans.

In spite of information stemming from ancient texts, constituents of Boswellia had not been investigated for psycho-activity. It was found that incensole acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent, when tested in mice lowers anxiety and causes antidepressive-like behavior.

This study provides a biological explanation for millennia-old spiritual practices that have persisted across time, distance, culture, language, and religion. What are you waiting for? Light one up and feel warm and tingly all over!

Can Exercise Cure Depression?

2008-09-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have shown that elderly people who have depression have shown improvement by doing 30 minute exercises three times a week compared to those who do not or those who do but take anti-depression drugs. The benefits of exercise are also likely to endure, particularly among those who adopt it as a regular, ongoing life activity.

Although it is still not clear as to how exercise can improve depression, it has been theorized that exercise raises the levels of chemicals in the brain that are known to elevate mood. Serotonin (an antidepressant), norepinephrine (an adrenaline-like protein) and endorphins (natural pain killers) all rise with sustained physical activity.

There are also other factors that come to play like increase in socialization as it creates purpose and structure and provides a change of scenery and environment — each proven to make people feel better about themselves.

There is no specific exercise that one needs to do but it would be wise to take on something that actually interests you. That will most probably make you stick to your program.

Start exercising now and start feeling good about yourself.

Be Happy, Naturally

2008-09-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

Depression is a widespread illness that affects no less than 6% of the US population. The number may even go up during hard times. Depression needs to be treated because it will not just go away on its own. Other people have chosen to "bite the bullet" while some have sought help from psychiatrists. Problem with both is that it comes with a price. "Biting the bullet" can make things worse and talking to a psychiatrist can be quite expensive. Fortunately, there are natural ways of treating depression and this blog is meant to give an insight to some of those. Note that some may not work as fast as pharmaceutical alternatives but you can also be sure that there are no side effects.

Kriya Yoga - This is a form of Yoga that uses a type of rhythmic hyperventilation. Daily practice has been shown in studies to alleviate several or all of depressive symptoms in whole ranges of depressive symptoms.

Bright Light Therapy - Talk about adding a little sunshine in your life, Bright Light Therapy has also been used to treat SAD (seasonal affective disorder), where the sufferer has a depression due to the season’s lack of sunlight.

St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum) - This is a long-studied, and well tolerated natural herbal cure for depression. St John's Wort contains a variety of natural antidepressant substances including, hypericin, pseudohypericin and hyperforin. These work at the root of mild depression, boosting neurotransmitter function and returning your mood to normal.

EPA - Omega 3 which can be found in fish oil. Recent studies show high does of this natural substance are curing acute depression, even suicidal tendencies.

Saffron - New studies have indicated that saffron is as effective as imipramine and Prozac.

These are a few of the many natural cures available. Remember that you always have a choice and that you should choose the natural way.

Hormonal Imbalance: Estrogen’s contribution to Depression

2008-04-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Each year in the U.S., approximately 1.3 million women reach menopause. Although menopause is permanent, most of its symptoms are transitory. During the transition from perimenopause to menopause, women may experience severe vasomotor symptoms, insomnia and major depression. At times, these symptoms may be severe enough to require treatment. During menopausal transition, there is an estrogen deficiency and hormonal variance which is associated with depression. Despite vulnerability to depression during menopausal transition, most women do not exhibit depression symptoms during this period.

The natural course of menopause transition begins during the mid-40s and persists through the early 50s, often lasting 2-8 years. A growing amount of evidence suggests perimenopause is the period of greatest vulnerability to depression. Some research shows estrogen use can mitigate depressive symptoms during this time. The association between hormonal fluctuation and major depression and the role of estrogen, one of the most potent neuromodulators in the brain, therefore must be carefully considered in the treatment of depression during perimenopause or menopausal transition. Fluctuating estrogen levels have been implicated in the dysregulation of the thermoregulatory circuitry involved in the normalization of body temperature in the hypothalamus. Serotonin and norepinephrine are neuromodulators that may help regulate core body temperature and peripheral vasculature.¹⁷ Novel antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) show promise in the management of vasomotor symptoms, anxiety and depression in midlife women.

For more information, read the full article.

Depressed caregivers show more hostility and less warmth towards children

2008-03-22T14:06:00.001-07:00

Is your child’s caregiver suffering from depressive symptoms? In a recent study designed to determine how caregivers respond to children’s needs for support, researchers learned that caregivers suffering from depression exhibited greater hostility and less warmth towards children. The study, designed to be a pre-intervention research examining how caregiver depressive symptoms affect proper care management, examined caregivers of 100 low-income children with persistent asthma. It videotaped them while completing structured tasks with the children and their families: a loss task where the children were asked to share a known sad event with their family; and a conflict task where they were asked to resolve a known conflict with their parents.

According to the study, caregivers with higher levels of depressive symptoms showed less warmth and greater hostility towards children during both tasks. Findings also indicate that while it is expected of caregivers to exhibit greater hostility during the conflict task, caregivers with moderate to severe symptoms showed a significantly higher rise in hostility from the loss to conflict tasks compared to those with only minimal to mild symptoms.

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Recent study discovers gene combinations that cause depression

2008-03-17T04:14:00.001-07:00

The link between genes and depression may be more complex than we think. According to a recent article in ScienceDaily.com, researchers discovered that individual genes do not cause depression, but increases the risks for depression if combined with accumulating factors, particularly its interaction with other genes and negative environmental stressors.

The study, which is the first to show how gene interactions affect mood disorders, found two genes whose combination can increase the risk for depression: SLC56A4, a serotonin gene affecting the development of a system in brain that determines how individuals experience their emotions; and BDNF, a gene that plays an critical role in allowing the serotonin gene to develop the brain’s emotion-regulation system. Using basic science experiments and imaging studies, researchers found a molecular link between the two, with the BDNF gene controlling the expression of a protein that affects the ability of the SLC56A4 gene to develop the brain’s emotional circuitry. Findings suggest, however, the risks for depression are dependent on the form of BDNF gene inherited, with some forms of producing deleterious effects, while others do not.

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Low-income women more likely to suffer from postpartum depression

2008-02-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Poor women are much more likely to suffer from postpartum depression than their wealthier counterparts.
A recent study conducted at the University of Iowa showed that of 4,332 new mothers studied, 40 percent of Iowa mothers with a household income less than $20,000 suffered from clinically significant postpartum depression. In contrast, only 13 percent of new mothers with a household income of $80,000 or more were considered clinically depressed.
For more information, read the news release.

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2007-03-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

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Mental Health Screening for American School Children

2006-12-26T23:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition which addresses issues of teen suicide and the dangers of doing screening for suicidal thoughts in teens because of the false-positive results that may lead to anti-depressant prescriptions:

"Stop TeenScreen's Unscientific and Experimental 'Mental Health Screening' of American School Children"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/TScreen/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself.

FDA approves device to treat depression....but it doesn't work.

2006-03-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

A device to treat depression has recently been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. Originally developed to treat epilepsy, the Vagus Nerve Stimulator is implanted into a patients chest (a $25,000 operation) in order to send periodic stimulation to a nerve which carries the signal into the brain. The brain is then triggered to release serotonin and other hormones believed to regulate mood.
Over 550 people have the device currently implanted, with another 7000 currently waiting for approval from their insurance companies.
The catch? It doesn't work.
The only rigorous clinical trial that has been done involved 235 patients, each of whom had the VNS device inserted. It was turned on in only half of the patients, but at the end of the 3 month study they all reported the same results.
In addition, once the device is implanted, the electrodes that are inserted in a patient's neck cannot be removed due to the tissue overgrowth. The result? VNS recipients can never undergo a full body MRI or therapeutic ultrasound.

For more info, read this article.

Link Discovered Between Depression and Changes in the Brain in Alzheimer's Disease

2006-03-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

"A lifetime history of depression is associated with increased plaques and tangles in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease and more rapid cognitive decline, according to a study by researchers at the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The study is published in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Previous studies have linked depression and Alzheimer's disease, according to background information in the article. People with a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) may be more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In addition, both AD and MDD are likely to affect the brain's memory-related temporal lobes. MDD is likely to caused atrophy of the hippocampus, the area where the largest amounts of plaques and tangles form in patients with Alzheimer's disease, the authors write."

From http://www.emaxhealth.com/91/4936.html

Depression and allergies linked

2006-03-14T21:16:00.000-08:00

A study published by researchers from Columbia University indicates that women who suffer from severe depression are far more likely to suffer from allergies than those who are not depressed.
The research shows that personality plays a major role in both conditions. Nervous personalities, the research says, lead to a vunerable immune system which will allow for the development of allergies.
Read the whole article

Codex Alimentarius, Health Freedom

2006-03-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

Stop Codex Alimentarius and Protect Health Freedom!

Codex Alimentarius is a looming threat to your health and health freedom. If you care about natural health care, you need to know about Codex Alimentarius.

According the official documentation, "The Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by FAO and WHO to develop food standards, guidelines and related texts such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme." Allegedly, "the main purposes of this Programme are protecting health of the consumers and ensuring fair trade practices in the food trade, and promoting coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and non-governmental organizations."
Unfortunately, the stated purposes of the organization actually work against the natural health industry. They intend to all but eliminate vitamin & mineral supplements, destroy organic farming principles and promote the use of pharmaceutical prescription drugs. Natural medicine will become a thing of the past, as will our health as a country.

Codex Alimentarius is a looming threat to your health and health
freedom. If you care about natural health care, visit healthfreedomusa.org to
stop Codex Alimentarius and protect health freedom!

Prozac linked to double murder

2006-03-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

A Charlotte bank executive accused of stabbing his twin 5-year-old daughters to death had begun taking Prozac two weeks before the killings, according to doctor's notes released Friday.

David Crespi, the notes say, had been taking Paxil for depression, but because it caused him to gain weight, he switched to Prozac.

The FDA has ordered that Prozac and similar prescription antidepressants carry warnings that they "increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior" in children with depression and other psychiatric disorders.
They require less stringent warning for adults, merely noting that antidepressants can cause anxiety, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness and impulsiveness. It is reviewing whether to require a stronger warning about suicidal behavior in adults taking antidepressants.

Depression hampers parenting, study reveals

2006-03-10T22:15:00.000-08:00

A study conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Columbia University shows that mothers who show signs of depression will be far less likely to breastfeed, play with, or read to their newborn children. All of which are significant in healthy development of children.
The study, printed in the March edition of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, showed that some signs of post-partum depression are common, but that "These symptoms clearly have an unfavorable impact on a mother's parenting practices, particularly those that involve active engagement with the child."

Food Therapy for Depression

2006-03-01T18:32:00.000-08:00

The opening paragraph of this article caught my attention:

When our bodies are in balance physically, mentally and spiritually, choices come easily and positively. When we get out of balance, it becomes hard to make the right choice.

How accurate a description, and how grateful I was that she did not overlook the strong influence that those who are depressed can face. It's far more than 'just in your head'. In fact, it's in your whole body.
The author of the article illustrates this beautifully:

Every single moment we are building bone cells, muscle cells, liver cells, pancreas cells, brain cells, skin cells and so on. In a one year time frame we rebuild and replace every single cell in our bodies. The catch here is, what quality of raw materials are we putting in while we are building all these cells?

Imagine this, for breakfast you had - nothing! - at school a friend shared some Halloween candy with you, and then for lunch you had - a microwaved fast food and a pop - and then after school for a snack you had - a bag of potato chips and a pop, and even worse a diet pop - and then for dinner you had a packaged mac and cheese, wieners, ketchup and a glass of chocolate milk.

This same day when you woke up, your body was all charged up to make brand new heart cells, and the raw materials you gave your body to do this were - nothing! - so without you even knowing it, your body had to go ahead anyway and make these cells with what it had to work with so they were made smaller, weaker and damaged. Then as the day goes on, your body had to make bone cells, and again these were made with what you fed yourself. So the quality of your cells is directly related to the quality of your food. When this goes on and on for days, and months, and years you can understand how we can slowly, very slowly, lose ground in our life.

Read the whole article here:
Food Therapy for Depression, but don't buy their soy products that are advertised on the site.

Good health begins in the mind

2006-02-14T07:50:00.000-08:00

Vic Johnson: Motivational Speaker and Author comments on the thought that Good health begins in the mind.
Quoting James Allen, Vic relates:

Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body.

Also powerful is Vic's concluding thought:

In his book A Clear Path to Healing, Dr. Barry Weinberg writes, “The creation of health, as in all creations, must first start in the mind. Once the mind is made up and the commitment and unwavering determination to heal has been made, healing is inevitable.”

Download James Allen's: As A Man Thinketh for FREE!

Pregnancy & Antidepressants: Baby at Serious Risk

2006-02-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

A WebMD article published today stated:

Babies whose mothers took antidepressant drugs in the second half of pregnancy are six times more likely to have a rare but dangerous lung ailment, a new study suggests...
...it's very serious. It kills about one in 10 babies who get it. In moderately severe cases, half the survivors suffer hearing loss or brain damage.

"We find these results very concerning," Sandra L. Kweder, MD, deputy director of the FDA's office of new drugs, said in an unusual, hastily called news conference. "We find the reported association of SSRI antidepressants with this very serious condition to be very worrisome."

Dr.Ann Blake Tracy, founder of the International Coalition for Drug Awareness, said:

For the past three years, we have posted announcements on the risk to newborns if their mother took antidepressants during pregnancy. Today, it was announced...

Read the whole article on WebMD: Pregnancy Antidepressants: Baby Risk.

New Method For Depression Often Works Where Nothing Else Will (Mercola.com)

2006-02-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

In a blog entitled New Method For Depression Often Works Where Nothing Else Will, Dr. Joseph Mercola shares an article about how a non-therapist overcame depression without the use of drugs.
The method used was that commonly known as EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique. See the Emotional Freedom Technique Website for more details.
Here is an excerpt from the article:

I'm 58 years old and have had a perpetual low grade depression all my life that has NEVER (until EFT) gone away. It has always been there in the background and at times it was very intense. Here's my story in capsule form.

For background, I've struggled with self esteem issues and paranoia and self hatred and all sorts of related miseries all of my life ... I've used every healing modality this side of medication for this, exploring narcissism, moving emotions, experiencing massage, cranial osteopathy, and writing a lot of emotions to move and heal them ... from primal therapy to acupuncture to nutrition ... in short, in my half a century, I've left no stone unturned except the medication thing ... the magic bullet ... and I almost did that too ... but I stopped short of it ...
That afternoon I read about your free download [of the EFT Manual] and downloaded and sent for your training. In two days I had healed stage fright and I started in on all my sad and angry feelings ... not to eliminate them but to heal them ... and self esteem and the birthright happiness ... and I tapped on me and everyone who visited me with a problem ...

Well that was about a month ago and I haven't had any depression ...

You can also download the EFT manual for free.

Suicide linked to Anti-depressant drugs.

2006-01-26T07:09:00.000-08:00

The following comes from Yahoo News regrding the side-effects of anti-depressants like Prozac

Some anti-depressant drugs undergoing trials in children may be associated with suicides, the Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) said Monday.

The agency said reports in the press and medical journals describe suicide attempts and suicides in children receiving antidepressants. Many such reports also have been submitted to the FDA.

The article can be found on Advanced Health Plan.com, along with this tragic first hand account:

It was January 30, 2001, I lost my baby girl to Prozac. Anny Belle was 15 years old. She had never been depressed and would not have been prescribed the drug, as her doctor told me later. Anny self diagnosed her PMS from a television ad, and self prescribed someone else's Prozac, just to see if it would help her PMS. I didn't know, until the day of her funeral. I verified it with a friend of her's that she had been taking one a day for the last 4 days and we confirmed that only 4 pills were missing from the bottle.

January 30th, she appeared ever so normal through out the day, but within a few minutes, something changed. She came home from next door, stopped in the living room, greeted me, shook the snow from her hair, walked through the house, talked to our dog on the way. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Moments later I heard a pop and called to her. No answer. As I went out the backdoor, she was already gone....

Read the complete article...

Antidepressants Facts, Side-Effects & Safety

2006-01-25T07:17:00.000-08:00

I Found this site on Antidepressants Facts, Side-Effects & Safety while doing research today. Though not the prettiest site in the world, it is rich in content and full of incredible information and many links to other important sites.
Of particular interest is the quote found on the bottom of the main page:

"All Truth passes through Three Stages: First, it is Ridiculed...
Second, it is Violently Opposed...
Third, it is Accepted as being Self-Evident."
- Arthur Schopenhauer (1778-1860)

This site is a must visit if you are seeking to learn more about the effects of anti-depressant medication.

Founder of Anti-Depressant (Prozac) speaks out on Mistake.

2006-01-25T07:08:00.000-08:00

Candace B. Pert, the Research Professor at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington wrote a Letter to the Editor of TIME Magazine, sharing her regrets in developing the technology for Prozac, which opened the doors for other SSRI anti-depressants.
Briefly, she shares that the technology is flawed and the drugs are more harmful than they are beneficial.

"'I am alarmed at the monster that Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Solomon Snyder and I created when we discovered the simple binding assay for drug receptors 25 years ago. Prozac and other antidepressant serotonin-receptor-active compounds may also cause cardiovascular problems in some susceptible people after long-term use, which has become common practice despite the lack of safety studies.

'The public is being misinformed about the precision of these selective serotonin-uptake inhibitors when the medical profession oversimplifies their action in the brain and ignores the body as if it exists merely to carry the head around! In short, these molecules of emotion regulate every aspect of our physiology. A new paradigm has evolved, with implications that life-style changes such as diet and exercise can offer profound, safe and natural mood elevation.' "

For more information see the
Letter to the Editor of TIME Magazine, October 20, 1997, page 8.
Or check out Dr. Ann Blake Tracy's website for Prozac: Panacea or Pandora

Anti-depressants don't work for poor people?

2006-01-23T07:52:00.000-08:00

Reuters Health published an article entitled: Income may influence antidepressant response.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Pooled data from published studies suggest that adults from low-income neighborhoods are less likely to respond to antidepressant medication and more likely to be suicidal than those living in higher income neighborhoods.

'This is a small, preliminary study, but it does suggest that the social worlds in which people live influence the effectiveness of antidepressant treatments even in the context of clinical trials in which all participants receive the same high quality care,' Dr. Alex Cohen said in an interview with Reuters Health.

Cohen, from Harvard Medical School, Boston, and colleagues assessed the relationship between socioeconomic status and treatment response in 248 depressed adults participating in trials of the antidepressants Pamelor (nortriptyline) or Paxil (paroxetine) combined with interpersonal psychotherapy.

They report, in the Archives of General Psychiatry, that people from low-income neighborhoods took longer to respond to the medication compared with those living in middle- and high-income areas. The median times to response were 9.1, 7.0, and 7.4 weeks, respectively.

Middle-income residents were significantly more likely to respond to antidepressant treatment than low-income residents, the investigators found.

Compared to the low-income group, those in the middle- and high-income groups were significantly less likely to report having suicidal thoughts.
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry January 2006.

Is this their quiet way of saying that there is more to curing depression than popping a pill? I personally find it appalling that such studies refuse to consider what factors may really be causing the difference in one's depressed state. Factors such as diet, exercise, environmental toxins, etc, not to mention hope and levels of stress are obviously important factors that are overlooked.

In many ways, science is moving forward and discovering great things (http://adifferentoutlook.blogspot.com/2006/01/deciphering-mystery-of-bee-flight.html)

but in terms of medicine, specifically depression, we're just poisoning ourselves and our loved ones.
It's time that the medical community started to learn about the effects of diet & nutrition and started looking at the cause of these terrible dis-eases instead of just filling up their pocketbooks by treating the symptoms.

Psychology Today: SAM-e: The Natural Mood Enhancer

2006-01-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

Summary: SAM-e is a naturally occurring depression fighter with unusual bonuses. It may hold promise for those suffering from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, arthritis and even HIV.

An article found on PsychologyToday.com discusses the effectiveness of SAM-e (S-adenoslymethionine), as a natural anti-depressant. The conculding remarks from Columbia University professor of Psychiatry, Richard Brown, state:

With so much going for it, Brown believes there's no reason not to use SAM-e. "Eighty percent of people with depression have to be on medication for a lot of their adult lives," says Brown. "I'd rather give them something that does good things in their bodies as they get older."

Such a strong argument was preceded by the comment:

"There's a correlation between low levels of SAM-e and depression," explains Richard Brown, M.D., clinical psychiatry professor at Columbia University and coauthor of Stop Depression Now (Putnam, 1999). Research since the 1970s suggests that SAM-e's antidepressant action is comparable to that of prescription drugs.

Drugging our Children - Injustice revealed by President Bush's brother

2006-01-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

I received this email today from Dr. Ann Blake Tracy. It is about a new movie, Drugging Our Children, that addresses the crimes against children with anti-depressants and other prescription meds.
Here is what she said, including an email from a mother who's child was taken against their wishes, admitted to a mental health facility and prescribed anti-depressants - all at only 6 years of age:

Three years ago I, along with Corey and Jay Baadsgard and Mark and Donna Taylor, met with the crew shooting this movie in Denver, CO. Corey is featured throughout the movie and Mark and Donna and I are all interviewed about the effects of SSRI antidepressants. Patricia Weathers of Able Child and her son Michael are also interviewed along with several others who describe the nightmare they experienced on these deadly drugs.

As the release from Diane Booth below explains Michael Moore and Neal Bush are also interviewed in this movie. I first saw the movie several months ago and can verify that it is excellent! Michael Moore comes out and boldly declares that all evidence indicated that the SSRIs were the cause of Columbine and that this is criminal and should be investigated!! Even though the movie does not focus mainly on SSRI antidepressants, it does a wonderful job of presenting this information in a form that is very convincing to those who would not listen to you before or pick up my book and take the time to read the overwhelming evidence of the far reaching effects of these drugs. So, I will tell you it is a must for your library of SSRI information to share.

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, Executive Director,
International Coalition For Drug Awareness
www.drugawareness.org & author of Prozac: Panacea
or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare & audio "Help! I
Can't Get Off My Antidepressant! (800-280-0730)

Here is the email from Vincent Booth's mother. Vincent Booth is the young child taken 'hostage' by the so called justice & health-care system:

GOOD NEWS! THE DRUGGING OF OUR CHILDREN, STARRING MICHAEL MOORE, NEIL BUSH, AND FEATURING DIANE BOOTH, CAN NOW BE PURCHASED ONLINE:

http://www.completehealthnetwork.com/video/drugging_our_children.html

I am Vincent Booth's mother. Vincent has been an inmate in a California "mental health" facility for five years. He was wrongfully apprehended from me on July 29, 1999 at age 6 without a warrant, without a court order and without an investigation, after a referral to social services from his teacher/school. Vincent was totally normal until the County of Santa Clara forced dangerous psyche meds on him. His human rights were/are terribly violated, and my due process and human rights were horribly violated. I rescued Vincent and came to Canada and applied for refugee status. Vincent was again apprehended by the FBI who returned him to the same abusive institution. I remained in Canada for a few years then returned to California and served a total of eight months for my "crime" of rescuing my own child from abuse and imminent death. No one has seen or heard from him and there are no recent reports in the court records regarding his well being.
Many reforms have been implemented. Many new laws were passed, including, The Amendment Prohibiting Forced Drugging, signed by President Bush, and the new foster care laws signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, yet Judge Leonard P. Edwards still refuses to allow me to submit evidence to the court, and he refuses to let my son testify on his own behalf! I never received the court-ordered recent photograph of my son, and the last report to the court was in 2002, and it was heavily blacked out.

This is just the tip of the iceberg in exposing the FRAUD of the exploitation of children and families for profit.

Still, I have no word whether my son is alive or dead or any information concerning his well being. This is a crime against humanity.

I have numerous letters from Vincent in which he clearly states his wishes to return to his mom, yet he is denied his right to speak on his own behalf in court, although he is now 12 years old.

Please visit my website:
http://www.msnusers.com/FreeVincentBooth

Children as young as 2 are being ripped from their parents and placed in institutions and put on dangerous psyche meds,. Many are sexually abused and exploited. Many are missing and some are dead

A new film documentary starring Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine) and Neil Bush (The President's brother) explore the dangers of drugging by child protective services in The Drugging of Our Children.

Click on PICTURES, pages 1- 4 on the web site below.

www.msnusers.com/FreeVincentBooth

Peace and Justice,
Diane Booth,
Childrescue

Anti-depressants kill another: Christopher Brockman

2006-01-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

From Dr.Ann BLake Tracy:

It is with a great sadness I report to you the tragic death of Chris Brockman. The story from his mother below explains what happened to Chris - a story that has been repeated over and over aganin with these deadly antidepressants. Chris was only 15 when he was given this cocktail of drugs that caused him to act so completely out of character in such a violent way. What we as a society have done to children like Chris is reprehensible!

I would encourage you to send your condolences to his mother, Cynthia, who joined us in Washington, DC last year to testify to the FDA about the dangers of these drugs. She can be reached at the following e-mail address: cab16@myway.com And for the handful of you who are still on this list only to defend your use of these drugs I would ask that you please leave Cynthia alone to grieve for the loss of her son.

In Chris' case I feel responsible in that I did not push even harder for a supportive newsletter to go out to all of the kids stuck in prison for using these drugs that were never approved for use in these children. If this case stirs anyone to offer to help with this project, PLEASE let me know. I DO NOT want to ever see another of these tragedies happen again! The problem is that it is against prison policy for inmates to correspond with one another. As a result there is no way for them to be supportive or to obtain support from those who understand what they have been through more than anyone else on the planet. But they could get a newsletter that discusses what is happening with the cases of others in their position. They could follow the progress of appeals, etc. I think this might have been a help to Chris so that he would not have felt so alone.

Cynthia, together we join in offering you our prayers of comfort.

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, Executive Director,
International Coalition For Drug Awareness
www.drugawareness.org & author of Prozac: Panacea
or Pandora? - Our Serotonin Nightmare (800-280-0730)

From: "cab16"
Reply-To: cab16@myway.com
To:
Subject: Chris passed away last night RE: Remember the prisoners as if chained with them
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 09:50:17 -0500 (EST)

Dear Cassie,

My sweet, precious son, Christopher Anson Brockman, passed away last night. He had been so depressed and off of his omega-3-fatty-acid found in fish oil for a few months.... I saw him last Sunday and he was not himself. He hung himself last night at 6:52 pm....

Thank you for your prayers.

Love, Cynthia---

My 18 year old son is serving a life sentence for murder that he committed while on Zoloft and Adderall and Risperdal. We grieve not only the tragic loss of life, but also his life sentence for the involuntary intoxication and akathisia adverse effects resulting from iatrogenic phenomenom that caused him to be temporarily insane when he committed his offense. We are on our second appeal request for a new trial. We have post conviction new evidence that after having been discontinued from the akathisia inducing Rx, akathisia symptoms disappeared for almost a year only to reappear when
Zoloft was later readministered. We have no doubt that it was the doctor prescribed medication caused the type of brain damage that destroyed his cognitive and behavioral normal functioning.

We have and are continuing to suffer beyond description from the medical malpractice and negligent prescription of SSRI's and other medications at the hands not only of the free world doctor that initially poisoned my son, but also at the hands of incompetent and negligent doctors in the penal institutions.

When will the pharmaceutical killing fields be stopped? How many more have to die as a result of these defective prescription drug products?

I am a religious volunteer who counsels inmates and am shocked at the number of prisoners who have had catastrophic adverse and toxic reactions to their medication which caused them to commit crimes. They are experiencing some of the same Rx reactions while still on some of the same doctor presribed drugs that sent them to prison.

I will write again.

God Bless You, Cynthia Brockman

"Judgment is without mercy for those who have shown no mercy. Mercy overcomes (triumphs over) judgment." James 2:13

"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of God." Psalm 92:13