http://www.medindia.net/healthnews/Adolescence-Depression-news.asp Medindia largest health website in india. en-us Copyright 2013. All Rights Reserved. Thu, 23 May 2013 01:58:25 GMT http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-factors-for-depression-identified-in-copd-patients-119338-1.htm Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients typically suffer from depression more frequently than those without COPD, resulting in higher levels of disability and illness and increasing the overall healthcare burden for the COPD population. Now, a study from researchers in Argentina indicates female COPD patients and patients who experience significant shortness of breath may have the greatest risk for developing depression. The results of the study will be presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/risk-factors-for-depression-identified-in-copd-patients-119338-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/common-drug-for-depression-reduces-stress-related-heart-condition-119305-1.htm Researchers at Duke Medicine have found that a drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety may improve a stress-related heart condition in people with stable coronary heart disease. Compared with those receiving placebo, people who took the antidepressant escitalopram (sold as Lexapro) were more than two-and-a-half times less likely to have mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI), a heart condition brought on by mental stress. The findings, published in the May 22/29, 2013 issue ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/common-drug-for-depression-reduces-stress-related-heart-condition-119305-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/vermont-legalizes-assisted-suicide-119268-1.htm On Monday, Vermont became the third US state to legalize physician-assisted suicide. Peter Shumlin, the Democratic Governor of the small progressive-leaning state, signed into law a bill that lawmakers adopted last week. Vermont follows the states of Oregon and Washington in legalizing the practice. "Vermonters facing terminal illness at the end of their lives now have control over their own destinies," Shumlin said, at a ceremony at the Capitol in Montpelier. Vermont, a mostly rural ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/vermont-legalizes-assisted-suicide-119268-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-can-be-treated-by-deep-brain-stimulation-119184-1.htm bDeep Brain Stimulation may be used to treat depression, reveal new studies/b. Deep Brain Stimulation is a technique in which a pacemaker-like device is used to activate specific areas through implanted electrodes. This is very useful in mitigating the neurological pathos of patients. Scientists have discovered the effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation in curing Alzheimer's, memory disorders and anorexia. bRecently researchers from the Bonn University of Germany have discovered ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-can-be-treated-by-deep-brain-stimulation-119184-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/people-with-treatment-resistant-depression-benefit-significantly-with-ketamine-119149-1.htm The largest ketamine clinical trial to-date led by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has revealed that patients with treatment-resistant major depression saw dramatic improvement in their illness after treatment with ketamine. The antidepressant benefits of ketamine were seen within 24 hours, whereas traditional antidepressants can take days or weeks to demonstrate a reduction in depression. The research will be discussed at the American Psychiatric Association ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/people-with-treatment-resistant-depression-benefit-significantly-with-ketamine-119149-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-increases-stroke-risk-among-middle-aged-women-119045-1.htm Researchers at University of Queensland in Australia have found that the risk of stroke increases among middle-aged women who suffer from depression. The researchers used data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which involved more than 10,500 stroke free women between 47 and 52 years of age who were questioned every three years between 1998 and 2010. The researchers also assessed whether the participants were suffering from depression by using the Center for Epidemiological ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-increases-stroke-risk-among-middle-aged-women-119045-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/brain-injury-ups-soldiers-suicide-risk-119018-1.htm Soldiers who suffer from repeated brain injury are at an increased risk of suicide, finds research. A survey of 161 military personnel who were stationed in Iraq and evaluated for a possible traumatic brain injury - also known as TBI - showed that the risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors increased not only in the short term, as measured during the past 12 months, but during the individual's lifetime. The risk of suicidal thoughts increased significantly with the number of TBIs, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/brain-injury-ups-soldiers-suicide-risk-119018-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/around-quarter-of-girls-without-fathers-during-childhood-develop-depression-during-teens-118977-1.htm Around one in four girls whose fathers are not with them during their early childhood years display symptoms of depression during their teenage years, a new study published in the journal Psychological Medicine reveals. Researchers at University of Bristol questioned around 5,630 youngsters who were part of the Children Of The 90s project, which involved over 20,000 children born in 1991 and 1992. The participants were asked whether they suffered from symptoms of depression, such as sadness, unworthiness ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/around-quarter-of-girls-without-fathers-during-childhood-develop-depression-during-teens-118977-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/research-routine-screening-for-depression-not-recommended-for-adults-with-no-apparent-symptoms-of-depression-118948-1.htm According to new evidence guidelines, for adults with no apparent symptoms of depression, routine screening is not recommended in primary care settings because of the lack of high-quality evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for depression. The evidence is from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) published in iCMAJ/i (iCanadian Medical Association Journal/i). These guidelines mark a change in approach from the task force's 2005 guidelines, which ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/research-routine-screening-for-depression-not-recommended-for-adults-with-no-apparent-symptoms-of-depression-118948-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/clinical-depression-causes-erratic-behavior-in-genes-in-the-brain-118907-1.htm Researchers at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have found that genes in our brain start to behave erratically and out of sync with the rest of the body, similar to being in a different time zone, when we suffer from clinical depression. The researchers analyzed the brains of people who died suddenly, due to heart attacks or car accidents, and found that while they were able to estimate the time of death of the individual by studying the genetic state of the brain, they were unable to do so among people who suffered from depression....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/clinical-depression-causes-erratic-behavior-in-genes-in-the-brain-118907-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-bill-approved-by-legislators-in-vermont-118895-1.htm A 'death with dignity' bill which will allow terminally ill patients to request euthanasia from their doctors has been approved by legislators in Vermont, United States. The liberal-minded New England state becomes the third in the United States, after Oregon and Washington, to allow assisted suicide -- but the first to do so by legislative process rather than a voter-initiated referendum. Governor Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, has declared that he will sign the End of Life Choice Bill, which ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-bill-approved-by-legislators-in-vermont-118895-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/environmental-pollution-may-play-a-role-in-suicide-118891-1.htm Environmental pollution too may play a role in triggering suicide, a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center reveals. Lead researcher John G. Spangler, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of family medicine at Wake Forest Baptist, looked specifically at the relationship between air pollution and emissions from coal-fired electricity plants. "This study raises interesting questions about suicide rates in counties where coal-fired electrical plants operate and suggests that the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/environmental-pollution-may-play-a-role-in-suicide-118891-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-key-protein-can-offer-fresh-cure-for-depression-118692-1.htm A new study has found that the identification of a key protein responsible for reducing the number of new brain cells can offer a fresh avenue for treating depression. Research at King's College London has revealed how stress hormones reduce the number of new brain cells - a process considered to be linked to depression. The researchers identified a key protein responsible for this process and successfully used a drug compound to block the effect, offering a potential new avenue for drug discovery and treatment....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-key-protein-can-offer-fresh-cure-for-depression-118692-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/women-with-mistimed-unwanted-pregnancies-more-likely-to-suffer-from-postpartum-depression-118567-1.htm Women with unintended pregnancy are four times more likely to suffer from postpartum depression at twelve months postpartum, reveals a new study published today (8 May) in iBJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/i. The study, conducted at the University of North Carolina prenatal clinics questioned participants about pregnancy intention at 15-19 weeks gestational age, and women were classified as having an intended, mistimed or unwanted pregnancy. There were 433 women ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/women-with-mistimed-unwanted-pregnancies-more-likely-to-suffer-from-postpartum-depression-118567-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-confirms-link-between-intimate-partner-violence-and-depression-in-women-118558-1.htm A study by international researchers published in this week's iPLOS Medicine/i found that women who have experienced violence from their partner (intimate partner violence) are at higher risk of becoming depressed, and in addition to that, women who are depressed may also be at increased risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. Furthermore, there may also be a link between intimate partner violence and subsequent suicide among women, but little evidence to support a similar finding in men....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-confirms-link-between-intimate-partner-violence-and-depression-in-women-118558-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/nerve-stimulation-for-severe-depression-118549-1.htm In people who don't respond to standard antidepressant therapy, the use of electronic stimulator was shown to benefit depressed patients, say doctors. Now, preliminary brain scan studies conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are beginning to reveal the processes occurring in the brain during stimulation and may provide some clues about how the device improves depression. They found that vagus nerve stimulation brings about changes in brain metabolism ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/nerve-stimulation-for-severe-depression-118549-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-finds-over-diagnosis-and-over-treatment-of-depression-is-common-in-the-us-118489-1.htm According to a new study conducted at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Americans are over-diagnosed and over-treated for depression. The study examines adults with clinician-identified depression and individuals who experienced major depressive episodes within a 12-month period. It found that when assessed for major depressive episodes using a structured interview, only 38.4 percent of adults with clinician-identified depression met the 12-month criteria for depression, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-finds-over-diagnosis-and-over-treatment-of-depression-is-common-in-the-us-118489-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-among-american-adults-on-the-rise-118333-1.htm Suicide rates among US adults aged 35-64 are on the rise -- with more Americans now taking their lives than dying in car accidents, according to official statistics released Thursday. Motor vehicle accidents killed 33,687 people in 2010 -- well below the 38,364 who died from suicide in the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The spike in suicides was seen exclusively among US adults aged 35-64, who saw a 28 percent rise over the last decade, the CDC added. And ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-among-american-adults-on-the-rise-118333-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/quality-of-relationships-predicts-major-depression-risk-in-future-118226-1.htm University of Michigan researchers have shown in a new study how the mantra that quality is more important than quantity is true when considering how social relationships influence depression. After analyzing data from nearly 5,000 American adults, the researchers found that the quality of a person's relationships with a spouse, family and friends predicted the likelihood of major depression disorder in the future, regardless of how frequently their social interactions took place. Individuals ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/quality-of-relationships-predicts-major-depression-risk-in-future-118226-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/austerity-drive-increasing-mental-health-issues-in-europe-and-north-america-118124-1.htm A joint study conducted by Oxford University's David Stuckler and Stanford University's Sanjay Basu reveals that the austerity drive followed by European and North American governments is driving up suicides, depression and infectious disease rates in the countries. The researchers said that the budget cuts made by governments following the 'Great Recession' has been accompanied by more than 10,000 suicides and over a million new cases of depression across the two continents. With the Greece government ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/austerity-drive-increasing-mental-health-issues-in-europe-and-north-america-118124-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-depression-and-stroke-identified-118059-1.htm One-third of patients suffer depression following a stroke, finds recent study. Antidepressant medications known as SSRIs, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are effective when given to stroke patients as a preventive measure, the physicians said. Murray Flaster, MD, PhD, who specializes in stroke care, and psychiatrists Aparna Sharma, MD, and Murali Rao, MD, who specialize in depression are authors of the study. Mental disorders are common after stroke....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/link-between-depression-and-stroke-identified-118059-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-leads-to-heart-disease-and-vice-versa-researcher-117977-1.htm A researcher has identified factors in the brain that distinguish susceptibility and resiliency to depression and heart disease comorbidity. The researchers is from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The finding would be a major advance in predicting, preventing and treating these disorders. Depression is the leading cause of disability with more than 350 million people globally affected by this disease. In addition to debilitating consequences on mental health, depression predisposes ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-leads-to-heart-disease-and-vice-versa-researcher-117977-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/antidepressant-use-during-pregnancy-may-cause-autism-in-the-child-117944-1.htm Use of antidepressant medications during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in the child, suggests a recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Studies were performed to analyze the bassociation between parental depression, use of antidepressants during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders./b Researchers identified 4429 cases of autism spectrum disorder among which 1828 were with intellectual disability, while 2601 were without intellectual disability....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/antidepressant-use-during-pregnancy-may-cause-autism-in-the-child-117944-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/combination-of-slimming-drug-and-antidepressant-may-have-caused-death-of-university-student-117815-1.htm An inquest into the death of a 23-year old university student in England revealed that she might have died after taking a combination of a slimming drug and an anti-depressant. Sarah Houston, who was studying in Leeds University, was found dead in her bedroom by her flatmate last September. She had reportedly refused to call an ambulance after feeling unwell and was secretly taking Dinitrophenol (DNP) in combination with a prescription anti-depressant. The inquest heard that Sarah had taken 38 ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/combination-of-slimming-drug-and-antidepressant-may-have-caused-death-of-university-student-117815-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/study-explores-learned-helplessness-in-flies-and-the-roots-of-depression-117796-1.htm When faced with impossible circumstances beyond their control, animals, including humans, often hunker down. While doing this they develop sleep or eating disorders, ulcers, and other physical manifestations of depression. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal iCurrent Biology/i on April 18 show that the same kind of thing happens to flies. The study is a step toward understanding the biological basis for depression and presents a new way for testing antidepressant drugs, the researchers say....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/study-explores-learned-helplessness-in-flies-and-the-roots-of-depression-117796-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/ppp-meets-mental-health-needs-in-northern-uganda-117764-1.htm A new Health in Action article published by Ugandan and American researchers in the journal PLOS Medicine reveals that the public and private sector partnership has successfully managed to address the mental health of the population living in the post-conflict regions of northern Uganda. The authors, led by Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu from the University of Makerere in Uganda, explain how the Peter C. Alderman Foundation (a US organization with a mission to heal the emotional wounds of victims ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/ppp-meets-mental-health-needs-in-northern-uganda-117764-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/mental-health-problems-linger-in-returning-veterans-with-major-limb-injuries-although-pain-reduces-in-first-year-117264-1.htm New research indicates that veterans who sustained major limb injuries during combat reported little improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental-health problems up to 2 years post injury. In contrast, pain showed the most improvement 3-6 months after acute hospitalization, and then leveled off after 1 year. The investigative team, led by Rollin M. Gallagher, MD, MPH, reported results during a poster session at the 29th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mental-health-problems-linger-in-returning-veterans-with-major-limb-injuries-although-pain-reduces-in-first-year-117264-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/implanting-pacemakers-in-brains-of-patients-effective-in-treating-depression-117258-1.htm Researchers in Germany have found success in treating patients with depression by implanting pacemakers in their brains. Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression. In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly. The method of Deep Brain Stimulation had already been tested on various structures within the brain, but with clearly lesser effect....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/implanting-pacemakers-in-brains-of-patients-effective-in-treating-depression-117258-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/combination-of-smoking-anxiety-and-depression-in-teen-girls-may-signal-risk-of-osteoporosis-117031-1.htm A combination of smoking, anxiety and depression among adolescent girls may be sign of increased risk of osteoporosis when they grow up, leading to high fracture rates during their postmenopausal years, a new study reveals. Meta-analyses have shown that adult depression is associated with osteoporosis and lower bone mineral density (BMD). Smoking also has a negative impact on bone health, with adult smokers having lower BMD compared to nonsmokers, likely increasing lifetime fracture risk by as much as 31 percent....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/combination-of-smoking-anxiety-and-depression-in-teen-girls-may-signal-risk-of-osteoporosis-117031-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/mental-health-of-soldiers-can-be-influenced-by-public-support-116982-1.htm The authors of a new study from the University of Alberta think that the chances of Canadian soldiers experiencing combat-related stress disorders can be reduced by events like Red Fridays, Tickets for Troops and the yellow ribbon campaign. David Webber, a PhD student in the U of A's Department of Psychology, and his supervisor Jeff Schimel recently published a paper in iPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin/i, positing that the level of public support for a war could influence the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/mental-health-of-soldiers-can-be-influenced-by-public-support-116982-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/family-dinners-improve-mental-health-and-well-being-of-adolescents-116913-1.htm bRegular family dinners contribute positively to emotional well being, pro-social behavior and life satisfaction in adolescents/b, according to a Canadian study published in the iJournal of Adolescent Health/i. The study also found that regular and frequent family dinners 'foster social exchanges that benefit all adolescents, regardless of whether or not they feel they can easily talk to their parents'. Until recently, the age old custom of family dinners in India was the norm....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/family-dinners-improve-mental-health-and-well-being-of-adolescents-116913-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-more-likely-to-hit-college-athletes-than-retired-college-athletes-116874-1.htm Depression levels were found to be significantly higher in current athletes as compared to former college athletes, shown in a survey. The finding published in iSports Health/i suggests the need for more research to understand depression among college athletes. "We expected to see a significant increase in depression once athletes graduated, but by comparison it appears the stress of intercollegiate athletics may be more significant than we and others anticipated," says the study's senior ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-more-likely-to-hit-college-athletes-than-retired-college-athletes-116874-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/survey-reveals-poor-access-to-mental-health-care-for-children-teens-across-the-us-116797-1.htm Everyday, news reports detail the impact of the deficiencies in mental health care services in the United States. Now a startling survey from the University of Michigan reveals that many adults across the U.S. believe children and teens have extremely limited or no access to appropriate mental health care services. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation commissioned the National Voices Project to facilitate a five year study to gauge opportunities available for children and teens at the local level in communities across the U....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/survey-reveals-poor-access-to-mental-health-care-for-children-teens-across-the-us-116797-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/around-two-thirds-of-patients-fail-to-respond-to-initial-antidepressant-medication-116648-1.htm Just one third of patients with depression respond to their initial medication trial while a similar number have no adequate clinical response after being treated with several different medications, according to a new STAR*D study conducted by researchers at National Institute of Mental Health. A new study published in iBiological Psychiatry/i now shares progress in identifying genomic predictors of antidepressant response. Many previous studies have searched for genetic markers that ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/around-two-thirds-of-patients-fail-to-respond-to-initial-antidepressant-medication-116648-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-may-diminish-benefits-of-healthy-behaviors-study-116425-1.htm Depression may inhibit the anti-inflammatory effects linked with fitness and light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, suggests study conducted by researchers at Duke Medicine. The finding - based on measurements of the cardio-metabolic risk marker C-reactive protein (CRP) - points to another potential danger of depression. "Our findings suggest depression not only directly affects an individual's mental and physical health; it might also diminish the health benefits of physical activities ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-may-diminish-benefits-of-healthy-behaviors-study-116425-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-is-the-biggest-killer-among-young-britons-116324-1.htm A charity organization has claimed that suicide is claiming the most number of lives among young Britons compared to any other cause. According to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, over 6,045 people over 15 years of age committed suicide in 2011, of which 4,552 were men. Around 1,619 suicides were among people between 15 and 35 years of age with over 1,242 suicides among men. The highest suicide rate though was in the 30-44 age group with 23.5 suicides per 100,000 people in 2011....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/suicide-is-the-biggest-killer-among-young-britons-116324-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/family-meals-can-promote-good-mental-health-among-adolescents-116168-1.htm Regularly eating meals with the family could lead to development of good mental health among adolescents, a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health has revealed. Researchers at Queen's University and McGill University used data from the 2010 Canadian Health Behavior in School-Aged Children study in which more than 26,000 children between 11 and 15 years of age took part. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire that assessed their psychological well being and the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/family-meals-can-promote-good-mental-health-among-adolescents-116168-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/declining-ability-to-handle-daily-activities-linked-to-depression-in-alzheimers-patients-116110-1.htm A study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers says that more symptoms of depression and lower cognitive status are independently associated with a more rapid decline in the ability to handle tasks of everyday living in Alzheimer's patients. The study appears in this month's iJournal of Alzheimer's Disease/i. Although these findings are observational, they could suggest that providing mental health treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease might slow the loss of independence, ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/declining-ability-to-handle-daily-activities-linked-to-depression-in-alzheimers-patients-116110-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-stems-from-miscommunication-between-brain-cells-found-116076-1.htm At the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a new study suggests that depression results from a disturbance in the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. The study indicates a major shift in our understanding of how depression is caused and how it should be treated. Instead of focusing on the levels of hormone-like chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, the scientists found that the transmission of excitatory signals between cells becomes abnormal in depression. The research, by senior author Scott M....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-stems-from-miscommunication-between-brain-cells-found-116076-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/facebook-new-method-to-treat-depression-115995-1.htm Experts say that seeing old Facebook photos and reading old comments can help treat depression. Scientists already know that reminiscent therapy is helpful for older people with memory loss. Now the University wants to do a bigger study to confirm its findings, which could suggest Facebook can help treat mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, the Daily Mirror reports. Dr Alice Good, who led the new study, said scientists found a growth in "self-soothing" on Facebook ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/facebook-new-method-to-treat-depression-115995-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/an-antioxidant-can-help-prevent-neuron-loss-in-schizophrenia-and-depression-115871-1.htm In schizophrenia and depression gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits have been implicated. In schizophrenia, deficits have been particularly well-described for a subtype of GABA neuron, the parvalbumin fast-spiking interneurons. The activity of these neurons is critical for proper cognitive and emotional functioning. It now appears that parvalbumin neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, a factor that may emerge commonly in development, particularly in the context of psychiatric ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/an-antioxidant-can-help-prevent-neuron-loss-in-schizophrenia-and-depression-115871-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-in-kids-linked-to-heart-disease-risk-115856-1.htm Depression in childhood increases the risk of heart disease later in life, say scientists. "Part of the reason this is so worrisome is that a number of recent studies have shown that when adolescents have these cardiac risk factors, they're much more likely to develop heart disease as adults and even to have a shorter lifespan," says first author Robert M. Carney, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University. "Active smokers as adolescents are twice as likely to die by the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/depression-in-kids-linked-to-heart-disease-risk-115856-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mothers-should-be-screened-for-postpartum-depression-115832-1.htm A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry has revealed that one out of seven new mothers could be in the throes of postpartum depression. This is a form of depression which is thought to have its cause in the changes in hormones experienced during pregnancy and after delivery. The depression can be moderate and in some cases even severe. Dr. Katherine Wisner, the study's lead author said, "The vast majority of postpartum women with depression are ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/new-mothers-should-be-screened-for-postpartum-depression-115832-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/pros-and-cons-of-antipsychotic-medications-in-treating-depression-115718-1.htm Antipsychotic medications are associated with small-to-moderate improvements in depressive symptoms in adults, but there is little evidence for improvement on measures of quality of life and these medications are linked to adverse events such as weight gain and sedation, a study published this week in iPLOS Medicine/i reveals. The results of the study, conducted by Glen Spielmans of Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota and colleagues, have potential implications for the ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/pros-and-cons-of-antipsychotic-medications-in-treating-depression-115718-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/improved-mental-health-at-old-age-through-lifelong-regular-exercise-115686-1.htm A recent research published in the journal Psychological Medicine, suggests that exercising throughout the life can improve cognitive brain functions at old age. The study involved around 9,000 people whose exercise routines and exercise intensity at ages of 11, 16, 33, 42, 46 and 50 were monitored analyzed. At the age of 50, the participants were evaluated based on certain tests, which tested their memory power, learning and reasoning ability. It was noticed that, people who had been exercising ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/improved-mental-health-at-old-age-through-lifelong-regular-exercise-115686-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/report-patients-with-post-acs-depression-benefitted-from-active-treatment-in-clinical-trial-115602-1.htm According to a report, a clinical trial of patients with post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS, heart disease) depression finds that a centralized, patient-preference program decreased depressive symptoms and may be cost-neutral over time. The report was published Online First by iJAMA Internal Medicine/i, a JAMA Network publication. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology's annual Scientific Sessions. About 1.2 million Americans ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/report-patients-with-post-acs-depression-benefitted-from-active-treatment-in-clinical-trial-115602-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/skipping-meals-in-childhood-could-cause-depression-and-pain-in-adulthood-115174-1.htm New study by the University of Nebraska linked missed childhood meals to a higher risk of pain and depression in adulthood. Depression and chronic pain are experienced by 44 percent of working-aged adults and the study shows a correlation between childhood conditions and pain and depression in adulthood. The study by UNL sociologist Bridget Goosby examines how childhood socio-economic disadvantages and maternal depression increase the risk of major depression and chronic pain in working-aged adults....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/skipping-meals-in-childhood-could-cause-depression-and-pain-in-adulthood-115174-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/expert-says-mental-health-just-as-important-as-physical-health-114647-1.htm One of Britain's leading neuropsychologists, Professor Barbara Sahakian has said that people should take care of their mental health in the same way that they take care of their physical health. "As a society, we take our mental health for granted. But just like our bodies, it is important to keep our brains fit," said Prof Sahakian. In any given year, one in every four adults suffers from a mental disorder. As a result, in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, mental disorders ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/expert-says-mental-health-just-as-important-as-physical-health-114647-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/an-old-antidepressant-drug-holds-promise-to-treat-sickle-cell-disease-114610-1.htm A surprising new finding made in mice and human red blood cells by a team from the University of Michigan Medical School reveals that an antidepressant drug used since the 1960s may also hold promise for treating sickle cell disease. The discovery that tranylcypromine, or TCP, can essentially reverse the effects of sickle cell disease was made by U-M scientists who have spent more than three decades studying the basic biology of the condition, with funding from the National Institutes of Health....]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/an-old-antidepressant-drug-holds-promise-to-treat-sickle-cell-disease-114610-1.htm http://www.medindia.net/news/physical-activity-reduces-depression-in-bariatric-surgery-patients-114442-1.htm Staying physical active may help to reduce depressive symptoms in adults undergoing bariatric surgery, according to new research. "Typically, clinical professionals manage their patients' depression and anxiety with counseling and/or antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication," said Wendy C. King, Ph.D., epidemiologist at Pitt Public Health and lead author of the research, which is reported in this month's issue of the iJournal of Psychosomatic Research/i. "Recent research has focused on ...]]> http://www.medindia.net/news/physical-activity-reduces-depression-in-bariatric-surgery-patients-114442-1.htm