Move over Prozac: New drug offers hope for depression

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The brain chemistry that underlies depression is incompletely understood, but research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression. Here, researchers describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. They identified one they dubbed ANA-12, which had potent behavioral effects when administered to mice that suggest it will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans.

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An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from depression, and though the symptoms might be recognizable, the brain chemistry that underlies them is incompletely understood. Research suggests that aberrant signaling by a chemical called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) through its receptor TrkB, may contribute to anxiety and depression, and inhibiting this pathway in mice can reduce anxiety and depression-related behaviors. However, translating these findings to clinical studies will require the development of small molecule inhibitors of the BDNF/TrkB pathway that could be used pharmacologically.
In this paper, researchers led by Maxime Cazorla, of Columbia University in New York, and Didier Rognan, of the Université de Strasbourg in France, describe a screen for stable small molecules that could specifically inhibit TrkB action. They identified one they dubbed ANA-12, which had potent behavioral effects when administered to mice that suggest it will have antidepressant and anti-anxiety activity in humans. The researchers are hopeful that this new compound could be used to develop a new class of psychiatric drugs.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110418122314.htm

Social media 'glorifies and normalises suicidal behaviours'

A review into social media and its role in children's suicides 'glorifies and normalises suicidal behaviours' a recent study has shown.

The Commission for Children and Young People in Queensland, concerned at suicide rates amongst Australian youngsters, released some of the 140 submissions they have made on Sunday night, exploring the way social media plays a part.

One child a week commits suicide, with another 50-60 admitted to hospital for self-harming - and boys are twice as likely to end their own lives than girls, writes The Australian.

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More and more Australian youngsters are exposed to suicide via the internet and socia media, sparking some copycat cases says a new submission by the Commission for Children and Young People in Queensland

The submission report, spear-headed by Megan Mitchell, the National Children's Commissioner says that several have killed themselves after looking up instructions on the internet. 

But even more worrying, some of the 140 submissions that were released on Sunday show that youngsters can be drawn into the social leverage and immortalisation it gives them.

There is proof that one teenager chose to end her life after seeing the outpouring of grief another youngster had received online after killing herself, with one user's condolence message attracting 190 likes.

The submission says: 'It can be interpreted that there is clearly a social status in not only knowing a suicide occurred but even more so in contributing and participating in the shared grief. There is a social reward for this behaviour.'

Because the internet and SMS has replaced the traditional way in which children and teenagers communicate, access to suicide is instantaneous and un-policed.

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'The fear of missing out and the status of participation outweigh any negative stigma in being associated with a suicide death,' says the submission 

More than 2000 young people have signed up to websites set up in memory of recent youngsters who committed suicide in Queensland, even though the majority didn't even know the troubled teenagers.

That figure is five times the number of people who would usually be exposed to suicide in the community.

'The instant outpouring of grief and love means that 'young people are actively engaging in activities that expose them to youth suicide, such as seeking out suicide tribute pages online,' says the submission.

'The fear of missing out and the status of participation outweigh any negative stigma in being associated with a suicide death.' 

A quick Google search flags up pro-suicide websites and the report clearly states, 'There are pro-suicide forums with content that glorifies and normalises suicidal behaviours'.

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'The fear of missing out and the status of participation outweigh any negative stigma in being associated with a suicide death,' says the submission

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare there were 18,277 hospitalisations for young people intentional self-harming between the ages of 3 and 17 in 2007 and 2013.

And 333 youngsters between the ages of four and 17 died from their injuries which were cause by self-harming between 2007 - 2012.  

Alarmingly the report also found that of the 187 Queensland children and youngsters who have committed suicide, one third knew someone who had done it before them.

The National Children's Commissioner is demanding the government to do more on a national level to raise awareness and train those who are in a position to spot the risks and warning signs before it's too late.

If you are suicidal, self-harming, depressed or need someone to talk to contact Beyond Blue or Kids Helpline or dial them on 1 800 55 1800. 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2864313/Social-media-glorifies-normalises-suicidal-behaviours-young-people-teenagers-recent-study-shows.html#ixzz3LJ0JTQpk

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious condition that should not be taken lightly. Depression is an illness that can affect the body as well as your emotional state. It is not just feeling down or unhappiness when something does not go your way, but usually a more sever problem. Real depression takes over the mind and the body. Clinical Depression: Sever cases of Depression are referred to as clinical depression. It has an effect on your routine activities and the way feel physically the way you think and the way you behave. You may be unable to do everyday activities, and in sever cases you may have suicidal feelings. Depression is not just a mood you can “get over”. It is an illness that often requires medication and treatment. What are the Symptoms of Depression? Depression can occur in anyone and is not only rooted in genetic predisposition. There are many reasons why we get depressed. Sometimes its temporary, which would not be considered clinical depression which we are discussing here. But other times, in the cases of clinical depression, it can lest for years and sometimes a lifetime. It is important you realize the symptoms of depression so you can eventually treat it. Symptoms of Depression include:

• Feeling unhappy and sad most of the time
• Getting frustrated over small things
• Lack of desire for sexual intimacy
• Difficulty sleeping or too much sleep
• Difficulty eating or overeating
• Trouble keeping your thoughts clear
• Feeling like you are in slow motion
• Decreased concentration
• Self blame, feeling useless and worthless
• Memory failure
• Crying for no reason

What Causes Depression? Because depression is a real illness, it is just that you had a bad day. That may cause temporary feelings of sadness, but it takes more to cause true depression. Often times, people suffer from depression because of major life changing events, life the death of a loved one, a divorce, or bankruptcy. Some people have gone through traumatic life changing physical events. For example those who have been abused, raped or assaulted find that their life seems to be spinning out of control. Is Depression Hereditary? There have been many studies that show that people suffering from depression actually have different wave patterns in their brains. They also may have a hormone imbalance or chemical imbalance due to life changes, physical or medical problems. Sometimes depression can be genetic and passed onto other family members through someones genetic makeup. Scientists are still researching the connection between a persons genes and clinical depression. Prevention and Treatment: While we do not usually have the ability to prevent traumatic events from happening, but we can try to build up our support systems. Having people to turn to when life changing events happen can be the best medication. However, there are times when we need to seek professional help. Seeking Professional Help: Counseling can help prevent depression from getting worse and can also give you the support you need to get through the difficult times. And other times you may need the help of a prescription medication. It is important to see your doctor if you are feeling depressed. They can evaluate your symptoms and guide you to the best treatment.
Source: http://www.consumerhealthreview.org/brain-health/depression/

Mindfulness treatment as effective as CBT for depression, anxiety

Group mindfulness treatment is as effective as individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients with depression and anxiety, according to a new study from Lund University in Sweden and Region Skåne. This is the first randomized study to compare group mindfulness treatment and individual cognitive behavioral therapy in patients with depression and anxiety in primary health care.

The researchers, led by Professor Jan Sundquist, ran the study at 16 primary health care centres in Skåne, a county in southern Sweden. They trained two mindfulness instructors, from different occupational groups, at each primary health care centre during a 6-day training course.
In spring 2012, patients with depression, anxiety or reactions to severe stress were randomized to either structured group mindfulness treatment with approximately 10 patients per group, or regular treatment (mainly individual CBT). Patients also received a private training programme and were asked to record their exercises in a diary. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. General practitioner and mindfulness instructor Ola Schenström designed the mindfulness training programme and model for training instructors.
A total of 215 patients were included in the study. Before and after treatment, the patients in the mindfulness and regular treatment groups answered questionnaires that estimated the severity of their depression and anxiety. Self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety decreased in both groups during the 8-week treatment period. There was no statistical difference between the two treatments.
"The study's results indicate that group mindfulness treatment, conducted by certified instructors in primary health care, is as effective a treatment method as individual CBT for treating depression and anxiety," says Jan Sundquist. "This means that group mindfulness treatment should be considered as an alternative to individual psychotherapy, especially at primary health care centres that can't offer everyone individual therapy."
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141127112755.htm

Mindfulness + Cognitive Therapy = Less Prenatal Depression Risk

Mindfulness techniques combined with cognitive therapy have been shown to reduce the risk of depression relapse among pregnant women.
Mindfulness approaches include meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga while cognitive therapy challenges and alters maladaptive thoughts and feelings.
University of Colorado, Boulder researchers found pregnant women with histories of major depression were less likely to relapse into depression if they used the non-drug interventions.
About 30 percent of pregnant women who have struggled with depression in the past will again become depressed in the months before and after birth, according to past research.
In the new study, researchers found that participation in a Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy program reduced the relapse rate to 18 percent.
“It’s important for pregnant women who are at high risk of depression to have options for treatment and prevention,” said Dr. Sona Dimidjian, an associate professor in University of Colorado, Boulder’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and lead author of the study.
“For some women, antidepressant medication is truly a lifesaver, but for others, concerns about side effects and possible impacts to fetal development may cause them to prefer a non-pharmacological intervention.”
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, which combines mindfulness practice with more traditional cognitive therapy, has been shown to be effective at preventing recurrent episodes of depression in the general population.
But few studies of any kind have looked at the effect of non-drug therapies and interventions among pregnant women. A major reason for the research shortfall is the difficulty to recruit participants for a study within the relatively short time period of pregnancy.
For the current research, published in the journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 42 women in Colorado and Georgia with at least one prior episode of major depression took an eight-session class during their pregnancies. During class and in homework assignments, the women worked to develop mindfulness skills.
“Mindfulness is about how to pay attention to your own moment-to-moment experience in a way that is suffused with an openness, curiosity, gentleness, and kindness towards oneself,” Dimidjian said.
The standard mindfulness practices used in class were tweaked to be more valuable to pregnant women. Lessons included prenatal yoga, walking meditation exercises that could be done later while soothing a baby, and shorter practices that could be easily integrated into the busy lives of new moms.
The lessons also specifically addressed worry, which can be an overwhelming emotion during pregnancy, and put particular focus on love and kindness for oneself and one’s baby.
The research team surveyed the women for symptoms of depression during their pregnancy and through six months postpartum.
“A high percentage of the women who began the courses, 86 percent, completed the study, a sign that the women found the sessions valuable,” Dimidjian said.
The researchers also were struck by the number of pregnant women who expressed interest in participating in a mindfulness program, even though they didn’t meet the criteria to participate in this study.
“I was surprised by the level of interest, even among women who didn’t have a history of depression,” Dimidjian said. “Pregnant women know they are going to have this upcoming event that’s going to change their lives, and they want to be ready.”
Dimidjian has worked to create an online program of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy that could be used as a tool to address the demand by pregnant women and others to develop these skills.
To test the effectiveness of the online program, Dimidjian is now recruiting adult women with a prior history of depression to participate in a new study. The women do not need to be pregnant.
Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/11/20/mindfulness-cognitive-therapy-less-prenatal-depression-risk/77549.html

Can hip-hop beat depression?

Feeling fed up? Perhaps a blast of The Notorious BIG or Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five could help, Cambridge researchers say.

They say that listening to hip hop can actually be beneficial to those suffering with depression.

'There is often a message of hope in amongst the lyrics, describing the place where they want to be – the cars they want to own, the models they want to date,' the researchers wrote. 

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Researchers recommend The Message by Grandmaster Flash (pictured) & The Furious Five, released in 1982, which includes the lyrics: 'I can't take the smell, can't take the noise Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice'

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

Researchers recommend The Message by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, released in 1982, which includes the lyrics: 'I can't take the smell, can't take the noise Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice'

They also cite Juicy by The Notorious BIG, which is 'dedicated to all the teachers that told me I'd never amount to nothin'' but details how he became successful. 

In an article in The Lancet Psychiatry, the team claims that lyrics which speak of overcoming hardships and struggles can offer refuge.

'Much of hip-hop comes from areas of great socioeconomic deprivation, so it's inevitable that its lyrics will reflect the issues faced by people brought up in these areas, including poverty, marginalisation, crime and drugs,' said Dr Akeem Sule, of the University of Cambridge.

'In fact, we can see in the lyrics many of the key risk factors for mental illness, from which it can be difficult to escape. 

'Hip-hop artists use their skills and talents not only to describe the world they see, but also as a means of breaking free.

'We believe that hip-hop, with its rich, visual narrative style, can be used to make therapies that are more effective for specific populations and can help patients with depression to create more positive images of themselves, their situations and their future,' says Sule. 

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'It's been about forty years since hip-hop first began in the ghettos of New York City and it has come a long way since then, influencing areas as diverse as politics and technology,' said co-author Dr Becky Inkster Clinical Neuroscientist in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge.

'Now we hope to add medicine to the list.'

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Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, left, gestures as he and producer Sean "Puffy" Combs leave a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in 1997. Researchers now say his music could be the key to beating depression.

The team, hope to take their 'Hip Hop Psych' project into prisons, schools, and hostels to promote positive self-esteem through engagement with hip-hop artists. 

'We've had an enormous response from the global community, from patients, prisoners, and parents to artists and fans alike,' says Inkster.

 'We are overwhelmed and excited by requests from people around the world reaching out to us who want to help. 

'It has been moving to see how honest and open people have been with us. 

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2830877/Can-hip-hop-beat-depression-Researchers-say-positive-lyrics-help-boost-people-s-mood.html

Depression May Interfere with Intuition

People who suffer from depression appear to be disconnected from their intuition, or gut instincts, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology.
The findings may help explain why depressed people often have a hard time making decisions.
For the study, Carina Remmers, a researcher from the University of Hildesheim in Germany, and her team asked 29 patients with major depression and 27 healthy controls to complete the Judgment of Semantic Coherence Task, a well-established scientific measure of intuition.
The researchers presented participants with groups of three words (e.g. salt, deep, foam). In less than three and a half seconds, the participants had to decide whether the three words were linked in meaning by a fourth word (in this case the answer was “yes” and the word was sea).
If the participants answered that the words were linked, they were given eight more seconds to provide the linking word. They were also allowed to say that they felt the words were linked, but that they didn’t know how. When this was the case, it was taken by the researchers as an instance of intuition (knowing without knowing why).
No differences were found between the depressed patients and controls in how often they answered correctly for the fourth linking word, nor in the number times they gave no response at all. This suggests both groups were similarly motivated and attentive to the task.
However, the depressed patients gave fewer correct intuitive answers (i.e. when they answered correctly that the words were linked but didn’t consciously know how).
Having poorer intuition on the task was associated with a higher measure of brooding (indicated by agreement with statements like “When I am sad, I think ‘Why do I have problems others don’t have?’”). This connection, in turn, appeared to be explained by the fact that the brooding patients felt more miserable.
The researchers note that their study is the first to investigate intuition in people with major depression. The findings are consistent with previous research on healthy people showing that low mood encourages an analytical style of thinking and inhibits a creative, more intuitive style of thinking.
According to National Institute of Mental Health, major depression causes severe symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy life. It is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States with about 6.7 percent of adults affected each year.
Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/11/09/depression-may-interfere-with-intuition/77119.html

Fish intake associated with boost to antidepressant response

Up to half of patients who suffer from depression (Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD) do not respond to treatment with SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Now a group of Dutch researchers have carried out a study which shows that increasing fatty fish intake appears to increase the response rate in patients who do not respond to antidepressants. This work is being presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology congress in Berlin.

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According to lead researcher, Roel Mocking (Amsterdam): "We were looking for biological alterations that could explain depression and antidepressant non-response, so we combined two apparently unrelated measures: metabolism of fatty acids and stress hormone regulation. Interestingly, we saw that depressed patients had an altered metabolism of fatty acids, and that this changed metabolism was regulated in a different way by stress hormones."
The researchers were looking at the relationship between depression and fatty acids, and various hormones, including the stress hormone cortisol. They took 70 patients with depression and compared them to 51 healthy controls, by measuring their fatty acid levels and cortisol levels. They then gave the depressed patients 20mg of an SSRI daily for 6 weeks, and in those who did not respond to the SSRIs the dose was gradually increased up to 50mg/day. Fatty acid and cortisol levels were measured during the trial.
They found that the MDD patients who didn't respond to the SSRI also tended to have abnormal fatty acid metabolism, so they checked the dietary habits of all those taking part in the trial. Fatty fish is rich in fatty acids, such as the well-known Omega-3 DHA. So the researchers looked at the amount of fatty fish in the diet of all involved in the trial. They categorised the patients into 4 groups, according to their fatty fish intake, and they found that those who took the least fish tended to respond badly to anti-depressants, whereas those who had most fish in the diet responded best to anti-depressants. Those who ate fatty fish at least once a week had a 75% chance of responding to antidepressants, whereas those who never ate fatty fish had only a 23% chance of responding to antidepressants.
Roel Mocking continued: "This means that the alterations in fatty acid metabolism (and their relationship with stress hormone regulation) were associated with future antidepressant response. Importantly, this association was associated with eating fatty fish, which is an important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. These findings suggest that measures of fatty acid metabolism, and their association with stress hormone regulation, might be of use in the clinic as an early indicator of future antidepressant response. Moreover, fatty acid metabolism could be influenced by eating fish, which may be a way to improve antidepressant response rates."
"So far this is an association between fatty acids in blood and anti-depressant response; so it's not necessarily a causal effect. Our next step is to look at whether these alterations in fatty acid metabolism and hormonal activity are specific for depression, so we are currently repeating these measurements in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia."
ECNP President, Professor Guy Goodwin (Oxford) said: 'Understanding non-response to treatment with SSRIs remains an important known unknown. There is already an intriguing association between eating fish and general health. The present study, while preliminary, takes the story into the realm of depression. Larger scale definitive studies will be of considerable interest."
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141020090142.htm

Depression Medicines

Not only does it take time to get an accurate depression diagnosis, finding the right medication to treat depression can be a complicated, delicate process. Someone may have a serious medical problem, such as heart disease or liver or kidney disease, that could make some antidepressants unsafe. The antidepressant could be ineffective for you or the dose inadequate; there may not have been enough time to see an effect, or the side effects could be too bothersome -- leading to a failure of treatment.

As you approach taking antidepressants to treat depression, it is important to keep these points in mind:

1. Only about 30% of people with depression go into full remission after taking their first course of antidepressants. That’s according to a 2006 study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Those who got better were more likely to be taking slightly higher doses for longer periods.
2. Some antidepressants work better for certain individuals than others. It's not uncommon to try different depression medicines during treatment.
3. Some people need more than one medicine for depression treatment.
4. Antidepressants carry a boxed warning about increased risk compared to placebo for suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults 18-24 years old.

Working with your doctor, you can weigh the risks and benefits of treatment and optimize the use of medication that best relieves your symptoms.

What is an antidepressant?

Antidepressants, sometimes in combination with psychotherapy, are often the first treatment people get for depression. If one antidepressant doesn't work well, you might try another drug of the same class or a different class of depression medicines altogether. Your doctor might also try changing the dose. In some cases, your doctor might recommend taking more than one medication for your depression.

What are the different types of antidepressants?

Here are the main types of antidepressants along with brand names:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were launched in the mid to late 1980s. This generation of antidepressants is now the most common class used for depression. Examples include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), vortioxetine (Brintellix), and sertraline (Zoloft). Another SSRI, Viibryd, was approved in early 2011. Side effects are generally mild, but can be bothersome in some people. They include stomach upset, sexual problems, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, weight change, and headaches.
• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a newer type of antidepressant. This class includes venlafaxine (Effexor),  desvenlafaxine (Pristiq and Khedezla), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and, levomilnacipran (Fetzima). Side effects include upset stomach, insomnia, sexual problems, anxiety, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) were some of the first medications used to treat depression. Examples are amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil). Side effects include stomach upset, dizziness, dry mouth, changes in blood pressure, changes in blood sugar levels, and nausea.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) were among the earliest treatments for depression. The MAOIs block an enzyme, monoamine oxidase. Examples are phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate) , isocarboxazid (Marplan), and transdermal selegiline (the EMSAM skin patch). Although MAOIs work well, they're not prescribed very often because of the risk of dangerous reactions. They can cause serious interactions with other medications and certain foods. Foods that can negatively react with the MAOIs include aged cheese and aged meats.
• Other medications:
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin) is different than other antidepressants is thought to affect the brain chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine. Side effects are usually mild, including upset stomach, headache, insomnia, and anxiety. Bupropion may be less likely to cause sexual side effects than other antidepressants.
  • Mirtazapine (Remeron) is usually taken at bedtime. Side effects are usually mild and include sleepiness, weight gain, elevated triglycerides, and dizziness.
  • Trazodone (Desyrel) is usually taken with food to reduce chance for stomach upset. Other side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth, and blurry vision.
  
   Are other medicines used with the antidepressants?
  
  Other medicines may be prescribed in addition to antidepressants, particularly in treatment resistant depression. Here are examples of medicines that may be used to augment as an add-on to antidepressant treatment.
• Antipsychotic medications like Abilify and Seroquel can be used as an add-on to antidepressant treatment. Symbyax, a combination of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa and an SSRI (fluoxetine), is approved for treatment-resistant depression.
• Your doctor may recommend or prescribe other medications or supplements not FDA approved for use in depression   

Are there suggestions for how to get the most from depression treatment?

• Monitor your mood. Monitoring your moods and behavior from time to time can help your doctor treat your depression before it becomes hard to control. Try to observe any patterns of mood swings each week and call your doctor if you aren’t feeling at the top of your game.
• Strengthen your social support. Although you cannot control your depression diagnosis, there are some things you can control. You can seek or create a positive support system for yourself. Whether your social network stems from your spouse, family members, close friends, co-workers, religious organizations, or community groups, support is available.
• Stick with the prescribed treatment. Antidepressants can take up to eight weeks before they take full effect. Don't skip doses or quit treatment early. If you don't take your depression medicine exactly as prescribed, you’re not giving it a fair chance to work.
• See a depression expert. It's important to talk with a trained professional during your treatment. Although psychologists cannot prescribe medication, they are well-trained in psychiatric assessment and psychotherapy. You can work with a psychologist while taking antidepressants prescribed by your regular doctor, or you can see a psychiatrist for both your depression medication and talk therapy. Try to find someone who has a lot of experience helping people with treatment-resistant depression.
• Develop good habits. Take your depression medicine at the same time every day. It's easier to remember if you do it along with another activity such as eating breakfast or getting into bed. Get a weekly pillbox, which will make it easy to see if you've missed a dose. Since people sometimes forget a dose now and then, make sure you know what to do if that happens.
• Don't ignore side effects. Side effects are one of the main reasons that people give up on medication. If you have side effects, talk to your doctor. See if there's any way to minimize or eliminate them. However, keep in mind that side effects might be worse when you first start a medicine. Side effects often ease up over time.
• Let your doctor know if you are prescribed other medicines by another health care professional.  Some medicines can have important interactions with antidepressant medicines.  Tell your doctor if you are already taking, or begin taking, any other medicines so he or she can safely monitor your treatment.
• Never stop taking your depression medicine without your doctor's permission. If you need to stop taking your medicine for some reason, your doctor may want to reduce your dose gradually. If you stop suddenly, you could have side effects and your depression could get worse.
• Don't assume that you can stop taking your depression medicine when you feel better. If you feel that you’d like to come off your medication, talk to your doctor. Don’t stop on your own; quitting abruptly can lead to symptoms associated with discontinuing a drug as well as risk for relapse.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/optimizing-depression-medicines?page=1

New Treatments For Anxiety and Depression - The Alternative Way

Most clinicians and therapists will prescribe you with medicine to treat mood disorders. Others will recommend scientific methods of treatment for anxiety and depression, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation or electroconvulsive therapy. However, these new treatments for anxiety and depression may have serious side effects and their effects on your body in the long term aren't recognized yet.
If you are looking for ways to treat your mood disorder less the side effects, you may consider the alternative treatments for anxiety and depression. They may work for you if you have the strength, courage and patience to try these treatment approaches.
Acupuncture
It is amazing what needles can do for you. In recent studies, it has been shown that acupuncture can help reduce depression. The study conducted by the National Institute of Health revealed that forty three percent of patients who were treated with acupuncture have showed favorable response.
A well-trained acupuncture specialist will insert thin needles in key points to normalize the body's equilibrium and allow a surge of positive energy into the body.
Cardiovascular Exercises
As many athletes say, run and you shall be happy. This is true. Many people have attested to the theory that cardiovascular exercises such as running, jogging, brisk walking and swimming are one of the best new treatments for anxiety and depression.
These testimonials are backed up by researches done by psychiatrists and scientists. It has been found that people who regularly exercise become less anxious and depressed. The reason is that exercise neutralizes fight-or-flight hormones in people with anxiety.
During an intensive body activity, all organs in the body are working well and efficiently. Thus, deficiency or excess of hormones in the body is controlled and normalized.
For depressed people exercise stimulates the brain to release "happy" hormones. The amount of serotonin is likewise increased, thus removing depressing thoughts out of a patient's mind.
Meditation and Breathing Exercises
Buddhists and Hindus have practiced meditation for centuries. Those who practice meditation and breathing exercises are calmer, happier and live longer.
The reason is that meditation promotes body and mind relaxation. When the mind is calm so are the organs in it. And when this happens, the organs will release just the right amounts of hormones.
Breathing exercises helps the heart to function well. If you know how to breathe well, you can prevent anxiety from ever attacking you. If you notice that a stressor makes you anxious, all you have to do is breathe correctly and quiet your mind. And when you do this, you will have prevented anxiety from disrupting your normal life.
Light Therapy
There is a disorder known as seasonal effective disorder, meaning anxiety and depression only occur during rainy or winter days.
During rainy and winter days, when the sun is hiding behind the thick clouds, some people feel melancholic, sad and depressed. They attributed the dark environment to gloominess and sadness.
With bright light therapy (sunlight and artificial light) people with anxiety and depression are "conditioned" to be sunny and happy. This alternative treatment for anxiety and depression has worked for many.
Dietary Supplements
People with anxiety and depression are found to be lacking in these vitamins, minerals and hormones: vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, and serotonin.
To increase the levels of these substances, you need to increase your intake of foods rich in these vitamins and minerals that promote the production of serotonin.
However, diet is not enough for an effective new treatment for depression and anxiety. You need supplements of these vitamins and minerals in tablet or capsule forms. You can ask your doctor to prescribe you with these supplements although you can buy them directly over the counter. This way, he can regulate your intake of these supplements and avoid overdose.

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Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Treatments-For-Anxiety-and-Depression---The-Alternative-Way&id=849286

10 Signs You Should See a Doctor for Depression

When it's more than just the blues

by Esther Crain
Feeling down in the dumps every so often is a normal part of life. But when you're gripped by an unrelenting sadness or hopelessness that keeps you from going about your usual routine, it's time to pay attention: it's the hallmark sign of clinical depression, and an estimated 7% of adults will experience it, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Even with this telltale sign in place, it's tough for a depressed person to know if she really has the disease. "Almost all of the symptoms of depression on their own are experienced by everyone at one time or another," explains Jennifer Payne, MD, director of the Women's Mood Disorders Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. If you've been dealing with four or more of the following symptoms every day for two weeks, and they've impaired the way you usually function (for example, prevented you from working, being a responsible parent, or seeing friends), it's time to check in with your doctor.

You're eating more (or less) than usual
Depression leaves you withdrawn and checked out, and that can manifest as a loss of appetite. "If your brain is preoccupied with negative thoughts, you may forget to eat or lose interest in cooking or preparing meals," says Yvonne Thomas, PhD, Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in depression and self-esteem. On the other hand, sometimes the disease kicks in the opposite effect, making you hungry and driving you to overeat. "The mix of emotions that tend to accompany depression—sadness, pessimism about the future, and low self-esteem—can compel you to try to soothe your feelings with food binges," says Thomas.

You're sleeping too much or too little
Some people with depression find themselves snoozing under the covers more; the disengagement and dip in energy make you tired all the time, says Thomas. "Sleeping more is also a way depressed people escape from their sadness; it becomes a refuge," she adds. Others with depression experience restless or interrupted sleep or even insomnia—they're too wired by obsessive thoughts or ruminations to wind down and score the seven to eight hours per night most adults need. Thing is, not only can sleep changes be a tipoff to the disease, but they also make it worse. When you're not getting the proper amount of shuteye, your body's internal clock gets out of sync, and you're even more tired and unfocused...and less able to cope.

Small things agitate you
It's a sneaky sign few people recognize: depression can show up as heightened irritability, says Jennifer Wolkin, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and anesthesiology at New York University's Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health. You might feel cranky and grumpy; little things that normally wouldn't register set you off and leave you snapping at friends and coworkers. Part of the prickliness may be the way depression exacerbates normal hormonal swings. But it could also be triggered by the weight of so many heavy emotions. "When people are in physical pain, they often get angry and irritated easily, and it's the same with psychological pain—you don't feel good or like your usual self, and that saps your patience and puts you more on edge," says Thomas.

You can't concentrate or focus
Forgetting work deadlinesA or when to pick up your kids from a playdate? Feel like your mind resembles an out-of-focus photo, and the fuzziness has made a dent in the way you weigh choices and make decisions? That's your brain on depression. Being preoccupied with thoughts of sadness and emptiness can plunge you into a head fog that affects your job, memory, and decision-making skills, says Wolkin. In turn, that unfocused thinking can lead you to make poor choices or take on unhealthy, risky behavior.

 You don't enjoy the things that once made you happy
You used to hit happy hour with your favorite group of coworkers, but for the last few weeks, you've been ducking out. Or you always looked forward to your nightly run, but these days, you can't muster the interest. Not taking part in things you once enjoyed because they no longer give you pleasure is a telltale sign of depression. "A person who is simply blue might skip a few outings, then get back in the swing of things," says Wolkin. "But depression makes you apathetic about activities and hobbies that once gave you joy, and that makes you isolate yourself." It sets up that vicious cycle: depression robs you of your ability to derive pleasure from experiences, so you stop doing the very things that could brighten your mood.

 You feel down on yourself and worthless
If you're constantly putting yourself down, or you feel worthless or inconsequential, something is up. "Repetitive thoughts along the lines of 'I'm not good enough' or 'I don't matter' are dangerous because they can fuel self-harming behavior," says Wolkin. When you think this way, you tend to find ways to verify the negativity, and that in turn makes you more depressed and more at risk. Extreme guilt for things you aren't solely responsible for—for example, a bad breakup or sudden job loss—also bashes your self-esteem and is a tip-off to depression, says Dr. Payne.

 You're preoccupied with thoughts of death
Persistent thoughts about ending your life, wondering how friends and family would feel if you went and did it, pondering different ways to carry out the act, and even general thoughts about death are all strong indicators that it's time to reach out for professional help, says Wolkin. "Because these thoughts pose such a direct threat to your life, it's important to seek help if you experience them daily or almost every day for two weeks, even if you don't recognize any other symptoms of depression in yourself," she says.

You're panicky and anxious
Overwhelming feelings of fear are usually thought to signify an anxiety disorder. And while that's often true, they can also be a clue to depression. "Anxious feelings often coincide with depression, and some depressed people have panic attacks," says Dr. Payne. Anxiety is more than just the normal apprehension most of us feel when we're challenged; it's a constant feeling of panic and obsessive thoughts that often show up in physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, excessive perspiration, and sleep problems. The tricky thing is, even though anxiety can signal depression, it's possible that a person with depression also has an anxiety disorder as well. If you feel overwhelming anxiety, consider it another crucial reason to seek help from your doc.

Your energy level has hit the wall
Depression-related lethargy may be simply the consequence of not eating enough or sleeping too much. But it's also the result of having a black cloud of sadness or hopelessness over you all the time. Dealing with chronic emotional pain is an energy suck, and it makes you too dragged and tired to tackle routine tasks, not to mention work and family responsibilities. "You feel overwhelmed by day to day life; even getting out of bed and taking a shower becomes exhausting," says Wolkin. When you're always tired and that fatigue impairs your life, it's time to seek help.

You're dealing with unexplained aches and pains
"Emotional pain from depression that you aren't getting help for can be channeled throughout your body and show up as physical ailments, like headaches, stomach problems, neck and back pain, even nausea," says Thomas. "I see this with many of my patients; they're holding so much sadness and distress inside, these feelings end up playing out in other ways." Not every cramp or twinge is a symptom of depression, of course. But if you're suffering from a chronic ailment you can't attribute to another cause that isn't clearing up on its own, "see a doctor to get it checked out, but also consider it a possible sign of depression too," says Thomas.
Source:  http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20854499_11,00.html#

Music therapy reduces depression in children and adolescents

Researchers at Queen's University Belfast have discovered that music therapy reduces depression in children and adolescents with behavioural and emotional problems.
In the largest ever study of its kind, the researchers in partnership with the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, found that children who received music therapy had significantly improved self-esteem and significantly reduced depression compared with those who received treatment without music therapy.
The study, which was funded by the Big Lottery fund, also found that those who received music therapy had improved communicative and interactive skills, compared to those who received usual care options alone.
251 children and young people were involved in the study which took place between March 2011 and May 2014. They were divided into two groups - 128 underwent the usual care options, while 123 were assigned to music therapy in addition to usual care. All were being treated for emotional, developmental or behavioural problems. Early findings suggest that the benefits are sustained in the long term.
Professor Sam Porter of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University, who led the study, said: "This study is hugely significant in terms of determining effective treatments for children and young people with behavioural problems and mental health needs."
Dr Valerie Holmes, Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences and co-researcher, added: "This is the largest study ever to be carried out looking at music therapy's ability to help this very vulnerable group, and is further evidence of how Queen's University is advancing knowledge and changing lives."
Ciara Reilly, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, said: "Music therapy has often been used with children and young people with particular mental health needs, but this is the first time its effectiveness has been shown by a definitive randomised controlled trial in a clinical setting. The findings are dramatic and underscore the need for music therapy to be made available as a mainstream treatment option. For a long time we have relied on anecdotal evidence and small-scale research findings about how well music therapy works. Now we have robust clinical evidence to show its beneficial effects."
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/284296.php

Childhood psychological abuse as harmful as sexual or physical abuse

Children who are emotionally abused and neglected face similar and sometimes worse mental health problems as children who are physically or sexually abused, yet psychological abuse is rarely addressed in prevention programs or in treating victims, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association.

"Given the prevalence of childhood psychological abuse and the severity of harm to young victims, it should be at the forefront of mental health and social service training," said study lead author Joseph Spinazzola, PhD, of The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts. The article appears in a special online issue of the APA journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
Researchers used the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set to analyze data from 5,616 youths with lifetime histories of one or more of three types of abuse: psychological maltreatment (emotional abuse or emotional neglect), physical abuse and sexual abuse. The majority (62 percent) had a history of psychological maltreatment, and nearly a quarter (24 percent) of all the cases were exclusively psychological maltreatment, which the study defined as care-giver inflicted bullying, terrorizing, coercive control, severe insults, debasement, threats, overwhelming demands, shunning and/or isolation.
Children who had been psychologically abused suffered from anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and suicidality at the same rate and, in some cases, at a greater rate than children who were physically or sexually abused. Among the three types of abuse, psychological maltreatment was most strongly associated with depression, general anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, attachment problems and substance abuse. Psychological maltreatment that occurred alongside physical or sexual abuse was associated with significantly more severe and far-ranging negative outcomes than when children were sexually and physically abused and not psychologically abused, the study found. Moreover, sexual and physical abuse had to occur at the same time to have the same effect as psychological abuse alone on behavioral issues at school, attachment problems and self-injurious behaviors, the research found.
"Child protective service case workers may have a harder time recognizing and substantiating emotional neglect and abuse because there are no physical wounds," said Spinazzola. "Also, psychological abuse isn't considered a serious social taboo like physical and sexual child abuse. We need public awareness initiatives to help people understand just how harmful psychological maltreatment is for children and adolescents."
Nearly 3 million U.S. children experience some form of maltreatment annually, predominantly by a parent, family member or other adult caregiver, according to the U.S. Children's Bureau. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2012 identified psychological maltreatment as "the most challenging and prevalent form of child abuse and neglect."
For the current study, the sample was 42 percent boys and was 38 percent white; 21 percent African-American; 30 percent Hispanic; 7 percent other; and 4 percent unknown. The data were collected between 2004 and 2010 with the average age of the children at the beginning of the collection between 10 and 12 years. Clinicians interviewed the children, who also answered questionnaires to determine behavioral health symptoms and the traumatic events they had experienced. In addition, caregivers responded to a questionnaire with 113 items pertaining to the child's behavior. Various sources, including clinicians' reports, provided each child's trauma history involving psychological maltreatment, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
Source: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4592506238738253894#editor/target=post;postID=568757117670324522

Obesity and Depression Often Twin Ills, Study Finds

The combination was so common that 43 percent of depressed adults were also obese, according to the report. That association was even more prevalent among those taking antidepressants: 55 percent of those patients were also obese.
Report author Laura Pratt, an epidemiologist at the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, could not explain why or how obesity and depression are so often linked.
“We are just describing the relationship, but we don’t have anything in our data that would help us answer the why question,” she said.
The researchers do know that as the severity of depression increases so does the odds of being obese, Pratt said. However, the study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
In addition, gender and race played a role in the connection between obesity and depression. According to the report, women suffering from depression were more likely to be obese than women who were not depressed, no matter the age group.
Also, more white women suffering from depression were obese than white women of normal weight. This relationship was not seen in black and Mexican-American women, the researchers found.
Tony Tang, an adjunct professor in the department of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, had some theories on the connection.
“Both depression and obesity impact many aspects of life, and their relationship is naturally complex. Some of the connections are obvious: Obesity can cause low self-esteem, social isolation and stressful health problems. All of them can cause depression. Depression can lead some patients to binge eat and get obese,” he said.
The relationship goes both ways, Tang said. “Many aspects of a modern lifestyle can cause both depression and obesity,” he said.
For example, many people spend hours watching TV at home by themselves, playing video games, watching Internet porn or driving to work — activities that burn no calories. These activities also isolate people, Tang said.
“Social isolation is the most important risk factor for depression, because social support can protect people from other harmful risk factors of depression,” he said.
Another common link might be diet, Tang said. Overeating and unhealthy eating habits can increase the odds of depression and obesity, he said.
Medication for depression might also play a part, Tang said. “A few popular antidepressants, such as Paxil, are known to cause weight gains. Wellbutrin, a different type of antidepressant, might aid weight loss,” he said.
Simon Rego, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said psychotherapy can help.
“In particular, behavioral therapy, which typically emphasizes behavioral activation, may be particularly useful here, as one component of the therapy is designed to target inertia by having patients begin to schedule and slowly increase their activity level, which would, theoretically, increase their chances of both improving their mood and losing weight,” Rego said.
Tang added: “Living a healthier lifestyle, eating healthy food, drinking only moderately, spending less time on TV and on the Internet, and spending more time exercising can help prevent both depression and obesity.”
Source: http://news.health.com/2014/10/16/obesity-and-depression-often-twin-ills-study-finds/ 

How to predict who will suffer the most from stress

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More than 23 per cent of Canadians report being stressed or very stressed on most days. While chronic stress increases the risk of poor mental and physical health, not everyone is affected the same way. Some cope well, but for others -- especially those most likely to sweat the small stuff -- chronic stress can be harmful.

Thankfully, new research from Concordia University has found a way to identify those most susceptible to stress. That's a huge help for healthcare professionals working to stop stress before it gets out of control.
The proof is in the pulse
In a paper recently published in the journal Stress, Concordia psychology professor Jean-Philippe Gouin followed 76 university students during periods of lower stress at the beginning of term and higher stress during the exam period. He found that, although all students experience similar challenges during finals, only some of them develop significant distress.
With the help of Concordia colleague Sonya Deschênes and Michel Dugas from the Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gouin recorded participants' heart rate variability while they were relaxing and while they were thinking about things they tend to worry about most. They also tracked participants' moods at a time of low stress early in the semester and at a time of high stress right before exams.
They found that those who exhibited a less variable heartbeat when they started worrying were more likely to be highly stressed later on, when faced with finals.
Gouin, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Chronic Stress and Health, explains: "At rest, a more variable heartbeat is a good thing. It shows that your parasympathetic nervous system is hard at work. That's the system that's responsible for the 'rest-and-digest' state of being -- the opposite of 'fight-or-flight.' The rest-and-digest phase puts you in a calm state that allows you to conserve and replenish your energy."
Real threat or misplaced worry?
"When you're facing a real threat in your life, a regular heartbeat helps you deal with the situation. If you encounter a lion in the jungle, you want your heartbeat to stay at consistently high levels so that you can run away as fast as you can," says Gouin. "But if your body shows the same reaction when you worry about something that may or may not happen -- like failing an exam -- then you might be more susceptible to stress.
"By pinpointing those in the general population who are most vulnerable to stress, we can intervene before they hit the breaking point -- and hopefully prevent the negative consequences of stress by doing so. That's why it's important to have an objective diagnostic tool like this one."

Source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140930132724.htm

Movies About Depression

Many movies have portrayed depression. The following are some of the better ones that have been made in recent decades. These movies show depression in a realistic and honest manner. They also provide an excellent movie-viewing experience due to their casting and production quality.

Getty Images /HandoutCollection:Hulton ArchiveCredit/Getty Images

1. Girl Interrupted

This film tells the story of how 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) is hospitalized following a suicide attempt in April 1967.
While there, she meets other girls with an assortment of mental illnesses, including: Polly (Elisabeth Moss), who has disfigured herself with self-inflicted burns; Lisa (Angelina Jolie), a sociopath who is continually flouting authority and escaping the hospital; Georgina (Clea DuVall), a pathological liar who is romantically involved with a violent patient from another ward; and Daisy (Britney Murphy), a molestation victim and bulimic who commits suicide on her birthday.
Following Daisy's suicide, Susanna becomes more cooperative in her treatment, begins to make progress and is soon released from the hospital after having been there for 18 months.

2. Sylvia

In this account of the life and suicide of troubled poet Sylvia Plath (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), we follow her descent into depression following her separation from her husband, fellow poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig).
Much like the character in her novel The Bell Jar, Plath goes through the motions of living, trying in vain to find some way out of her deep depression. She finds herself feeling emotionally closed-off and isolated. This feeling is well-illustrated when she attempts to carry on an affair with a friend but finds herself unable to emotionally engage with him. In fact, the only thing that captures her attention is when he mentions his own failed suicide attempt.
Sadly, there is no happy ending to this story. Plath took her own life when she was only 30. However, the movie does an excellent job of portraying the toll that this illness can take on even the most promising and talented of people.

3. Helen

Helen (Ashley Judd) is a music professor and pianist who finds herself slowly slipping into mental problems that she is unable to fight. She finds herself becoming alienated from her husband, her child and her students because she is not able to control her feelings and behaviors.
As her condition worsens, she attempts suicide several times and finds herself barely able to speak to anyone. Her relationship with one particular student, however, is her saving grace. Mathilda is a gifted student who is fighting her own depression; the relationship between the two becomes the central focus of the movie, with Mathilda offering the kind of support that only someone who has also been through depression can offer.
The film continues to portray Helen's eventual recovery, showing devastating impact mental illness has not only on Helen, but also on the people who love her.

4. Prozac Nation

Based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's memoir of the same name, this film stars Christina Ricci in the role of Elizabeth, a young woman beginning college at Harvard.
Elizabeth struggles in both her school and personal life. She is a promising writer but often finds herself undoing her hard work through her anger and out-of-control behavior. She has difficulty making connections with people and often lashes out at boyfriends and friends, driving them away. Even though she knows what she is doing is counterproductive, she finds it hard to stop.
At times she falls into deep depression, where she is in a trance-like state and unable to complete her work and school commitments.
Eventually, Elizabeth gets into therapy and begins treatment with Prozac. She gains some relief from her illness, although she continues to struggle even as she makes some breakthroughs.

5. The Hours

This story is based on Michael Cunningham's novel about depression and how it affects three women: Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) and Clarissa Vaughan (Meryl Streep).
Although their three stories take place in different decades, they occur on the same day of the same month and are linked together by a reference to Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway. As the women live through this one particular day in their lives we see how depression and suicide affect their characters.
In the first story, Clarissa is a New Yorker who is preparing an award party for a long-time friend who has AIDS. Her friend commits suicide that night, feeling that the award is meaningless since he didn't receive it before he was so close to death from his illness.
In the second story, a pregnant Laura, desperately unhappy with her life, secretly checks into a hotel with the intention of taking an overdose of pills. She has a change of heart, however, when she wakes up from her unsuccessful attempt.
And finally, there is Woolf's own story, in which she is beginning to write her novel, Mrs. Dalloway, while struggling to cope with depression, headaches and her feelings about being a lesbian.
Woolf's suicide by drowning, which occurred on a different day, bookends the movie.

6. Revolutionary Road

Based on Richard Yates' period novel, Revolutionary Road, this film tells the story of a young couple in the 1950's who seemingly have ideal lives. Under the surface, however, April (Kate Winslet) and Frank (Leonardo DiCaprio) Wheeler are less than happy. Frank's well-paying job bores him, and April mourns the loss of her dream career in acting.
Eventually the couple hit upon the idea of going to Paris, which April believes will be the solution to all their problems. Instead, as the move comes closer to reality, they become more embroiled in their current situation. Frank's carefree attitude, brought about by the thought of moving to Paris, gains him even more success at work and a promotion. April becomes pregnant again.
April and Frank experience a great deal of conflict over April's desire to abort the baby. Frank gives up the dream of moving to Paris and taking the promotion, and April eventually decides to perform her own abortion without telling Frank. Tragically, she dies from the procedure.
One of the things this film illustrates well is how much appearances can be deceiving. Even though a person may seem to have it all, we may never actually know how bad their inner turmoil is until it's too late.

7. The Virgin Suicides

Based on Jeffrey Eugenides' novel, this film depicts the suicides of five sisters (Leslie Hayman, A.J. Cook, Chelse Swain, Kirsten Dunst and Hanna R. Hall) who come from a very strict and overprotective family (James Woods, Kathleen Turner), and their relationship with a group of four neighborhood boys who attempt to befriend them from a distance.
The film begins when the youngest sister, Cecilia, takes her own life by jumping from a window and becoming impaled on an iron fence. Their parents respond by making the other girls even more overprotected and isolated.
Struggling to cope with their sister's death, the girls begin to act out and break a curfew. In response, their mother decides to remove them from school and keep them at home indefinitely. During this period, the girls strike up a friendship with the boys through light signals and songs shared over the phone.
The film reaches its tragic climax one night when the girls invite the boys over, but the boys discover that the sisters have all just carried out a suicide pact.

8. Ordinary People

Based on the Judith Guest novel, Ordinary People deals with an upper-middle class family falling apart after the accidental death of a son.
Following the death of Buck (Scott Doebler), Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) Jarrett struggle to cope. Calvin has difficulty connecting with his remaining son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), while his wife remains in denial and behaves coldly toward Conrad, giving the appearance that she loved her other son more.
Conrad struggles as well. Feeling tremendous guilt about his brother's death, he ends up attempting suicide and being hospitalized for four months.
Eventually, through psychotherapy, Conrad learns to stop blaming himself and comes to accept that his mother is less than perfect. However, Beth leaves her family rather than face up to her emotions.
One of the strongest points of this film is its accurate portrayal of psychotherapy. In a 1999 article in Academic Psychiatry, the movie received high praise as one of the few films about psychotherapy that make good teaching tools for students.

9. A Single Man

This film, based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood, deals with a grieving English professor named George Falconer (Colin Firth), who, eight months after the death of his partner, is still struggling to cope with his grief.
Throughout the film, he spends the day getting his affairs together and planning his suicide. As he prepares, he remembers his lover and finds himself emotionally affected by the people he meets, including his best friend, a student and a male prostitute.
Touched by the efforts of his student to save his life, George makes the decision that he can go on living after all. Rather ironically, however, he then passes away from a heart attack.

10. The Fisher King

In this film, a former radio shock-jock (Jeff Bridges), who is feeling suicidal over a past mistake, attempts to find redemption by coming to the aid of a mentally ill homeless man who was hurt by his actions (Robin Williams).
Jack Lucas, the radio DJ, initially becomes depressed after his careless on-air comments trigger a caller to commit mass murder. Three years later, he finds his chance to make amends when some men, who think he is a bum, attempt to douse him in gasoline and set him on fire. After Parry, the homeless man, rescues him, he discovers that Parry's current mental illness is the result of witnessing his wife's murder at the hands of Jack's caller three years earlier. Jack decides that he will help Parry in his delusional quest for the Holy Grail in order to make up for the pain he has caused him. In the process, both men are reunited with the women they love.

Source:- http://depression.about.com/od/truestorie1/tp/Movies-About-Depression.htm

Home » News » Work and Career News » Depression Linked to Abnormal Pain Processing in IBS Patients

Depression Linked to Abnormal Pain Processing in IBS Patients

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) process pain signals from the gut abnormally, according to new research. These disturbed brain responses to pain are especially severe in patients with more depression symptoms.
“Our study has shown that patients with IBS are less able to suppress pain signals in the brain coming from the bowel and that depression plays a role herein,” said Professor Sigrid Elsenbruch from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany.
“This study confirms the complex relationship between the gut and the brain and shows that affective disorders may contribute to the development or maintenance of disturbed pain processing in IBS.”
The research will be presented at the 22^nd United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna. The findings suggest that depression, but not anxiety, contributes to the abnormal pain processing observed in IBS.
Depression and anxiety are often reported in patients with IBS, with a recent study reporting that 38 percent of IBS patients had clinically-confirmed depression (compared with six percent of healthy controls) and 32 percent had anxiety (compared with 13 percent of healthy controls).
“The fact that so many people with IBS have anxiety and depression has led many to speculate that IBS is primarily a psychological, not a physical, disorder,” said Elsenbruch.
“However, the condition is complex and most likely results from an interplay between psychological and biological factors.
“In fact, we don’t really know whether anxiety and depression result from having IBS or whether they contribute to the development or maintenance of symptoms. In many patients, both possibilities may be true at the same time.”
There has been quite a bit of scientific interest in the role of central nervous system mechanisms along the “brain-gut” axis in IBS. Studies have found that neural processing of visceral stimuli (stimuli generated from internal organs such as the intestine) is altered in IBS, with many IBS patients showing lower pain thresholds.
For the study, rectal distensions were performed using a pressure-controlled barostat system on 17 IBS patients as well as on 17 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Neural activation in pain-related brain areas was evaluated through functional MRI (fMRI).
Interestingly, higher depression (but not anxiety) scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were associated with reduced central pain inhibition in this study.
“Our findings suggest that patients with IBS do not process visceral pain signals in the same way as healthy people and are unable to suppress pain signals in the brain and, as a result, experience more pain from the same stimuli,” said Elsenbruch.
“The fact that the presence of depression was associated with altered brain responses suggests that depression may contribute to these abnormal pain processes in IBS patients.”

Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2014/10/04/depression-linked-to-abnormal-pain-processing-in-ibs-patients/75721.html

Workers suffering from stress and depression should be 'fast-tracked for treatment over the elderly and unemployed'

Workers with depression or anxiety should be fast-tracked for NHS treatment ahead of pensioners and the unemployed with the same conditions, according to the chief medical officer.

Professor Dame Sally Davies said the working days lost when men and women are off sick with mental health issues cost the economy £100 billion a year.

She also urged employers to make it easier for staff who have been on long-term sick leave to come back to work by starting them off on reduced hours.

Around 70 million working days are lost because of stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions each year, a rise of a quarter since 2009.

But campaigners warned that her proposals risked discriminating against pensioners, stay-at-home mothers and the unemployed. 

They claimed that it would undermine one of the founding principles of the NHS, which is that it ‘provides a comprehensive service available to all’, promoting equality by focusing on patients’ clinical need rather than their personal circumstances. 

In a report published today, Dame Sally called on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the NHS watchdog, to weigh up the costs of allowing workers with depression or anxiety to be fast-tracked for treatment.

‘The costs of mental illness to the economy are astounding,’ she said.

‘I urge commissioners and decision-makers to treat mental health more like physical health.

‘Anyone with mental illness deserves good quality support at the right time.

 

‘One of the stark issues highlighted in this report is that 60 to 70 per cent of people with common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are in work, so it is crucial that we take action to help those people stay in employment to benefit their own health as well as the economy.’

A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was likely that NICE would be in favour of such a policy.

Dame Sally did not indicate whether full-time workers should be prioritised over those who work part-time. But it would follow that their costs to the economy would be far higher if they were off sick.

However, Jenny Edwards, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: ‘Whilst we recognise the benefit of good quality work to mental health we are concerned about the suggestion to focus the fast-tracking of care on people of working age who are at risk of falling out of work.

‘A health service that is free at the point of delivery should “fast-track” all and not discriminate in favour of those who are economically active.

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Around 70 million working days are lost because of stress, anxiety and other mental health conditions each year, a rise of a quarter since 2009 (file picture) 

‘We consider that there must be an investment in establishing a suite of evidence-based solutions to mental ill health and support mental well-being, particularly targeted where there are the greatest inequalities.’

As many as 23 per cent of women and 16 per cent of men are suffering from depression or anxiety at any one time, according to NHS figures.

It is thought the number of men with the conditions could be higher, because men can be less inclined to admit they have a problem and avoid seeing their doctor.

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ‘We endorse the chief medical officer’s call for employment becoming a routine outcome indicator for mental health services – an outcome that has real world relevance and is simple to collect.

‘We also agree that more support is needed to keep those who are at risk of losing their jobs from joining the ranks of the long term sick.'

Source:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2748604/Workers-given-priority-old-treatment-depression-It-cut-100bn-sick-day-bill-says-chief-medical-officer.html