African-American, Latino citizens at increased risk of mental health issues

Research conducted by the University of California-Los Angeles Center for Culture, Trauma and Mental Health Disparities investigates the extent to which African-American, Latino and Hispanic citizens in the US are disproportionately affected by chronic disease and mental health issues.

Overall, the greater the burden people had of specific negative life experiences over their lifetime, the more likely they were to go on to have the more severe psychological symptoms.

Published in the journal Psychological Trauma, the first of two studies by the Center looked at certain negative experiences common among low-income African-Americans and Latinos.
The researchers invited 500 low-income African-American and Hispanic people to self-report stress and mental health measures.
These included experiences of discrimination, childhood violence, poverty and trauma.
Using "structural equation modeling," the University of California-Los Angeles Center (UCLA) team mapped a correlation between accumulation of specific negative experiences and the likeliness of the subjects later experiencing psychological problems.
Overall, the greater the burden people had of these experiences over their lifetime, the more likely they were to go on to have the more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
However, the authors say that many of the psychological problems that occur as a result of chronic life stress and trauma remain undetected and, therefore, untreated.
Gail Wyatt, a professor of psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and a senior author of both studies, explains:

"Only a small proportion of individuals with psychological distress are identified in healthcare settings, and a smaller fraction of those ever receive appropriate treatment, especially for the experiences of discrimination.
We talk about being discriminated against, but people don't learn how to cope with it effectively throughout their lives. If they don't manage it well enough, the consequences can be long-lasting and life-threatening."

The authors define five environmental factors that predict depression, anxiety and PTSD among adults.
These are:

• Experiences of discrimination due to racial, ethnic, gender or sexual orientation
• A history of sexual abuse
• A history of violence in the family or from an intimate partner
• A history of violence in an individuals' community
• A chronic fear of being killed or seriously injured.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/296000.php

Attention to angry faces can predict future depression

Up to 80 percent of individuals with a past history of depression will get depressed again in the future. However, little is known about the specific factors that put these people at risk. New research suggests that it may be due to the things you pay attention to in your life.

Researchers at Binghamton University recruited 160 women -- 60 with a past history of depression, 100 with no history of depression. They showed each woman a series of two faces, one with a neutral expression and the other with either an angry, sad or happy expression. Using eye-tracking, they found that women with a past history of depression paid more attention to the angry faces. More importantly, among women with a history of prior depression, those who tended to look the most at the angry faces were at greatest risk for developing depression again over the next two years.
"If you're walking around day to day, your attention will just be drawn to certain things and you'll tend to look at some things more than others. What we showed is if your attention is drawn to people who appear to be angry with you or critical of you, then you're at risk for depression," said Brandon Gibb, professor of psychology at Binghamton University and director of the Mood Disorders Institute and Center for Affective Science.
"I think the most interesting thing about this is that we followed these women for two years, and the women who are paying attention to angry faces are the most likely to become depressed again, and they become depressed in the shortest amount of time. So they're at greatest risk," said graduate student and lead author of the study Mary Woody. "We might be able to identify women who are at greatest risk for future depression just by something as simple as how they pay attention to different emotional expressions in their world."
To address these types of attentional biases, computer programs and games are being used to retrain peoples' attention. This approach has shown promise in the treatment of anxiety and is now being tested as a treatment for depression. Woody said that, by showing the important role that attentional biases play in depression risk, this new research highlights the promise of these types of attention retraining programs.
"It's a very important first step in developing a new line of treatment for people who are at risk for depression and for who currently have depression," Woody said.
"Some people might be able to use this instead of traditional therapy or could use it as an adjunct to traditional treatment," Gibb added.
Source:  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150616114237.htm

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UC Irvine researcher finds biological link between chronic pain, mental illness

It’s understandable that people who are in constant physical pain would experience a high level of stress and fatigue.

But a recent study by researchers at UC Irvine and UCLA shows chronic pain sufferers also are more vulnerable to mental and emotional illnesses such as anxiety and depression and that there’s a biological link between the mental and physical pain.

Catherine Cahill, an associate professor of anesthesiology and perioperative care at UCI, has been working with colleagues at the UCLA Brain Research Institute to study the relationship between chronic pain and mood disorders.

The result? They found that chronic pain causes inflammation in regions of the brain that deal with reward and motivation, causing patients to be more susceptible to mood disorders.

Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting for an extended period, usually more than 12 weeks, according to the National Institutes of Health. More than 100 million Americans are affected by chronic pain, according to a recent report by the Institute of Medicine.

Cahill and the research team studied brain inflammation in rodents and its effect on the neural system. Their paper, published June 3 in The Journal of Neuroscience, shows a link between brain inflammation caused by chronic pain and mood disorders.

“Many studies in depression literature show that one of the causes for the development of mood disorders is a disruption in the dopamine circuitry,” Cahill said, referring to the brain chemical associated with happiness and pleasure. “My study was on the link between the very, very high (co-existence) of anxiety and depression in those patients with chronic pain. This was really never shown before.”

According to the study, the brain inflammation caused by pain triggers the activation of cells called microglia, which hinder the release of dopamine.

Cahill noted that the study has potentially significant implications on how doctors might treat future patients experiencing mood disorders alongside chronic pain. Her research, she added, also sheds light on addiction, an illness that’s affected by the reward and motivation system of the brain.

Cahill said she hopes her research can eventually have clinical impact. She is planning to test an existing drug compound that could restore the flow of dopamine.

“This is a new strategy to try to restore the reward circuitry that has both implications on addiction-like disorders and mood disorders,” she said..
Source:  http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-666693--.html

More Than US Men That Suffers From Depression And Anxiety Shun Away From … – Times Gazette

In the United States, one in ten males endure from melancholy, however in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, solely lower than half of them step ahead to seek out remedy.
The researchers targeted on the surveillance of greater than 21,000 males throughout the US. Results confirmed that eight.5% of American males are depressed, however solely 41% of them search skilled assist.
Their age variations various perceptions in in search of remedy. Of the lads ages 45 and older, 42.three% stated that they tried to, at the very least, speak to a psychological well being skilled or have taken drugs all through the prior yr, however for males 45 years and beneath, solely 39.2% have completed the identical.
Depression is a critical psychological sickness. It may cause a swinging temper dysfunction that may trigger a persistent feeling of hysteria, lack of curiosity, and unhappiness.
Racial disparities have been evident when the researchers targeted on males, ages 18 to 44. Patterns revealed that white males have a better tendency than youthful black males, in addition to Hispanic males, to hunt medical remedy.
“We suspect that there are a number of social and cultural pressures that lead black and Hispanic males to be much less probably than white males to hunt psychological well being remedies, said lead writer and affiliate director for science, Stephen Blumberg, from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). He added, “These pressures, which embrace concepts about masculinity and the stigma of psychological sickness, could also be extra pronounced for males of colour …and these similar forces might lead males of shade to be extra more likely to deny or cover emotions of hysteria or melancholy.”
Any hindering issue? Studies confirmed that medical insurance is an enormous hurdle that retains males from discovering a physician.
There’s no vital variations amongst insured males throughout totally different races, however uninsured males, particularly within the age of 18-44, usually tend to search psychological well being providers than their black and Hispanic uninsured counterparts.
The company stated, revision to the ObamaCare (Affordable Care Act), that would come with protection for psychological providers, can tremendously assist in negating these racial variations.
Source:  http://www.vocalrepublic.com/more-than-us-men-that-suffers-from-depression-and-anxiety-shun-away-from-times-gazette/9195/

How To Cope With Depression At Work

Chances are, someone at your workplace has depression. It could be a co-worker; it could be you. Not just a case of the blues, not deadline burnout, but chronic, clinical depression that requires ongoing treatment. According to Mental Health America, one in 20 workers is experiencing depression at any given time. And you don't just snap out of it with a little willpower. It's a process that starts by getting the help you need. Here's how people manage at work while dealing head-on with depression.
Recognize the signs.
You're tired all the time. Cooperating with colleagues -- even talking to them -- takes an enormous effort. You keep your office door shut and interact with your computer. Or you visit the employee restroom for another crying jag. It's hard to concentrate and impossible to summon up a positive attitude. Along with morale, your productivity is down the drain. It takes you longer to get things done, and co-workers notice that you seem out of it. Deadlines don't motivate you -- they just pile on more stress. You're calling in sick. Or, you're spending lots of extra time on the job, burying yourself in tasks to avoid your emotions. You're suffering and so is your work. It's time to seek treatment.
Take a mental health break.
Betsy Aimee (who did not use her full name to maintain her privacy), 33, works in public relations in Los Angeles. In her 20s, depression entered her life. "I was really in a little bit of denial about what was happening to me," she says. Aimee describes herself as a "full type-A, very-critical-of-myself individual." It's hard when you can't function as well as you're used to, but slogging on doesn't work when you're in a downward spiral. "When you're at a crossroads in terms of your mental health, you need to really say, 'OK, I'm going to ask for five days off,'" Aimee says. "That might mean the difference between me not having a mental health breakdown, or needing to take additional time off."
Find treatment.
If you had a bad case of the flu, you'd take time off to recover, right? And if you developed diabetes, you'd put work aside to find a doctor and get stabilized. "Depression is no different from any other chronic condition," says Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of Mental Health America. "To stay with it and maintain an independent and productive life -- it's important to identify it, get the appropriate treatment and then stick with that treatment." When it comes to counseling sessions or tracking medications and their side effects, there's no one-and-done treatment. "People should be going back even as they would with any other doctor and say, 'OK, is this the right med, is this the right course for me?'" he says.
Check into workplace services and insurance.
With chronic conditions -- like depression -- you have workplace protections against discrimination. "'Otherwise qualified' is always the terminology," Gionfriddo says. "If you are otherwise qualified, then a reasonable accommodation has to be made." In practical terms, he says, that might mean "when you need to take a day off and check out, you do that," without fear of jeopardizing your job. Then, he says, you come back to work when you "can give it a 100 percent again." Many workplaces have employee assistance programs that include confidential mental health services. Also, look into your health insurance coverage for treatment including counseling and medication.
Whatever gets you through the day.
Most people don't have the luxury of taking time off until their depression is under perfect control. In a 2012 blog posting about workplace depression, Aimee describes how she managed rough weeks by taking it day by day. She set herself clear goals, created lists and highlighted top priorities so she wouldn't lose sight of her boss' needs. Realizing that her short-term recall was temporarily off kilter, she took plenty of notes during meetings and gave herself extra time to prepare assignments. And she'd ask trusted colleagues to take a second look at her work.
Decide if -- and how -- to tell your boss.
The type of industry in which you work and the relationship you have with supervisors can affect how open you want to be about depression, Aimee says. Before you disclose your diagnosis, it helps to assess your relationship with your boss and to determine how much information you feel comfortable sharing. "In my case, I talked to my boss once I had medical attention and I had a diagnosis," she says. At that point, she was having a hard time focusing on pressing deadlines. "Completing a lengthy research assignment was a challenge for me," Aimee recalls, "and I felt that rather than her thinking I was not engaged in my work, that I would share what was happening to me." For Aimee, opening up that dialogue made her job situation easier.
Take care of your body and mind.
While you're waiting for treatment to take hold, it's important to look after your physical health. "It can help to get enough sleep at night," Gionfriddo says. "It can help not to get too much sleep. It can help to nourish yourself properly – even when it's difficult to put food in your mouth – and to opt for the healthier food choices." Take a walk when you can; a light jog or run can churn up endorphins to ease some depression symptoms. If that walk or run takes you to the nearby park with trees and fountains, so much the better. Meditation helps some people with depression or stress, and it doesn't necessarily require a lot of training or chanting in your cubicle. "Just deep, slow breathing oxygenates us and makes us feel better at the same time," Gionfriddo says.
Office parties -- attend or avoid?
Withdrawal is a symptom of depression, not a solution. That said, when you're depressed, work-social gatherings meant to be fun can feel more like torture. You don't need to choose between two extremes, Gionfriddo says: "It's not either, 'I'm withdrawing to my office and closing the door,' or 'I'm out there with 100 other people who are laughing and joking and having a good time.'" Instead, you might be able to manage five minutes, maybe catch up on a work discussion with a colleague in a quiet corner, then leave. If you've shared your struggle with an office buddy or two, they can help by hanging out with you away from the action.
Tap into peer support -- or provide it.
Humans are social beings, Gionfriddo says, and that's why gathering around the office water cooler used to be so popular. Texting and email have changed that dynamic, though, and it's easier to miss major mood changes in co-workers when you don't communicate face to face. With conditions like depression "people tend to close themselves off from other people," he says. But peers at work can be a great source of support.
If you're not dealing with depression but want to be more attuned to your colleagues, he suggests stepping away from the computer every so often. "Just walk the hall, poke your head in a few offices and say hello," he says. Respect boundaries, though. If someone insists "I'm fine" when he clearly isn't, don't confront him with "Everything is not fine." But, Gionfriddo adds, "It never does more harm than good to ask how somebody's doing: 'You seem a little low today; is everything OK?'"
Reach out to family and friends.
If you're ready to open up to colleagues about depression, it's natural to start with people with whom you already have a comfortable relationship. When they know what's going on, they can have your back during stressful projects and periods -- just like you can have theirs in the future. Friends outside of work and family members can also help you cope. "You never want to replace your professional, your therapist for example, with a peer, but you may want to augment their services with a peer – or start with a peer," Gionfriddo says. Depression can run in families, and some of your relatives may have already been there themselves. They may be further along in managing their condition, and can give you pointers on how to get through the day. If you're in group therapy or a depression self-help group, you can pick up workplace tips and strategies there.
Anticipate job triggers.
As you get a handle on depression, you develop your personal tool kit to manage it. Sometimes you can anticipate depression triggers -- major projects that turn your workplace upside down – and prepare in advance, Gionfriddo says. With your clinical professional, for instance, you might talk about adjusting medication doses or getting more counseling. And with colleagues in your corner, you can say, 'Based on this, I know I'm coming up to a trigger point next week, what can I do? Talk me through this.' Whatever helps -- breathing, stretching -- set yourself reminders. "We all tend to put these things aside until we need them again," he says. "If I'm fortunate enough to recognize my triggers, I'm fortunate enough to recognize what I need to do for self-help."
Know when to seek help ASAP.
Aimee recalls a time when she was still coming to terms with depression at work, and a co-worker basically told her, "We are going to call your health provider right now and get you help, because this isn't just feeling down -- this is something else."
Gionfriddo cautions that even people who are in treatment and have learned how to cope can still return to an acute phase of depression that leaves them totally withdrawn. Whether they're mostly relying on medications or counseling, they may need a "therapeutic reset," he says. "That's the time to call and say, 'Can I get an appointment today?' and explain 'I'm worse off -- and can we head this off at the pass before I'm at point where I'm out of work for two weeks or fail to do my project?'"
Be easy on yourself.
If you think you have depression, and you fear that speaking up might affect your job, it helps to realize "you're not alone – and once you're open to talk about this condition, you'll find that there's more people who are sympathetic to you than those who are critical," Aimee says. "Your fear of the reaction might be worse than the actual reaction." From one who's been there, her advice is, "While you're being proactive about treatment, take it one day at a time and be very gentle with yourself."
Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/16/work-and-depression_n_5823534.html

Get Motivated to Work Through Depression

When you’re feeling depressed, people around you may not completely understand what you’re going through. One of the common misconceptions is that depression is simply a lack of motivation, says Simon Casey, PhD, author of Secrets to Emotional Wealth and founder and CEO of Emotional Mastery International.
“Unfortunately, many people believe that people who are depressed lack motivation, and they assume that’s the cause of their depression,” says Casey. “They also believe that the depressed person needs to just ‘snap out of it.’ In reality, motivation requires desire and positive, creative energy. Depressed people often lack those two key requirements. Trying to motivate a depressed person by encouraging them to go out, get active, and have fun often fails.”
How to Get Motivated During a Depressive Episode
Having trouble getting motivated is actually a depression symptom all on its own, adds Gabriela Cora, MD, managing partner of the Florida Neuroscience Center and a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. So it’s not surprising that you may have trouble figuring out what motivates you during a depressive episode.
“When someone has depression, it’s about more than just finding motivation,” explains Dr. Cora. “Usually, the person needs professional help and medication to get to the bottom of their illness. It’s not as simple as just finding a hobby that they can be passionate about.”
Finding the Motivation to Get Back on Track
Getting motivated when you’re going through a depressive episode can be challenging, but there are guidelines you can follow to help transition out of your depression, says Cora. Here are some suggestions that may help:

• Get out of bed. Just getting out of bed is a good first step. When the depressive episode is really bad, sometimes motivation starts with recognizing even the smallest steps as mini victories. Simply get up, take a shower, get dressed, and view it as a positive first step toward your goal.
• Get some exercise. Exercise is a proven mood booster, so once you get up and get out of bed, take the next step and make yourself exercise to further break out of that “no-motivation” mindset.
• Break tasks and goals into small steps. Sometimes breaking down what you want to accomplish into smaller, more achievable goals will give you the motivation you need. “For example, a writer could just commit to doing a paragraph at a time, rather than an entire article,” suggests Cora. “By breaking it down this way, you feel like you are accomplishing something.”
• Rely on your family. Most people with depression know their families love them and care for them, but during a depressive episode, it’s easy to lose sight of that fact. If you feel the urge to withdraw, resist it and reach out to your family for help. “A strong family unit is essential when it comes to dealing with a depressed person,” says Casey. “They will provide much-needed support as well as ‘tough love’ to encourage you to work through it in a safe environment.”
• Build on any positive developments. Finding motivation during a depressive episode is undoubtedly tricky, but one strategy is to remain as optimistic and positive as possible. Look for subtle signs, such as colors looking brighter or music sounding better to you, says Cora. Then, push yourself further in that positive direction, and encourage friends and family members to help push you too. Gradually, you may begin to recapture your lost motivation.

Depression is a serious illness, and focusing on a goal, a hobby, or even a strong family unit to get you through it may not be enough. Treatment of depressive episodes frequently require medication and counseling from qualified mental health experts to help you rekindle the motivation you need to get back to a better quality of life.
Source:  http://www.everydayhealth.com/health-report/major-depression/find-motivation.aspx

Anxiety common in young people

14^th January 2015 – Anxiety is common in young people and worse if they don't have a job. According to The Prince’s Trust Macquarie Youth Index 2015, anxiety is gripping young people. While a large proportion are outgoing and lead busy lives, it found more than 1 in 10 often felt too anxious to leave the house and over a third worried about everyday situations.

Survey

The report says the confidence young people have in their physical health is at its lowest point since the survey began in 2009 and anxiety is preventing them from looking after their health and securing jobs.
Shirley Cramer, CEO of The Royal Society for Public Health, says in the report: “ Mental health issues like anxiety and depression can have a devastating impact on young people’s lives, affecting their relationships, self-confidence and job prospects."
The report is the largest study of its kind, giving a unique insight into the views of young people. The findings are based on interviews with 2,265 16-to-25-year-olds.

Unemployment

The report shows many young people experience anxiety as part of their everyday lives but those who are out of work, or NEET, (not in education, employment or training) are far more likely to demonstrate anxious behaviour.
A fifth (20%) of respondents claim they “fall apart” emotionally on a regular basis. This increases to a third (33%) of NEETs.
More than a third (36%) often feel anxious about everyday situations, rising to 52% of NEETs.
The Youth Index shows that being unemployed has a detrimental effect on a young person’s overall wellbeing. The overall score, which measures levels of happiness and confidence, is 13 points lower for NEETs than for those in education, employment or training, and two points lower than it was in 2014.

Turn lives around

The Prince’s Trust provides a combination of intensive support, vocational training and mentoring. Last year it helped more than 58,000 young people get back into work, education or training.
Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince's Trust, says in a statement: "Thousands of young people feel like prisoners in their own homes. Without the right support, they become socially isolated – struggling with day-to-day life and slipping further and further from the jobs market. But, we can help even the most vulnerable young people find work and turn their lives around."
Source:  http://www.webmd.boots.com/anxiety-panic/news/20150114/anxiety-common-in-young-people

Anxiety/Depression/Citalopram- CBT Done - what next ??

OK so ive posted a few times, I suffer with depression and anxiety/ panic attacks , which come out the blue generally but some days i feel like i kinda just know im gonna have one ! as feel edgy all day then bam ! No particular triggers , often if works busy , it happens and yesterday shopping. As for the depression , ive always suffered years ago was on Venlafaxine then came off when ttc. Manged for 9-10 yrs without meds. Before xmas went to gp who originally gave breathing excercises , then went back as no luck and got given Sertraline 50mg. That didnt really work , and lacked sleep so much so they added Mirtazipine but gained alot of weigh in a short space of time , so they then stopped the Mirtazipine and doubled the Sertraline - as you can imagine the side effects i was suffering waqsnt good and got signed off work for 6 weeks , the 100mg of Sertaline still no good so he put me on Venlafaxine , started 75mg then 150 then 225 , 4 weeks into 225mg i started bruising very badly so had to stop them as its int he very rare side effects . So 3 approx weeks ago he put me on 20mgCitalorpram then 40mg 4 days later. which im still on , Im between all this i have had CBT Panic workshop which to be honest hasnt overly helped but then again i was doing it over the period i was changing meds,
I get down at things that have happed in the past , things not even my family know about , domestic violence and being forced to 'do things ' i disdnt want to do with my 1st proper partner ( if u can call hin that ) then my childs dad was also a bit ' handy' which we finally split because of it 8yrs ago - my family only knew about the final time not any of the others he did it , or my partner before . I was then in a happy relationship for 7 yrs and that ended in feb this yr , ive tried to be strong about it but i still cant belive its happened.
Last yr i had an op , which was meant to be day surgery , 3 days in hospital as was more complicated than thought ,  , 4 weeks off work - made myself ill by going bk too soon so had another 3 weeks off ( and the op has not improved anythign )  , i then had to move house whilst poorly and couldnt help much  ( which i love my new pad  just un needed at the time )
On top of all that , my child has behavioral issues and i just feel do drained from life . I work p/t as on my own so cant do much more , work are good as had alot of time off but  i knwo ppl talk about me , i can just imagine it ' oh shes off again ' ;what for now '  ( not many know the real reason )
Just realised im babbling but i have no one to talk to , just wanted to know the next step after cbt - i have a telephone apt with a phyc pratitioner this week just dont knwo what to expect ( and one of my triggers is talking in the phone :? )
Source:  http://patient.info/forums/discuss/anxiety-depression-citalopram-cbt-done-what-next--425564