Publications - Depression

Support Program Helps Caregivers of Mentally Ill Cope, by Traci Pedersen, Psych Central , Jun 28 2011.

“Caring for a family member with mental illness can take its toll, but a widely available education and support program for relatives of the mentally ill called Family-to-Family (FTF) can significantly improve a family's coping ability. ”

Depression: Not Just for Adults, by Kayt Sukel, The Dana Foundation , Jun 2 2011.

“Researchers are now discovering that children as young as 3 years of age can meet the clinical criteria for major depressive disorder. What's more, they demonstrate patterns of brain activation very similar to those seen in adults diagnosed with the disorder. ”

Hazy Recall as a Signal Foretelling Depression, by Alastair Gee, New York Times , May 8 2011.

“Scientists are looking to such failures to gain new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of depression. They are focusing not on what people remember, but how. The phenomenon is called overgeneral memory, a tendency to recall past events in a broad, vague manner. ”

Allergies Can Increase the Risk of Depression, by Anahad O'Connor, New York Times , Apr 11 2011.

“While there's no firm evidence that allergies cause depression, large studies show that allergy sufferers do seem to be at higher risk of depression. ”

Online Support For Mental Illness Holds Out Hope, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Feb 24 2011.

“Online social support for those with similar health problems has undeniably provided comfort and reinforcement. But research on whether peer support actually aids clinical symptoms is limited, and the findings are mixed. New research doesn't offer much additional scientific evidence that online support groups help. ”

Lifestyle Changes as Treatment for Mental Health Concerns, Depression, Anxiety, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Feb 18 2011.

“New research shows that lifestyle changes - such as getting more exercise, spending more time in nature or helping others - can be as effective as drugs or counseling for many mental health concerns. ”

F.D.A. Panel Is Split on Electroshock Risks, by Duff Wilson, New York Times , Jan 28 2011.

“A federal advisory panel was sharply divided on Friday about whether to recommend that regulators designate electroshock devices as high risk. The change could increase oversight on a controversial treatment used by about 100,000 Americans a year. ”

F.D.A. Is Studying the Risk of Electroshock Devices, by Duff Wilson, New York Times , Jan 23 2011.

“Federal regulators are weighing whether to downgrade the risk classification of electroshock devices, reinforcing what many psychiatrists consider a deepening acceptance of electroshock in modern therapy. ”

Light Therapy for Depression, by Roni Rabin, New York Times , Jan 6 2011.

“Antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil are widely used to treat depression, but a much less costly alternative called bright light therapy, in which a patient sits under an artificial light for a set period of time each day, is not. ”

Living with Depression: Why Biology and Biography Matter along the Path to Hope and Healing, by Deborah Serani, 2011.

Internet Overuse May Cause Depression, by Bill Hendrick, WebMD Health News , Aug 2 2010.

“Teenagers who are addicted to the Internet are more likely to develop depression or other psychiatric problems than teens who are classified as normal internet users, a new study says. ”

Racism Steers Black Women's View of Depression, by Rick Nauert, Psych Central , Jul 9 2010.

“A new study suggests African-American women's beliefs about depression and depression care are consistently and systematically influenced by racism. ”

Is Marijuana Use Linked to Depression in Kids, by RedOrbit, American Journal of Epidemiology , Jul 7 2010.

“Children and teenagers who smoke marijuana may have an increased risk of developing depression, according to a new stud ”

Is Exercise the Best Drug for Depression?, by Chris Whitehead, Time Magazine , Jun 19 2010.

“At his research clinic in Dallas, psychologist Jasper Smits is working on an unorthodox treatment for anxiety and mood disorders, including depression. It is not yet widely accepted, but his treatment is free and has no side effects. Compare that with antidepressant drugs, which cost Americans $10 billion each year and have many common side effects: sleep disturbances, nausea, tremors, changes in body weight. This intriguing new treatment? It's nothing more than exercise ”

Spill Takes Toll on Gulf Worker's Psyches, by Mireya Navarro, New York Times , Jun 16 2010.

“Beyond the environmental and economic damage, the toll of the mammoth spill in the Gulf of Mexico is being measured in hopelessness, anxiety, stress, anger, depression and even suicidal thoughts among those most affected, social workers say. ”