Feelings of Depression? Nuke 'em!

You think you may be suffering from depression and visit a psychiatrist to have your condition assessed. Rather than being given a form to complete, or asked a series of probing questions about dreams and your relationship with your mother, you are instead kitted out with a rocket launcher...  Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Diagnosis, Treatment of Youth for Depression Fell After FDA Alert

Researchers are troubled by data indicating that large numbers of young people with depression are being left untreated after the FDA issued its first advisory about the antidepressants in 2003. Rates of the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of depression among children and adolescents... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article 

Depression May Often Precede Anxiety

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Contrary to the prevailing belief, it is nearly as likely that major depressive disorder will develop into a generalized anxiety disorder, as the reverse pattern, according to a study published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Moreover, the lifetime prevalence of both anxiety and depression has probably been underestimated... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Depression May Hinder Obesity Surgery Results

LOS ANGELES - Extremely obese people suffering from depression or anxiety tend to lose less weight after obesity surgery than mentally healthy people, researchers reported Thursday in a study that suggests such patients could benefit from treatment beforehand... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Elderly Sleep Woes Linked to Increased Suicide Risk

Chronically troubled sleep may be a marker for an increased risk for suicide in the elderly, a new report suggests. "The association exists even after you control for depression," said lead researcher Rebecca Bernert, a clinical psychology doctoral student at Florida State University. "This finding is important, because sleep disturbances are amenable to treatment, unlike other risk factors... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

US Veterans Twice as Likely as Civilians to Commit Suicide: Study

US veterans are twice as likely as civilians to commit suicide, according to a study released Monday, which researchers said underscores the need for mental health care for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Most at risk were disabled male veterans, or those who suffered emotional or psychological trauma during their service... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Teen Suicide After Date Violence or Assault

A new report discovers recent dating violence among urban teen females and lifetime history of sexual assault among urban teen males may be associated with suicide attempts. Background information from the article found in the June issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine lists suicide as the third leading cause of death in adolescents... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Stress, Depression May Hike Memory Problems

People who are often stressed out or depressed are far more likely to develop memory problems than those with sunnier dispositions, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a finding that sheds light on early predictors of Alzheimer’s disease. They said those who most often are anxious or depressed were 40 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a form of memory loss that is often a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Medicaid Recipients Have Trouble Finding Mental Health Care

Medicaid beneficiaries with substance abuse and mental disorders are less likely to use community services, even though most of the medical help for these disorders is community-based, a new study finds. The study, which is published in the July issue of Psychiatric Services, examined where integrated treatments for co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders would be most needed for Medicaid recipients... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article

Video Games' Addictive Nature Unclear: AMA

There's not yet enough evidence to label excessive use of video games an addiction, according to Wednesday's vote on the issue by top U.S. doctors. The American Medical Association, meeting in Chicago, backed away from the stronger language included in a recommendation from the group's Council on Science and Public Health. That report had called for the AMA to add video game addiction to a list of "formal disorders," where it would join other problem behaviors such as pathological gambling.... Read More   |   Discuss   |   Suggest An Article