Tag: Depression

National trial: EEG brain tests help patients overcome depression

Imagine millions of depressed Americans getting their brain activity measured and undergoing blood tests to determine which antidepressant would work best. Imagine some of them receiving “brain training” or magnetic stimulation to make their brains more amenable to those treatments. A national research trial initiated by UT Southwestern in 2012 is generating the first set

Magnetic stimulation dampens brain response to drug cues in addiction

In a study investigating the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for drug addiction, researchers at Medical University of South Carolina are the first to demonstrate that the noninvasive brain stimulation technique can dampen brain activity in response to drug cues in chronic alcohol users and chronic cocaine users. The findings are published in Biological

Women need to know about the link between the pill and depression

The introduction of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s was a major milestone for female empowerment. It allowed women to separate sex from procreation, and to increase their participation in work outside the home. Now, more than 100 million women worldwide use the oral contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy or control their menstruation. But the

I’ve been having depression and anxiety problems for 3 years. It got worse when my oldest brother died two years ago. I’ve met with a psychologist because of the my bad behavior at home, but I was never open to talking because I felt like I couldn’t trust my therapist. My parents are going through hard times and I feel like I treat them as though I was the head of the household instead of them. I’m honestly tired of feeling like this and I want to change. What would you recommend?

First of all, we would like to say that we are sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. A death in the family can cause many problems (within the family) in addition to the grief everyone must feel. Sometimes it can cause conflict between parents. Sometimes kids don’t want to talk about it with their

This Type of Exercise May Help Relieve Depression

Strength training is good for your body and your mind, according to a new review of more than 30 previously published studies. The paper, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, found that resistance exercise training (RET), such as weightlifting and strength training, is associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. It also, of course,

The Gut Bacteria and Depression Connection

Research is increasingly showing a mind-body connection. Did you know, for example, that depression could be a result of bacteria in your gut? In 2012, scientists at University College Cork discovered that brain levels of serotonin, or the ‘happy hormone,’ are regulated by the amount of bacteria in the gut during early life. In other

A new molecular target identified in depression

The discovery of a new mechanism involved in depression – and a way to target it with a drug as effective as classical antidepressants—provides new understanding of this illness and could pave the way for treatments with fewer side effects. In a study published in Nature Medicine, a team of scientists at McGill University and

Increased prevalence of depression, PTSD and medical conditions among military personnel who experience trauma

Service members who experience trauma, including sexual trauma, during their service are at increased risk of major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic medical conditions, according to new research presented today at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association here. Adverse childhood experiences also increased risk of PTSD among female service members.

Turmeric: Miracle Spice or Herbal Myth?

All of a sudden, this yellow stuff is everywhere. It’s being stirred into your smoothies and heaped into products at your favorite health-food store. It’s in every hot recipe from curries to cocktails. But this herb is certainly not new. So what’s the deal with turmeric as a health trend? Turmeric (also known as curcuma longa) is a

Acupuncture possible treatment for dental anxiety

Researchers have found evidence that acupuncture could help people who experience dental anxiety. Dental anxiety affects up to an estimated 30% of the adult population in countries world-wide. Patients can experience nausea, difficulty breathing and dizziness at the thought of going to the dentist, during an examination, and following treatment. Reasons behind dental anxiety can

Effects of night-time light on internal body clock

New research published in The Journal of Physiology has illuminated the effects of night-time light exposure on internal body clock processes. This is important for helping those who have poor quality sleep, such as shift workers, and could help improve treatments for depression. The body has an internal clock that causes various physiological processes to

Unprecedented psychological distress months after Hurricane Harvey: More than half of Harris County residents are still struggling

Four months after Hurricane Harvey soaked the Houston area and displaced more than a third of the population, an alarming 52 percent of Harris County residents said they were still struggling to recover, according to a new report from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. “What we