Depression Health Center

News and Features Related to Depression

Depression Gene? Maybe Not

June 16, 2009 -- New research dismisses the widely held notion that a "depression gene" makes a person facing stressful life events more likely to develop depression. In 2003, mental health researchers announced that a genetic variation that affected the body's serotonin levels increased a person's
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Stress and Depression

Stress is good for you. It keeps you alert, motivated and primed to respond to danger. As anyone who has faced a work deadline or competed in a sport knows, stress mobilizes the body to respond, improving performance. Yet too much stress, or chronic stress may lead to major depression in susceptib
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Parental Depression Affects 15 Million Kids

June 10, 2009 -- Parental depression can take a serious toll on children, and the whole family should be involved in depression care, according to a new report. That report, issued today by the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine, estimates that in any given year, 7.5 million U.S
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After Baby is Born: Postpartum Depression and Relationships

When Tina Merritt gave birth to her son Graham six years ago, she expected what all new mothers expect: a joyous experience getting to know her baby. Instead, she found that she was terrified of her own child. “I came home and I cried for hours straight. I was afraid that somebody would leave me alo
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Uprooting Children Raises Their Suicide Risk

June 3, 2009 -- Job hopping may be financially necessary or rewarding for adults, but Danish researchers say changing residences can be emotionally stressful for children and may increase their suicide risk. It’s lonely being a stranger in the classroom or new neighborhood, and youngsters can suffer
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Coping Skills May Reduce Teen Depression

June 2, 2009 -- Teaching at-risk teens skills to help them identify negative thinking and better deal with their problems can reduce the incidence of depression, new research confirms. The study compared outcomes among teens who were and were not enrolled in a cognitive behavioral therapy program. W
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Are Antidepressant Warnings Causing Harm?

June 1, 2009 -- Federal warnings about potentially dangerous and even deadly risks of antidepressant drugs may be doing more harm than good, new research suggests. Since the FDA issued its first in a series of warnings in October 2003 about increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children
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Craving Carbs: Is It Depression?

Does a bad day at the office or a tiff with your spouse send you marching to the cookie jar or the corner bakery? Or do you find yourself at the vending machine every day precisely at 4 p.m. for some crackers or candy? If either scenario fits, you're not alone. Many people crave carbohydrates -- esp
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Foods to Help You Feel Better

Are you feeling down in the dumps? Are you irritated at how often you’ve been irritable? Perhaps it’s time to look at the foods and drinks you consume to see if they are trashing your mood. Nutrition experts say that the foods you eat can help you feel better -- or feel worse -- in the short-term an
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Natural Depression Treatments

While therapy and medication are key in controlling depression, there’s also a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Making changes to your own behavior -- your physical activity, diet, and lifestyle -- can be effective natural depression treatments. “Lifestyle changes are a very important part
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