Depression Health Center

News and Features Related to Depression

Seasonal Mood and Hormonal Changes

Many women report mood changes linked to their monthly menstrual cycles. Between 3% and 9% of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), often with severe depression symptoms. How are these monthly mood changes -- mild or severe -- affected by seasonal weather and
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Tempted to Quit Antidepressants?

Antidepressants are designed to boost mood and relieve sadness, but for some patients, their side effects fuel another emotion: frustration. Just ask Maryland resident Jane Niziol. Her doctor prescribed Paxil after a difficult breakup left her feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Niziol recalls the me
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Treatment-Resistant Depression: Your Continuum of Care

If you've been diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, you might be wondering what happens next. You've already tried some medications. Maybe you've already tried talk therapy, too. They haven't helped. So what now? "Having treatment-resistant depression is a terrible burden for people," says
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Lifestyle Tips for Treatment-Resistant Depression

If you have treatment-resistant depression, getting expert medical and psychological treatment is crucial. But recovery isn't only about dutifully taking your medicine and seeing your therapist. There is actually a lot that you can do on your own to support your treatment. "Because some treatments h
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Omega-3s No Help for Depression?

Oct. 20, 2009 -- Depressed heart patients don't get extra help from omega-3 fatty acids when they take the supplements along with an antidepressant drug, a clinical trial shows. Heart patients are often prescribed omega-3 supplements. There's evidence that the supplements can make antidepressants si
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Serotonin: 9 Questions and Answers

Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter, a type of chemical that helps relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Although serotonin is manufactured in the brain, where it performs its primary functions, some 90% of our serotonin supply is found in the digestive tract and in blood platelets.
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Depression, Anxiety Linked to Weight Gain

Oct. 6, 2009 - People who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders are more likely to gain weight over time and become obese than people who don’t, a new study shows. Researchers followed more than 4,000 British civil servants for almost two decades in one of the longest st
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Mediterranean Diet May Fight Depression

Oct. 5, 2009 -- A new study suggests people who follow a traditional Mediterranean diet, rich in foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, and fish, may be less likely to develop depression. Researchers say rates of depression are lower in Mediterranean than northern European cou
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Antidepressants Linked to Newborn Problems

Oct. 5, 2009 -- New research provides further evidence that links antidepressant use among pregnant mothers to problems for their newborns at birth. The study showed that exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with babies born an average of five days earlier and wi
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Traveling With Holiday Depression

Are you traveling for the holidays? Ready for all the family gatherings, old friends, Mom's cake, the white and drifting snow? It may depend on what happens to your mood when holidays approach. In fact, if you get depressed around the holidays, travel can seem more like a nightmare than a vacation.
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