MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'depressive'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:12:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975943&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fdare-to-be-happy%2F If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ~ Frederick Douglass Let’s get this out in the open: I am bipolar II. That means the mania is really low-key and infrequent and the depression, at least in my case, for most of my life, has been pretty much nonstop. There are degrees of depression, of course. Mine gets severe relatively quickly and stays that way a relatively long time. Yes, I have been an inpatient at psychiatric hospitals. Yes, I have self-harmed. Yes, I have been on every psychotropic medication known to man, and failed most of them. The two that I’m on right now combine for one really annoying side effect. I have even, since about New Year’s, been undergoing a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). My memory is shot, along with many other things, but the suggesti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975943 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:49:03 +0100 4975943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723941&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F18%2Fcatherine-zeta-jones-bipolar-ii-is-not-diet-coke%2F Dear readers, I owe you all an apology. I was wrong in my post about Catherine Zeta Jones’s diagnosis of bipolar II to compare bipolar II to Diet Coke. It was flip, inappropriate, and a lame attempt at humor. I hereby admit that I was wrong. So there is no need to further bash me. I was wrong because it suggests that bipolar II is not as serious, not as painful, not as debilitating as bipolar I. But, as a person diagnosed with bipolar II myself, I certainly know that isn’t the case. I realize that the depressive cycle for someone with bipolar II can actually be more severe than the depressive cycles of folks with bipolar I. And sometimes the depression can be psychotic. I was there myself, although I’m not sure if it was the illness that made me psychotic or the drug cocktail of abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723941 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:00:17 +0100 4723941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709217&cid=t_160830_93_f&fid=36531&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FJeffreyMD%2F%7E3%2F-8IPlmhTe1I%2F This morning I posted the following on my tumblr1 account (link to original post): MDD is associated with a mortality rate of 15% — suicide. 50% of people with MDD receive no treatment. What other disease has a 15% mortality rate, yet we do so little to get them help?   It was subsequently reblogged by myvonne with her “rant” (her words). Here is the link to her full response, unadulterated by my annotations. Now, I don’t know myvonne at all. It appears she reblogged me through another reblog. So she may or may not ever read this response. But if she does, I want her to know this: 1. I understand that your own personal life experiences have shaped whatever strong views you hold that must have fueled that rant. 2. If we, the medical profession, have wronged you or your loved ... JeffreyMD.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709217 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:36:05 +0100 4709217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684770&cid=t_160830_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fcoping-depression-in-adult-children-of-alcoholics%2F Coping Behavior and Depressive Symptoms in Adult Children of AlcoholicsThis research examined whether adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) would report more depressive mood symptoms as compared to non-ACOAs, whether coping behaviors differed as a function of ACOA status, and whether specific coping behaviors were related to depressive mood symptoms in ACOAs.Participants were 136 college students categorized as ACOAs and 436 college students categorized as non-ACOAs.As compared to non-ACOAs, ACOAs reported significantly more symptoms of depressive mood.On the COPE Inventory, ACOAs reported higher use of the following coping strategies:Withdrawal and defend themselves physically, cognitively and emotionally,Denial,Focus on Venting of Emotions,Humor, andSubstance Use.For both the ACOA and non... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684770 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:51:08 +0100 4684770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642677&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F26%2Fwhen-should-i-come-off-my-antidepressant-6-things-to-consider%2F The question of whether or not you should start taking antidepressants is complex and difficult to answer. But even fuzzier is the question of when or if you should stop. Last May, NPR ran a piece called Coming Off Antidepressants Can Be Tricky Business. Joanne Silberner writes: Several top psychiatrists say there’s just not enough data to say for sure when to try coming off an antidepressant. Drug companies generally test their new products for a few months or up to a year. They don’t spend much time looking into how to taper off their products. The dense informational inserts that come with prescription drugs have a lot of information on how to take the product, but no information on how to stop. According to the Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety White Papers, antidepress... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642677 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:58:36 +0100 4642677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570586&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F10%2Fare-rich-people-more-depressed-than-poor-and-other-depression-factoids%2F I taped a radio show the other day with Court Lewis of American Variety Radio in which he wanted me to cover the demographics of depression. So here we go. Many of these stats I assembled from the book Understanding Depression by J. Raymond DePaulo Jr., MD, Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Others I picked in articles here and there. Depression and Gender More women are depressed than men because women have more to be depressed about than men. Kidding, of course. But I still don’t understand how our gender got stuck with labor pains and all that. Almost one in five women in the US will have one or more episodes of clinical depression, which is TWO or THREE times the rate of depressive illness that men have. Some say the discrepancy can be attr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570586 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:15:30 +0100 4570586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560352&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F08%2Fdoes-interpersonal-psychotherapy-work-for-depression%2F Psychotherapy. You know, I spend a lot of time talking about it here, and it’s no wonder — it’s an effective treatment modality that too many people simply aren’t even considering. Much less using. Psychotherapy research is less likely to be biased than other types of treatment research, too, because researchers tend not to be treatment providers nor have any direct (or even indirect) financial incentives in the outcomes of their research. Sure, there remains the “publication bias” that affects all research, but generally speaking, I tend to trust psychotherapy research data more than I do most psychiatric medication research. So I was interested to read a recent meta-analysis on a specific form of psychotherapy called interpersonal psychotherapy for th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560352 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:10:08 +0100 4560352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460006&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fintroducing-adventures-of-a-bipolar-mom%2F I’m pleased to welcome you to Adventures of a Bipolar Mom with Beth Vandagriff. Beth is a 30-year-old wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She was recently diagnosed with Ultra-Rapid Cycling Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety and Paranoia. She joins us here to share her experiences with bipolar disorder and parenting — how it is to juggle all the demands of motherhood along with the demands of living with a combination of mental health concerns. Bipolar disorder, also known by its older name “manic depression,” is a mental disorder that is characterized by constantly changing moods. A person with bipolar disorder experiences alternating highs (what clinicians call “mania“) and lows (also known as depression). Both the manic and depressive periods can be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460006 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:11:04 +0100 4460006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361249&cid=t_160830_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F01%2F17%2Fthank-you-candy-crowley-and-state-of-the-union%2F “I think you might have bipolar disorder,” he (psychiatrist) said. “Oh, thank God,” I answered. Surprise registered on his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that reaction before.” “No, I am so relieved,” I said. “Now that we know what it is, we can fix it.” Andrea Ball (Statesman.com) – Jared Loughner and the [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361249 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:22:55 +0100 4361249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999044&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F24%2Fmental-health-stigma-still-prevalent%2F Two stories published in the past week by our news team gives me reason to be a little pessimistic about the gains we’ve made in terms of educating folks about mental health concerns. The first article entitled, Depression Stigma Higher in Medical Students, examined mental health attitudes amongst medical students — you know, those folks who should be the most open-minded about these disorders that have significant roots in the brain. Of course, from the title of the article, you already know the study’s findings. In a survey of 505 medical students, researchers found that not only do the future doctors have higher rates of depression than in the general population (not surprising, given the stress of medical school), but they have something a little less expected —... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999044 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 12:05:19 +0100 3999044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994012&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F22%2Fantidepressants-useless-an-interview-with-glenn-treisman%2F I’m still bothered by all the hype awhile back about antidepressants not working any better than sugar pills (otherwise known as placebo) because I know that the people who need treatment — possibly those that will go on to take their lives — read that story and decided there was no hope in medicine. That’s why I like to publish insightful articles like the one I found in John Hopkin’s newsletter, “Hopkins Brain Wise.” They included an interview with Glenn Treisman, professor of psychiatry and internal medicine who is best known internationally for his care of HIV-infected patients who also suffer from a psychiatric illness. Here’s the interview… Q. These studies are dangerous, you say. Dr. Treisman: Ten to 20 percent of people with ma... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994012 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:30:52 +0100 3994012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3973117&cid=t_160830_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fb2h0UB6N-As%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is upon us. But this is a good thing. As one of our favorite sages, the Morning Mayor, used to say: Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift. While you tug on the ribbon, we will brew the mandatory cup of stimulation and poke around for interesting items. Here, in fact, are a few to help you get started. Have a good one and stay in touch… Roche Rules Out Merging R&D With Genentech (Reuters) Abbott To Close Canadian Baby Formula Plant (Brockville Recorder & Times) China’s BGI And Merck Form Alliance (Bio-IT World) Abbott Fights To Keep Meridia Diet Pill On The Market (Reuters) K-V Pharmaceutical Secures A $20M Loan (Fox Business) Genentech CEO Resigns From Dendreon Board (Xconomy) Cell Therapeutics Appeals FDA R... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3973117 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:51:18 +0100 3973117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946537&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F08%2Fsuicide-risk-amongst-college-students%2F Suicide is a serious concern amongst young adults, and the isolation and loneliness of some college students’ experience appear to be some of the factors that may trigger the behavior. Suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst college-aged students. Suicide is most commonly viewed as a symptom of severe depression. Depression of this nature often goes undiagnosed in a young adult, because they don’t know what it is, or have no energy or motivation to seek out help. But other risk factors can also be in play. In a survey of 1,085 University of Maryland college students, 12 percent said they had contemplated suicide. Eight out of 10 students reported having had a depressed mother. Other risk factors the researchers identified included: exposure to domestic violence, fe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946537 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:33:39 +0100 3946537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3973119&cid=t_160830_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2F3XEILuaqAG4%2F Going slower is better. Patients’ risks for relapse increase when lithium or antipsychotic medications are discontinued rapidly rather than gradually. To compare rapid (1–7 days) versus slow ( 14 days) discontinuation of antidepressants, researchers in Sardinia followed 398 patients with recurrent major depressive disorder (n=224), panic disorder (n=75), bipolar II disorder (n=62), or bipolar I disorder (n=37). Follow-up lasted at least 1 year (mean, 2.8 years; mean length of antidepressant treatment, 8.5 months). In this observational study, the treating clinicians or the patients had chosen to discontinue medications when patients were clinically well; antidepressants were withdrawn rapidly in 188 patients and gradually in 210. Rapid discontinuation was associated with a signific... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3973119 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:49:32 +0100 3973119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3822962&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F04%2Fhow-swimming-reduces-depression%2F I’ve always known that I climb out of any pool a lot happier than when I dove in. Yes, I know any kind of aerobic exercise relieves depression. For starters, it stimulates brain chemicals that foster the growth of nerve cells; exercise also affects neurotransmitters such as serotonin that influence mood and produces ANP, a stress-reducing hormone, which helps control the brain’s response to stress and anxiety. But swimming, for me, seems to zap a bad mood more efficiently than even running. Swimming a good 3000 meters for me can, in the midst of a depressive cycle, hush the dead thoughts for up to two hours. It’s like taking a Tylenol for a headache! It was with interest, then, that I read an article in “Swimmer” magazine about why, in fact, that’s the c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3822962 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:00:27 +0100 3822962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714184&cid=t_160830_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdetecting-depression-in-online-text-and-blogs%2F2010.06.30 In a Thought Police kind of way, a new computer program can detect depression through your online writing. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Beer-Sheva, Israel, have developed a program that detects depression in text without obvious terms like “depression” or “suicide.” In a sample of 200 positively-identified texts out of 300,000 which were screened by the program, there was a 78 percent agreement between the program and a panel of psychologists. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714184 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:00:21 +0100 3714184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3588913&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F22%2Fpreschool-depression-real-or-imagined%2F Joan Luby, a Professor of Psychiatry in the Early Emotional Development Program at the Washington University School of Medicine, argues in a new journal article (Luby, 2010) that preschool depression is a real disorder that is important to identify early on. Preschool depression refers to preschool-aged children (between 3 and 6 years old) suffering from significant depressive symptoms that cause impairment in the child’s daily functioning and development. She argues, however, that we can’t use the adult criteria for depression, since some of those criteria wouldn’t make sense in a preschool child. A preschool child, for instance, can’t experience the loss of sexual pleasure, but they can experience a loss of enjoyment in ordinary child play activities. It makes a ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3588913 Sat, 22 May 2010 11:06:33 +0100 3588913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529733&cid=t_160830_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdo-women-get-depressed-more-than-men%2F May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, reminding us all to keep our stress in check, and deal with signs of depression. But is all of that women’s work? This Pristiq commercial seems to say so. The prescription antidepressant advertisement features a mom-type watching her family play while she repeatedly winds up a sad toy lady, then lets it crawl across the picnic table. “I feel like I have to wind myself up to get out of bed, and well, I have to keep winding myself up to deal with the sadness, the loss of interest, the trouble concentrating, the lack of energy,” the woman explains. By the end of the dreadful commercial, we get the idea: Mom used to be a gloomy automaton of a woman. And now, thanks to Pristiq, she’s not. Anyone who has been through a major depression k... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529733 Mon, 03 May 2010 15:21:31 +0100 3529733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526710&cid=t_160830_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdo-women-get-depressed-more-than-men%2F May is Mental Health Month! Mental Health America is encouraging us to stay on top of our stress, manage parenting in a difficult economy, and deal with signs of depression. But is all of that women’s work? This Pristiq commercial seems to say so. The prescription antidepressant advertisement features a mom-type watching her family play while she repeatedly winds up a sad toy lady, then lets it crawl across the picnic table. “I feel like I have to wind myself up to get out of bed, and well, I have to keep winding myself up to deal with the sadness, the loss of interest, the trouble concentrating, the lack of energy,” the woman explains. By the end of the dreadful commercial, we get the idea: Mom used to be a gloomy automaton of a woman. And now, thanks to Pristiq, she’s not. Bu... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526710 Mon, 03 May 2010 15:21:31 +0100 3526710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460213&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F11%2Fhow-long-is-a-typical-bipolar-episode%2F Bipolar disorder is characterized by a cycling from depression to mania, and back again over time (hence the reason it used to be called manic depression, because it includes both mania and depression). One of the commonly asked questions we get here is, “How long does a typical bipolar episode last?” The answer has traditionally been, “Well, it varies considerably from person to person. Some may have rapid cycling bipolar disorder where that person can cycle back and forth between depression and mania in the course of a day or multiple times a week. Others may be stuck in one mood or the other for weeks or months at a time.” New research (Solomon et al., 2010) published in The Archives of General Psychiatry sheds a little more empirical light onto this question. I... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460213 Sun, 11 Apr 2010 16:15:02 +0100 3460213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3456719&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F09%2Flook-whos-depressed-now-interns%2F As though medical school wasn’t difficult enough, now new research suggests that internship is even more difficult. In a study of 740 medical students who were on internship, researchers (Sen et al., 2010) found that nearly 4 percent of the students met the criteria for depression before their internship started. That number jumped to over 25 percent of students when the researchers measured their depression level at four points over the course of the internship year. That’s right — 1 in 4 medical students on internship suffer from serious, clinical depression. Most of the students who met criteria for depression were classified as moderately depressed. That’s in-between mild and severe depression, and in most people, means their daily functioning is significantly ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3456719 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:38:54 +0100 3456719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318434&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F01%2Fthe-myth-of-depressions-upside%2F Jonah Lehrer’s essay on “Depression’s Upside” in the Feb. 28, 2010 New York Times Magazine raises many important questions about depression, and what, if anything, we can “learn” from suffering a bout of serious depression. Alas, the article obscures almost as much as it illuminates, and I fear that its net effect may be to perpetuate what I call “The Myth of Depression’s Upside.” But first, let’s be clear: a “myth” is not the same thing as a lie. A myth is a transgenerational story we tell ourselves, which often has a grain of truth to it, and which usually serves some unifying function in our culture. It is a myth that George Washington threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River — there were no silver dollars ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318434 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:30:47 +0100 3318434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3201899&cid=t_160830_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2F55LfL-pV_F8%2F CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine dependence represents a general marker of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly of addictive comorbidity. It may be used as a screening measure for psychiatric diagnoses in clinical practice as well as in future trials. Research report; Le Strat Y, Ramoz N, Gorwood P. In Alcohol-Dependent Drinkers, What Does the Presence of Nicotine Dependence Tell Us About Psychiatric and Addictive Disorders Comorbidity? Alcohol Alcohol. 2010 Jan 20. See also; Alcoholic, Addictive Behaviors Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome Are Families Affected by Alcoholism? What are the Styles of Enablers? Hazelden Books and Resources Related Reading: Share/Save (Source: Twelve Step Facilitation.com) Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3201899 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:55:53 +0100 3201899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044806&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Finsecurity-pain-and-depression%2F We often try and highlight the connections between one’s mental health and their physical health complaints, to demonstrate that the two are inseparable. Yet another study has been published to show how our insecurity can even impact something as physical as the feeling of pain. The study of 382 teenagers showed that those who were more insecure had a tendency to amplify the degree they felt pain: We found that adolescents with insecure relationships tend to be more ‘alarmist’ about their pain symptoms; they have a tendency to amplify the degree of threat or severity of their pain. This amplification leads to more intense pain and more severe depressive symptoms. In other words, the more insecure a teen reportedly was, the more intense pain they complained of, often in the form... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044806 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:30 +0100 3044806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019064&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F22%2Fsigns-of-suicide-from-kathryn-goetzke%2F Kathryn Goetzke is a depression survivor that began a non-profit organization for depression called iFred (the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression) dedicated to encouraging research on depression and reducing the stigma associated with the disease. Kathryn lost both her father and her aunt to untreated depression — both tragically ending their lives in suicide. Kathryn herself experienced multiple depressive episodes before getting treatment. She began the organization in 2005, and it has attempted to bring more attention the impact that depression — and its untreated effects, such as suicide — has on families and society. Recently, the Chicago CBS affiliate interviewed her briefly for a story about the signs of suicide, after the suicide of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019064 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:01:01 +0100 3019064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2963157&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Fthe-fear-of-relapse-5-cognitive-tools%2F A reader recently wrote to me about her overwhelming fear of relapse. She said, “I’m struggling now with it, obsessing over it, and I’m so, so scared. Do I want to crawl into the hole? I fear that. But I can’t. I can’t.” First of all, thank you for being honest. Because so many of us know exactly how you feel. I’m there a lot of the time myself. Less than I was the two years following my hospitalizations, but there too much of the time. Doctor Smith would continually remind me during those first fragile years after my big breakdown that a slight setback in my recovery didn’t mean that I was plunging into a full-fledged depressive episode again, and that it wouldn’t take another 18 months to recover, like it did after my breakdown. These... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2963157 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:39:47 +0100 2963157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2948359&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=38950&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shockmd.com%2F2009%2F11%2F01%2Filluminate-depression%2F QUEST on KQED Public Media. A very good video about the symptoms of depression and antidepressants. It shows how antidepressants are supposed to work with nice graphics. The next topic is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS. An option when medication isn’t working. One of 9 options for treatment resistant depression. A treatment is shown with some explanation of how it works. The FDA has approved TMS for depression, but is still costs a lot of money. Personally I am not impressed with the evidence of the efficacy of TMS for depression Also shown is a way to stimulate rodent brains with light using light sensitive proteins in rodents, called optogenetics. It makes a nice model for activity in the brain during depression. It’s an example of how new tools and research are sh... Dr Shock MD PhD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2948359 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:26:26 +0100 2948359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649061&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fdivorce-hurts-not-only-emotionally-but-also-physically%2F This study suggests another reason to seek out marital or family counseling before getting a divorce, which should be seen for what it is — a choice of very last resort, after other honest attempts have been made to fix the relationship. Divorce hurts everyone, even your children. And this study shows that even after remarrying, for some reason people who had previously divorced still report more health concerns than those who never divorced. Of course divorce is a legitimate option for couples who’ve already tried everything else. Perhaps being aware of all the additional concerns you and your children may be at risk for can help you help ward them off — or at least better recognize them if they do happen. The study also demonstrates yet again the intimate connections b... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649061 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:40 +0100 2649061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576649&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F07%2Fdepression-theres-a-person-underneath-the-illness%2F I think one of the most consoling things a fellow manic depressive ever told me was that I (the person known as Therese) never disappeared during my severe depression. It felt like I did, of course. Because I could barely recognize myself. I would stare into a mirror and question the identity of the ugly chick staring back. People couldn’t recognize me … especially from the back, since I had dropped a few pant sizes. But my friend reassured me that I was there all along. In a letter dated around May of 2006, just as I was starting to ascend from the Black Hole, she wrote me this: Once one walks in the door of a good psychiatrist, the scientist, and finds a good therapist as well as cognitive-thinking help, she realizes how alone she has been most of her life. Your success is ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576649 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:03:59 +0100 2576649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405413&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F14%2Fassessing-depression-in-the-context-of-life%2F What is the difference between having a short-term, emotional crisis, an adjustment disorder, and long-term clinical depression? Well, in the hands of a sloppy mental health professional, the answer might be “nothing” — all three might be diagnosed as “major depression.” But is this really sloppy diagnosis (or, as researchers would call it, a “diagnostic challenge”), or a simple result of how mental health is typically reimbursed in the U.S.? Researchers Monroe & Reid (2009) argue that clinicians and researchers need to do a better job in evaluating depression in context of a person’s life stress. Without doing so, they argue “one cannot determine whether or not the presenting condition represents an understandable response to adve... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405413 Thu, 14 May 2009 10:00:47 +0100 2405413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2287230&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F23%2Ffda-approves-symbyax-for-treatment-resistant-depression%2F Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Symbyax for the acute treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It is the first drug approved for this indication. Symbyax is a combination pill that combines olanzapine (Zyprexa) and fluoxetine HCl (a long-acting form of Prozac) in a single capsule. Symbyax is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company. According to the company’s press release: The new Symbyax TRD indication is for acute treatment of adult patients with major depressive disorder who have not responded to two separate trials of different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration in their current episode. Zyprexa, in combination with fluoxetine, is now approved for the acute treatment of TRD in adults. Symbyax was the first drug approved by the FD... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2287230 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:02:51 +0100 2287230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060689&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2Fmood_swings_are_normal.php Image via Wikipedia We have become a medicating culture. If we don't like how we feel, we can take a pill to feel better. Kellen Von Houser, MA, LPC, in her blog Kellevision says it boldly. "My concern is for people who are actually experiencing the normal emotions of life, labeling them "mood swings" and trying to medicate their discomfort away. My concern is for doctors who participate in this and validate it. My concern is for teaching people that emotions can be "negative" and undesirable. That they are "bad" in some way and should be eliminated, by chemical intervention or any other means. This is not a message we want to send. Emotions are what make us human. And expressing them is what keeps us sane. " In this world, shrewd advertisers manipulate our moods to overwhelm our self... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060689 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:03:25 +0100 4060689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144533&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F29%2Flancet-study-ignores-significance-of-side-effects%2F A new meta-analysis study was published today in the journal Lancet which showed that two antidepressant drugs — Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) — were more effective than their psychiatric peers. Remeron and Effexor fared better, too, than the other drugs included in the analysis, such as Prozac, Cymbalta, Luvox and Paxil. The study looked at two components important to treatment — efficacy (how much does this drug actually help reduce depressive symptoms) and toleration of the drug (how many people stop taking the drug because it simply can’t be tolerated by their body), as measured by drop-out rates. However, the study did not look at a drug’s side effects, which is a major component of finding a psychiatric drug that’s appropriate a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144533 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:53:14 +0100 2144533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060691&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2Fclients_not_practitioners_make_therapy_work.php Image via Wikipedia I have been really enjoying my access to a large number of professional journals over the past couple years. Working at a teaching hospital definitely has it's academic perks. I've been particularly gratified to see a growing sophistication in research methods, creative approaches and a maturing view of results. Until recently, practice based research articles have often taken the form of providing some support for a therapist preferred approach to therapy. I can understand that, for I am too, highly invested in how I do and why I do it. But many if not most therapy based research describes a new fangled therapy with a new name. This sort of research seems to me to be more self-serving and contributing to a ever fracturing of psychological science. There are so many ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060691 Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:27:48 +0100 4060691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2026954&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fwhy-theres-no-epidemic-of-depression%2F Scientific American has an accessible and interesting interview with the authors of a new book called The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow into Depressive Illness. Despite the book’s title, the authors argue that there’s no new epidemic of depression, just greater awareness (and treatment seeking) of it: Our book argues that, despite widespread beliefs to the contrary, the rate of depressive disorders in the population has not undergone a general upsurge. In fact, careful studies that use the same criterion for diagnosis over time reveal no change in the prevalence of depression. What has changed is the growing number of people who seek treatment for this condition, the increase in prescriptions for antidepressant medications, the number of articles a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2026954 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:15:49 +0100 2026954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018102&cid=t_160830_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F475641626%2F The FDA sent the drugmaker a warning letter after learning that a sales rep this past January suggested to physician that the Seroquel antipsychotic could be used to treat major depressive disorder, which would be an unapproved use. After getting the pitch, the doc requested info to support the claim, and AstraZeneca mailed a thick packet that summarized research studies of Seroquel in depression, according to the FDA, which characterized the move as creating a new ‘intended use.’ According to the FDA letter, AstraZeneca’s material indicated the drugmaker did not recommend Seroquel for unapproved uses, but the FDA maintained the disclaimer was “insufficient to mitigate the promotion” of a new use (here is the letter and the material sent to the doc). An Astra... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018102 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:02:13 +0100 2018102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060705&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2Fintroducing_pete_feigal_inspirational_speaker.php Pete Feigal sent me another set of stories now posted to Dare To Dream Forums. Pete has been a regular contributor. He is now blind, mostly wheelchair bound, but still one of the most inspirational speakers I've ever heard on the topic of recovery from disability. Pete Feigal has been battling clinical depression for 30 years, and MS for the last 19. He has spoken nationally over 1400 times in the last 11 years for schools, colleges, prisons, corporations, churches, medical professionals and police forces around the nation. He is a native Minnesotan and has been, in his checkered past, a professional Shakespearian actor, an aviation and motorcycle artist, and a motorcycle drag racer. He describes his newest contributions. ""Why There Are No 'Whys?'" came from all of the senseless killi... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060705 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:38:25 +0100 4060705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060706&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2Fis_sadness_the_same_as_depression.php This article examines the assumption that major depression is a specific illness, that it is rapidly increasing, and that a medical response is justified. I argue that major depression is not a natural entity and does not identify a homogenous group of patients. The apparent increase in major depression results from: confusing those who are ill with those who share their symptoms; the surveying of symptoms out of context; the benefits that accrue from such a diagnosis to drug companies, researchers, and clinicians; and changing social constructions around sadness and distress. Standardized medical treatment of all these individuals is neither possible nor desirable. The major depression category should be replaced by a clinical staging strategy that acknowledges the continuous distribution... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060706 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:04:24 +0100 4060706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603017&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F09%2Ftext-messaging-for-bipolar-disorder%2F It was bound to happen — using text messaging to improve one’s condition. After all, text messaging is very nearly always available wherever you might be (while the Internet typically requires a computer to use it effectively). So it wasn’t surprising to see that the use of such a text messaging system for bipolar disorder won an award in the U.K. earlier this month: […] Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University’s department of psychiatry […] created a text messaging system for people with bipolar disorder, which enables them to monitor their own condition and keep GPs updated on how they are feeling. […] Oxford University’s Prof John Geddes said: “I’m delighted that our project ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603017 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:58:35 +0100 1603017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454890&cid=t_160830_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fdepression-out-of-the-shadows-on-pbs-may-21-2008%2F May is mental health awareness month and there’s an important new PBS documentary on depression premiering on May 21 (9pm ET), which is entitled “DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows.” The film is 90 minutes long and is followed by a 30 minute panel discussion hosted by Jane Pauley, who was herself diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2001, which is titled “ONE STEP: Caring for Depression, with Jane Pauley.” The documentary and panel discussion are part of a multi-dimensional PBS project that includes a Web site and an educational outreach campaign that is being produced by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the YMCA of the USA. With nearly 19 million Americans suffering from some form of depressive illness (according to the National Institute of Mental Health), depressio... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454890 Tue, 20 May 2008 18:06:23 +0100 1454890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060722&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2Fdepression_out_of_the_shadows.php This looks like a good one. I'm going to watch for sure. You can even buy the DVD now. "DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows is a 90-minute documentary about recognizing, treating, and researching depression. DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows . Video Preview | PBS A lot of Americans are keeping an important, possibly deadly secret. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that approximately 18.8 million American adults have a depressive disorder. The disease is not discriminating, seeping into all age, race, gender, and socioeconomic groups. Depression stalls careers, strains relationships, and sometimes ends lives. So if this many people are living with the disease, why the silence? DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows is a multi-dimensional PBS project that explores the disease's complex ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060722 Thu, 15 May 2008 02:22:22 +0100 4060722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329205&cid=t_160830_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F258378897%2F Close to 10 percent of men and women in America are reportedly taking drugs to combat depression. How did a once rare condition become so common? That’s the question asked in a lengthy piece in a recent issue of Scientific American. And the author suggests there are two overarching reasons… 1 - Many docs conflate conventional sadness - as from the loss of a loved one or a life-changing event such as a divorce - with the more serious and life-quashing condition of clinical depression. 2 - A second contributing factor is a change in the standard diagnostic guide, which caused many milder mental ailments to fall under the seemingly neutral label of “disorder.” “Depression, once considered a rare disease usually associated with elderly women, is overwhelmingly the menta... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329205 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:32:41 +0100 1329205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060727&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2Fpsychiatric_comorbidity_of_internet_addiction_in_c.php While still excluded from the DSM IV TR, Internet addiction has graduated to a subject worthy of research. And not surprisingly, like all other addictive behaviors, what I like to call "temporary feel goods", are associated with a lot of other diagnoses. Avoiding negative emotions has serious consequences, beyond even addictions. CNS Spectrums "Internet addiction were more likely to have MDD, dysthymic disorder, social phobia and adult ADHD than their unaffected counterparts. Adult ADHD is the most significant predictor for Internet addiction, followed by depressive disorders. Social phobia, however, was not correlated with Internet addiction in our sample after controlling for depressive disorders and adult ADHD. Further, depressive disorders and Internet addiction were associated in th... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060727 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:18:23 +0100 4060727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152487&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F01%2F15%2Fis-complete-remission-realistic%2F STAR*D was a historic, large-scale research trial that found people don’t get better in depression treatment as quickly, or as easily, as previously thought. It showed, basically, that people often needed to change medications or treatment approaches to gain remission of their depressive symptoms. In the American Journal of Psychiatry letters section earlier this month, researchers suggested that perhaps complete remission isn’t the ideal goal for everyone in treatment. And that the advocacy of even more complex treatment regimens for treatment-resistant patients (e.g., prescribing multiple types and doses of psychiatric medications at the same time) is potentially dangerous and with little research basis. John Rush’s, one of STAR*D’s authors, replied basically go... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152487 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:12:33 +0100 1152487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060731&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2Fthe_process_of_grieving.php The Journal of the American Medical Association [February 21, 2007--Vol 297, No. 7] published an important article on grief, Maciejewski et al (2007). While it's hardly definitive research, it represents an exciting trend in research that I've seen in recent years. Researchers seem more willing to take some risks with the rigor of their research models to produce information that is immediately relevant to practice. While, we are a long way from having clear guidance towards an evidenced-based practice in psychotherapy, testing models in active use in the field provides immediately useful information. Grief is one of the most common issues that emerge in psychotherapy. Grief unfolds in a purposive and meaningful way from the first awareness of loss. The grief process guides us through the... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060731 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:23:22 +0100 4060731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1093051&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2F13%2Fdoes-eminem-have-bipolar-disorder%2F According to a new tell-all book by his mother, Eminem — the famous singer, producer and actor — has been grappling with some form of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) for most of his life. The book, entitled, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, was written by Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson. In her new book, she revealed that her rapper son, Eminem, 35, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, has grappled with manic depression his entire life. Eminem’s manic depression as an adult reportedly worsened when his ex-wife Kim Mathers birthed their daughter Hailie (now 11). He apparently had another bout with bipolar disorder again when the couple divorced in 2006. A “family friend” told Life & Style magazine, “She just hopes h... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1093051 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:36:14 +0100 1093051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1047610&cid=t_160830_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F189406329%2Ffda_approves_abilify_as_add-on_for_major_depression.html Earlier this month the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved Abilify for the treatment of schizophrenia in teens and have now expanded that approval to include patients with major depressive disorder.Approved in 2002 for schizophrenia in adults and for adults suffering from bipolar manic episodes, Bristol-Myers Squibb states that Abilify is the first drug approved as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder for patients needing more than just antidepressants."The approval of this new add-on treatment option is critical for adults suffering from depression who cannot find sufficient relief for their symptoms with antidepressants alone," commented Madhukar Trivedi, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.Supplemental approva... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1047610 Fri, 23 Nov 2007 15:00:13 +0100 1047610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060741&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F10%2Fthe_role_of_shame_in_therapy.php BPS RESEARCH DIGEST reviews recent research articles in professional journals. It's a good place to try to keep up with the literature. It has been a pleasant surprise indeed that many psychodynamic principles have recently demonstrated in research. Unconscious motivations, emotion based early learning have repeatedly been demonstrated. Now I was pleased to find the begins of a research demonstration of one of the most important insights into the obstacles for change that emerge in therapy: the labeling effects of diagnosis and the self-destructive nature of shame. "Psychological outcome research tends to follow the same model, matching therapy to diagnosis. The client is again little more than the holder of the diagnosis and the subject of the therapy: their individual decisions and pers... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060741 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 01:47:25 +0100 4060741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060744&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F09%2Fapproaching_the_challenge_of_bipolar_depression_results_from_step-bd.php There is some major progress in the treatment of persons with Bipolar DO - Mixed episodes. Bipolar DO-Mixed is characterized by less serious manic symptoms, or hypomania, and significant depressive symptoms occuring at the same time. As you might expect, having a high energy level, little impulse control, impaired judgment and significant depression is a miserable condition, prone to substance abuse, suicide ideation and serious attempts. Persons with BPDO-Mixed are more prevalent in my practice than any other subtype of the disorder. That fact could be an artifact of primary finding of the following studies. Anti-depressants, when combined with mood stabilizers such as Lithium or Depakote, or atypical anti-psychotic medications like Abilify or Seroquel have been found to provide no more ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060744 Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:37:03 +0100 4060744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060752&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F08%2Fabout_eight_percent_of_us_experiences_depression_e.php SAMHSA released incidence statistics for depression over the the years of 2004 and 2005. Statistics were sorted by age and state and included all individuals who experienced at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Youths aged 12 to 17 had a higher rate of incidence at 8.88 percent. Adults aged 18 or older were measured at 7.65 percent. But thats not all. The data demonstrates a confusing variation in the rate by state. "Among 12 to 17 year olds, rates of past year MDE were among the highest in Idaho (10.37 percent) and Nevada (10.28 percent) and among the lowest in Louisiana (7.19 percent) and South Dakota (7.40 percent) Rates of past year MDE among adults aged 18 or older were among the highest in Utah (10.14 percent) and Rhode Island (9.88 percent) and among the ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060752 Sat, 04 Aug 2007 03:49:41 +0100 4060752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060754&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F07%2Fsupport_vs_corumination.php Here is another example of how the media doesn't really do much to enhance understanding of mental health. A researcher releases his results for peer review and integration into professional knowledge. A reporter sees the alarmist headlines and shares it with the general public with the first line of the article: "A researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia has found that girls who talk very extensively about their problems with friends are likely to become more anxious and depressed." The danger here is that the average parent will see this as a reason to intrude into their daughter's friendships in hopes of preventing "co-rumination" by interrupting an unhealthy peer relationship. That could be a very destructive approach and may in fact drive those relationships "underground", ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060754 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:48:23 +0100 4060754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060778&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2007%2F01%2Fantidepressants_and_suicide.php Anyone taking or contemplating anti-depressants for treatment of depression have been concerned about the blackbox warnings from the FDA. The FDA has issued blanket warnings to anyone considering or taking anti-depressants that they may actually induce suicidal thinking. The truth is that there is still very little and conflicting information about the risks. Highlighting the risks in the way the FDA did by issuing a blackbox warning has been controversial. The problem is that the risks have been assessed in only a few studies and it is not clear what is happening. The other problem is that anti-depressants also treat and prevent suicidal behavior. Not taking an anti-depressant when you need one can also be a grave risk. There is concern within the psychiatric and advocate community tha... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060778 Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:03:49 +0100 4060778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060797&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F10%2Fcan_chat_room_support_and_phon.php On-line education with chat room support for eating disorders, on-line self-help support for depression, on-line treatment for panic disorder, on-line and phone-based help for sexual problems, and phone therapy with miscarriage sufferers have been recently studied as reported in recent journal articles. While this is exciting and concerning at the same time, these studies is only a beginning of a new area of research in providing mental health services. I'm committed to having some part in this process and hope you will join me in this effort by visiting ePsyQ.com supporting our efforts in whatever way you can. If you can only join Top Health Sites and display our banner on your site that's great! If you want to list your health service and/or spread the word about the FREE listing at eP... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060797 Mon, 02 Oct 2006 03:26:57 +0100 4060797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060821&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F05%2Fscience_and_mass_media_dont_mi.php Sunday I found a disturbing article in a blog that has a good reputation. Dr. Peter Breggin at The Huffington Post wrote about the FDA decision to require a "black box" warning on the anti-depressant medication Paxil because of the risk of suicide in the beginning of treatment. Dr. Breggin is the author of the book Talking Back to Prozac which is highly critical of the anti-depressant medication Prozac. In his post at Huffington's, Dr. Breggin makes statements that appeared designed to attract attention at the expense of misleading the reader. I've written about the problem with reading articles about mental health in the press. Essentially, reader beware, what you read many be misinforming you. Sometimes misinformation occurs in the interest of selling a publication. Science has it's own ... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060821 Tue, 23 May 2006 22:49:33 +0100 4060821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060847&cid=t_160830_109_f&fid=34859&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.davemsw.com%2Farchives%2F2006%2F03%2Fnews_reports_of_depression_stu.php Results of the STAR*D Part 1 Depression study by funded by NIMH was published in January in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Yesterday, the report on STAR*D Part 2 of the study was released, but requires a subscription. The press release summarizing the results is at the NIMH site. I found two reports in the press about the study. The Washington Post got it all wrong. Antidepressants fail to cure the symptoms of major depression in half of all patients with the disease even if they receive the best possible care, according to a definitive government study released yesterday. [...]Although the study showed that patients who do not respond well to one drug could be helped by another, the results are "discouraging for several reasons," Rubinow said in an editorial published in the New E... Ψ Dare To Dream... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060847 Fri, 24 Mar 2006 03:20:57 +0100 4060847