The precise causes of depression are still unclear, but most experts think that a combination of genetic, biological and environmental factors contribute to the widespread mental illness. Certain things tend to set off depressive episodes for certain types of people. Here are some known depression risk factors broken down by demographic: Depression Risk in Women …
In a new meta-analysis of 11 studies, researchers have found that the symptoms of depression increase a patient’s risk of suffering from lower back pain. The researchers concluded that people with depression were 60 percent more likely to feel pain in their low back than their healthy counterparts. Moreover, the study found that risk for …
Most of us already know the key symptoms of depression, like low mood or feelings of hopelessness. However, there is a range of other warning signs that many people do not often associate with depression. Here are 5 of the lesser known indicators of depression: Spending too much time online: Several studies have shown that compulsive internet and social media use often arise …
New research has linked dysphoria, a characteristic symptom of depression, to memory and concentration deficits. Dysphoria, the antonym of euphoria, involves persistent low mood and general feelings of dissatisfaction. The new study focused on dysphoric individuals’ tendency to focus solely on “mood-congruent” thoughts. For example: depressed people often obsess about negative experiences and emotions, such …
People with depression may have a harder time getting past social rejection, a recent study finds. PET scans of depressed people’s brains showed that the distress of rejection lasted longer for them than for healthy people. “Every day we experience positive and negative social interactions. Our findings suggest that a depressed person’s ability to …
A new study funded by Cancer Research UK has found that current smokers are 70 percent more likely to have anxiety and depression than non-smokers. It also reported that heavy smokers who successfully quit have nearly the same depression and anxiety risk as people who never smoked. Researchers looked at 6,471 people over 40 years …
For almost 50 years, the consensus among neuroscientists has been that low serotonin levels in the brain’s synapses trigger the symptoms of depression. Guided by this theory, researchers developed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common antidepressant that seeks to boost serotonin. But a new report is challenging all those assumptions. Researchers at the …
Researchers have discovered a similar pattern of grey-matter loss in the brain across a broad range of psychiatric disorders, suggesting that mental illnesses with differing symptoms could arise from the same neurological basis. Their findings challenge the assumption of differentiating mental disorders by symptoms rather than by brain pathology. Dr. Amit Etkin of Stanford University, …
Eating fewer than two servings of fruit a day puts women at a greater risk of depression. Researchers from University of Queensland School of Population Health found a clear link between fruit consumption and the development of depressive symptoms. “We found that women who ate at least two servings of fruit a day were less …
Without seeking professional help, most people do not experience success in treating major depressive disorder (MDD). However, along with traditional treatments, self-help techniques can help you cope, manage symptoms, and help you beat the disease altogether: Get active: Exercise is the best way to beat depression, as well as overcome other chronic illnesses. It helps …
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