Chocoholics can happily eat chocolate for pleasure but for those who are stressed and clinically depressed, the high is short-lived and chocolate may even deepen the downer, a review shows. (abc.net.au)

December 06, 2005

Pets can have a profound effect on their human companions. As this article explains, pets have been credited with saving lives during emergencies, relieving depression and preventing suicide, reducing stress, and much more.

The pet owning study reviewed research conducted since the 1980s that has helped popularize what BMJ called the "view that pet ownership could have positive benefits on human health." Reputed benefits include higher survival rates from heart attack, lower use of doctors' services, a reduced risk of asthma and allergies in children exposed to pets during the first year of life, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and better physical and psychological well-being in the elderly. (Washington Post)

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

August 16, 2005

Can money buy happiness? Yes, claim the authors of a new study -- but only up to a point.

Psychology has shown that richer people generally rank the overall quality of their lives more favorably than poorer people do. (FoxNews.com)

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

April 07, 2005

"When provided by experienced psychotherapists, cognitive therapy may be as effective as antidepressant drugs in initial treatment of moderate to severe depression, a new study suggests."

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

March 10, 2005

High-speed magnetic resonance imaging scans produce effects in rats similar to the use of antidepressants, confirming observations made in human patients, U.S. researchers reported Thursday.

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

December 01, 2004

"The purported mood-boosting supplement SAMe has received support from a small study that found combining it with standard antidepressants can help people who fail to respond to drugs alone."

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

August 26, 2004

A report by the American Medical Association says improving success rates for treating depression may be a matter of picking up the phone.

"Pfizer Inc. said on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved use of its Geodon schizophrenia drug to treat mania associated with bipolar disorder."

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression

August 20, 2004

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to update antidepressant labels to reflect studies that suggest a link between the drugs and suicide in youths, but remains cautious about the strength of such ties, according to new documents released on Friday."

"A brain imaging study by the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has found that an emotion-regulating brain circuit is overactive in people prone to depression - even when they are not depressed."

Posted by news editor | Filed under: Depression