‘Club Drug’ Ketamine Lifts Depression in Hours
The largest study to date confirms that ketamine — a “club drug” that is also legally used as an anesthetic — could be a quick and effective way to relieve depression. The results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association and represent growing excitement about ketamine’s potential. The study included 72 [...]
Medicaid-Based Improvements in Depression Can Lead to Broader Health Benefits
Getty Images Improvements in treating depression could lead to broader benefits in other health outcomes. A new study of Oregon’s expansion of Medicaid disappointed advocates by failing to find improvements in health measures like high blood pressure and cholesterol within two years— but it did show a 30% reduction in depression rates. While these results [...]
Antidepressants Linked To Higher Risk of Complications After Surgery
Photo Researchers/Getty Images/Photo Researchers RM The most popular class of drugs used to treat depression, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may increase risk of bleeding and the need for blood transfusions following operations, according a study. Previous studies have investigated the dangers of SSRI use among pregnant women and possible associations with suicide among [...]
Depressive Thinking Can Be Contagious
Getty Images / Getty Images We don’t think of emotional states as passing from one person to another, but a new study suggests some depressive thoughts can go viral. Researchers studying a group of college students found that certain types of depressive thinking can spread from close-living roommates like a lingering flu. Although many people [...]
The dark mood and worry of a health crisis
Often this emotional distress is exacerbated by the effects of treatment such as tiredness, pain, and social isolation. But the impact of all this mental turmoil is under-recognised. Serious health incidents can increase a person’s risk of developing depression or anxiety, according to the mental health organisation beyondblue, which has recently released a new pamphlet to [...]
Latham’s depression gibe ‘clinically wrong’
MARK Latham’s description of opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb as a “troubled character”, following his struggles with depression, has been decried as both “clinically wrong” and “incredibly unhelpful”. The former Labor leader defended his comments yesterday, telling The Australian that in the light of Mr Robb’s difficulties, objecting to his description was “political correctness out [...]
Uni students fail to seek help for depression
Contrary to what might be expected, for many young people, becoming unwell does not trigger an immediate need to get help from those around them. For the past six years, I have led a research program with Associate Professor Peter Caputi that has examined the mental health and wellbeing of approximately 1800 first year University [...]
Lasting Legacy of Childhood Bullying: Psychiatric Problems In Adulthood
Monkey Business Images / Getty Images It’s not just the victims of bullying that experience long-term consequences; bullies themselves are also at risk of mental health issues later in life. In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers report that bullying can have serious consequences on childhood development, and shouldn’t be dismissed as simply a [...]
New Partnership to Tackle Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health Not for Profit, beyondblue has formed a partnership with the Australian Workers Union (AWU) to tackle depression and anxiety in the workplace. The partnership is being officially launched at the AWU national conference on the Gold Coast today. AWU national secretary Paul Howes said that work-related mental illnesses imposed huge costs on both [...]
Key to antidepressant response uncovered
Through a series of investigations in mice and humans, Johns Hopkins researchers have identified a protein that appears to be the target of both antidepressant drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. Results of their experiments explain how these therapies likely work to relieve depression by stimulating stem cells in the brain to grow and mature. In addition, [...]
