More articles for news and research about depression.

Teen-Age Girls, Depression, Alcoholism, and Brain Activity (The Psychwatch Newsletter)
Numerous studies have documented abnormalities in brain electrical activity in patients diagnosed with depression. A study in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research examines teen-age girls with a history of depression, rather than active depression, to see if they exhibit a subtle abnormality in brain function. The study also investigates if the presence of depression or alcoholism among family members exaggerates the abnormality in brain function. (more...)

Chronic Stress Can Interfere With Normal Function of the Immune System, Suggests New Research (American Psychological Association)
Chronic stress not only makes people more vulnerable to catching illnesses but can also impair their immune system's ability to respond to its own anti-inflammatory signals that are triggered by certain hormones, say researchers, possibly altering the course of an inflammatory disease. This finding is reported on in the November issue of Health Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA). (more...)

The Prevention of Depression Using the Internet (eMJA: The Medical Journal of Australia)
Efficacy trials suggest that depression is preventable in children and adults. However, current depression prevention interventions are not deliverable to the community en masse. The Internet offers an opportunity to deliver tailored prevention interventions such as those based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to a large audience, cost-effectively, while preserving intervention fidelity and anonymity. (more...)

Depression In Young People: What Causes It And Can We Prevent It? (eMJA: The Medical Journal of Australia)
Cumulative adverse experiences, including negative life events and early childhood adversity, together with parental depression and/or non-supportive school or familial environments, place young people at risk for developing depression. Enhanced life skills and supportive school and family environments can mediate the effect of stressful life events. (more...)

Depression More Dangerous for Elderly Men Than Women (Health Behavior News Service)
Depression is more dangerous for elderly men than women, with depression starting in old age representing the greatest risk for men, according to a long-term study. "Depression may be an early sign of impending physical decline," says study author Kaarin Anstey, Ph.D., of the Center for Mental Health Research at Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. "Or it may incur a physiological response that predisposes individuals to cardiovascular disease or cancer." (more...)