About a decade ago, Melvin, a long-time family friend, died of cancer. Catherine, his wife of more than 50 years, had cared for her husband during his many treatments and declining health. After Melvin’s death, Catherine fell into a deep depression. When she was her husband’s caregiver, Catherine’s days were hectic, but after Melvin’s funeral… Continue reading The Aftermath of Caregiving
Tag: Depression
Men with “Low T” Have Higher Rates of Depression
Researchers at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., led by Michael S. Irwig, M.D., found that men referred for specialized consultive care for borderline testosterone levels had much higher rates of depression and depressive symptoms than those of the general population. A release from the university quotes Dr. Irwig, associate professor of medicine and… Continue reading Men with “Low T” Have Higher Rates of Depression
Study: St. John’s Wort Can Be As Harmful As Prozac
St. John’s Wort, touted as a remedy for depression, can cause serious side effects when it is taken with antidepressants and causes the same side effects as the antidepressant Prozac even when taken alone, according to new research from the University of Adelaide in Australia. In a study published in the journal Clinical and… Continue reading Study: St. John’s Wort Can Be As Harmful As Prozac
Positive Memories May Cure Stress-Induced Depression
Artificial reactivation of positive memories can suppress the effects of depression induced by stress, according to scientists at the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics, a joint collaboration of RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan and MIT. The research, published in the journal Nature, shows how positive and negative memories interact in mood disorders, and… Continue reading Positive Memories May Cure Stress-Induced Depression
Quick to Laugh or Smile? The Reason May Be in Your Genes
Why do some people immediately burst into laughter after a humorous moment, while others can barely crack a smile? New research examined emotional reactivity and suggested that one of the answers may lie in a person’s DNA. Claudia M. Haase of Northwestern University and Ursula Beermann of the University of Geneva co-authored the study, which… Continue reading Quick to Laugh or Smile? The Reason May Be in Your Genes
Brain Circuits and Decision-Making
A discovery by scientists at MIT could point the way toward possible therapies for mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression, that are characterized by difficulty in decision-making. “In order to create a treatment for these types of disorders, we need to understand how the decision-making process is working,” said Alexander Friedman, a research scientist… Continue reading Brain Circuits and Decision-Making
Hospice Use May Ease Depression in Surviving Spouses
An Institute of Medicine's report on improving the quality of care near the end of life highlights the need for supporting family caregivers. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York found a modest reduction in depressive symptoms among some surviving spouses of hospice users compared with nonhospice users. The article,… Continue reading Hospice Use May Ease Depression in Surviving Spouses
“Fuzzy Thinking” in Depression & Bipolar Disorder Is Real
People with depression or bipolar disorder often feel their thinking ability has gotten “fuzzy”, or less sharp than before their symptoms began. rResearchers at the University of Michigan have shown in a very large study that effect is indeed real – and rooted in brain activity differences that show up on advanced brain scans. The… Continue reading “Fuzzy Thinking” in Depression & Bipolar Disorder Is Real
Memorial Day: Honoring and Helping Vets
Memorial Day isn’t only the kickoff to summer, it’s also a time to thank those who fought and died for our country. But for some veterans, there may not be much cause for celebration. We hear of far too many mental, emotional and physical problems among the men and women who have served the United… Continue reading Memorial Day: Honoring and Helping Vets
Short-Term Debt and Depressive Symptoms
Results of a study led by Lawrence Berger of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and published April 30th 2015 in the Journal of Family and Economic Issues suggest that having short-term household debt — credit cards and overdue bills — increases depressive symptoms. The association is particularly strong among unmarried people, people reaching retirement age, and… Continue reading Short-Term Debt and Depressive Symptoms
Creativity and Electricity
A dose of electric current can stimulate creativity by an average of 7.4 percent in healthy adults, researchers say. Investigators from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine provided the first direct evidence of the benefits of the therapy. This research, published in the journal Cortex, showed that using a 10-Hertz current run through… Continue reading Creativity and Electricity
Myths and Facts About Mental Illness
Although most of us are perfectly fine with discussing physical health, mental health is another matter. The truth about mental health is often lost in a fog of fear, anger and ignorance. Here, the experts at www.mentalhealth.gov , a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, separate mental-health facts from myths: Myth:… Continue reading Myths and Facts About Mental Illness
The Drug/Alcohol Combination: Are You Putting Yourself in Danger?
Although it’s well known that certain drugs can interact with each other (that’s why it’s important that health-care providers know all the medications a patient is taking), the interaction of medicine with alcohol presents an equal, if not greater, problem. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), many common prescription medicines can interact badly… Continue reading The Drug/Alcohol Combination: Are You Putting Yourself in Danger?
Retirees Need Help in Addressing Substance-Abuse Issues
Researchers say that older Americans suffering from substance abuse often do so not because of retirement alone but because of many circumstances, such as the death of loved ones, that occur at that stage of life. Currently, close to three million Americans aged 55 and older suffer from alcohol abuse — and that is expected… Continue reading Retirees Need Help in Addressing Substance-Abuse Issues
Aging and Depression: Are You at Risk?
The link between aging and depression is no secret nowadays. The problem can affect virtually any person, for any number of reasons and in even more ways. That why when it comes to mental health and aging well, it’s critical to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments for depression so that you can develop… Continue reading Aging and Depression: Are You at Risk?
Life after Heart Attack and Stroke
Increasing numbers of people are surviving heart attacks and stroke, but they may suffer a sharper, decline in physical abilities than previously thought, according to a new study led by the University of Michigan. Many heart attack and stroke survivors required long-term assistance for activities such as dressing, bathing, grocery shopping and managing finances. Additionally,… Continue reading Life after Heart Attack and Stroke
Happy Walking Could Help with Depression
Want to improve your mood? It can help to walk as if you’re happy, according to new research. A study from Canadian researchers showed that people who were prompted to walk in a slump-shouldered style experienced worse moods than those who were prompted to walk in a happier, bouncing style. Nikolaus Troje, of Queen’s University,… Continue reading Happy Walking Could Help with Depression
A New Therapy to Help with “Complicated Grief”
Targeted therapy may help millions of older women afflicted with a kind of grief that could lead to suicide. “Complicated grief,” as it’s known, affects an estimated 4 million women in the U.S. Beginning after the loss of a spouse or a close relationship, the condition can lead to an increased risk of suicide. Symptoms… Continue reading A New Therapy to Help with “Complicated Grief”