BMED Report detailed the effectiveness of anti-depressant medication with only the most severely depressed in 2008 in "Anti-Depressant Medication & The Placebo Effect". A new analysis of randomized trials indicates that compared with placebo, the magnitude of benefit of antidepressant medications varies with the severity of depressive symptoms, and may provide little benefit for patients with mild or modera ...

Overall, only about half of Americans diagnosed with major depression in a given year receive treatment for it, and even fewer - about one fifth - receive treatment consistent with current practice guidelines, according to data from nationally representative surveys supported by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Among the ethnic/racial groups surveyed, African Americans and Mexican Americans had t ...

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies publishes an excellent free psychological screening instrument for major depression called the The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The CES-D serves a similar purpose as the ever popular Beck Depression Inventory-II, but with greater emphasis on the affective components of depression. The cost of this instrument ($0) makes it an attractive optio ...

Depression is a public health problem that affects millions of adults every year. It affects persons in all demographic groups, although some groups are more likely to experience depression than others. There are different treatment options for depression, including various psychotherapeutic approaches and medications. Moreover, treatment services are offered through a variety of sources, such as primary ca ...

The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) released a free video to promote awareness of the symptoms of depression and its potential treatments. In fact, they encourage public distribution of this video at schools, workshops, and other public functions. Preteen or adolescent males and females are the targeted audience. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychotropic, and combined treatments are advoc ...

Researchers* acquired data during March 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004 from the The Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE-HF) to further explore the connection between depression and heart failure. Data from the medical charts of 48,612 patients (mean age = 73) from 259 hospitals were included. The authors* provide a good overview of the widel ...

As if there were not already enough evidence and reasons to avoid tobacco products, a recent study* revealed that cigarette smoking increased the chance of Major Depression Disorder (MDD) in women.  Researchers compared cigarette use in 165 persons with MDD with over 800 persons without MDD in a case-controlled and retrospective design (uses accumulated data/records) that spanned 10 years.  Exposure to smok ...

No better way to kick off a new research website than with controversial research. Let's start first with the concept of a "placebo effect." The placebo effect is very common in most forms of healthcare. When people who are ill (mentally or physically) believe that they will get better - guess what - they do. These are real changes though the placebo effect may wear off over time. ...