Depressive Disorders

Related Articles and Information

Little Attention Paid to Effect of Parents' Depression on Their Children: The Institute of Medicine notes there are large gaps in knowledge about the effects of parental depression on children and a need for multigenerational approaches to care. Read more in Psychiatric News, 7/03/09 >>

Much Touted "Depression Risk Gene" May Not Add to Risk After All: Stressful life events are strongly associated with a person's risk for major depression, but a certain gene variation long thought to increase risk in conjunction with stressful life events actually may have no effect, according to researchers funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (NIMH, 6/16/09) (More from the New York Times)

Depression Can Break the Heart: Depression almost doubles the risk of developing heart disease over 12 years, according to a long-term study of twins. Mounting evidence has found that depression makes people more vulnerable to heart trouble. Recent studies, though, find that some genes that increase the risk of heart disease also may make people more prone to depression, which has raised the question of whether the depression-heart disease link is genetic. Read more in USA Today, 03/04/09 >>

Taking Depression to Heart: Physical symptoms of the mood disorder are linked to thickening arteries. Scientists have long observed a link between depression and heart disease. Now there's research to help pinpoint the symptoms of depression that may signal cardiovascular trouble. More >>

Study finds depression can trigger diabetes: Depression appears to increase the risk that a person will develop the most common form of diabetes. More >>

30 Million in U.S. Have Had Depression: Last year, nearly 25 million American adults were estimated to have experienced severe psychological distress, according to the results of an annual government survey, indicating that they may have a diagnosable mental disorder. But of those, only about 44 percent (10.9 million) received some sort of mental health treatment. Read more in Psychiatric News 10/19/07>>