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Depression

:: November 2009

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View all Treatment articles in our Treatment Report . The most recent articles are listed on top (not in alphabetical order). Click on the Topic on our home page and then the subtopic - Treatment Report. Stay updated on drugs and their side effects, and various other treatments, including exercise, nutrition, and supplements.

Highlighted Article

Association of the Mediterranean dietary pattern with the incidence of depression: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra/University of Navar ra follow-up (SUN) cohort. ( Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009) “CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a potential protective role of the MDP with regard to the prevention of depressive disorders; additional longitudinal studies and trials are needed to confirm these findings.”

Clinical Guidelines

NGC - Depression. (2005)

NGC - Major depression in adults in primary care. (2007)

NGC - Management of adults with major depression. (2004)

NGC - Screening for depression in primary care: recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. (2005)

NICE - Depression in children and young people (2005)

NICE guidelines for the management of depression

Internet Sites

Featured site

NIH - Depression

FDA - Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults

NCI - Depression

NIH - Depression

NIH - Depression Resources

NIH - Depression Tutorial

NIH - Medical Encyclopedia Depression

NIH - NIMH Depression

NIH - NIMH Depression

NIH - Postpartum Depression

Related InfoMedSearch Topics (1 selected)

Bipolar Disorder

Related Topics - Highlighted Articles

Bipolar Disorder

Borderline personality disorder characteristics in young adults with recurrent mood disorders: a comparison of bipolar and unipolar depression. (J Affect Disord. 2005) "BACKGROUND: In young adults it can be difficult to differentiate between an early bipolar illness and borderline personality disorder. There are considerable areas of clinical overlap between cyclothymic temperament, bipolar-spectrum disorders and borderline characteristics. The aim of this study was to measure borderline characteristics in young adults during an index depressive episode and to compare three diagnostic groups: DSM-IV bipolar affective disorder (BPAD); bipolar spectrum disorder (BSD); and DSM-IV recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). Ä CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with bipolar depression exhibit significantly higher levels of borderline personality pathology than those with unipolar depression. Those borderline screening questions that reflect cyclothymic characteristics or depressive mixed states may be of practical use to clinicians in helping to differentiate between bipolar depression and unipolar depression in young adults."

Bipolar Disorder

Is Your Depressed Patient Bipolar? (The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 2005) "Accurate diagnosis of mood disorders is critical for treatment to be effective. Distinguishing between major depression and bipolar disorders, especially the depressed phase of a bipolar disorder, is essential, because they differ substantially in their genetics, clinical course, outcomes, prognosis, and treatment. In current practice, bipolar disorders, especially bipolar II disorder, are underdiagnosed. Ä Bipolar illness is also characterized by a more pronounced seasonal pattern than is observed in major depression, with winter depressions being the most common. There is a greater likelihood of mood disturbance occurring during the postpartum period; as many as half of all women with bipolar spectrum disorder experience an episode of depression, mania, or mixed states after the birth of a child. In fact, for many women, the first presentation of a bipolar disorder is a postpartum episode. Any woman without a prior psychiatric history who develops postpartum depression should be closely followed and monitored, as the risk for developing a bipolar disorder may be especially high."

 
Diagnosis, Imaging, and Screening

 

General Information

 

Risk Factors

Diet Rich in Processed Food Linked to Increased Risk for Depression “Patients who consume a diet rich in high-fat dairy products and fried, refined, and sugary foods are at increased risk of developing depression, whereas those whose diet is rich in fish, fruit, and vegetables are at lower risk of developing depression, a new study shows. Although other research has looked at the relationship between single nutrients and depression, this is the first study to investigate the effect of dietary patterns on depression. The results suggest that diet should be considered a potential target for the prevention of depressive disorders …”

 

Risk Reduction

To Feel Better, Low-Fat Diet May Be Best “"The exact mechanism for the observed effects on mood still remains largely unknown," Brinkworth said. "However, if the mechanism for the return of mood toward more negative baseline levels following weight loss with a very low-carbohydrate diet is related to this diet being so far removed from normal dietary habits, then a very low-carbohydrate diet may be best recommended for individuals who habitually consume low amounts of carbohydrate foods in their diet." More carbs can increase serotonin concentrations in the brain, whereas added fat and protein can reduce concentrations. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood. "Altered mood has been shown to influence interpersonal behavior and, therefore, the consumption of a very low-carbohydrate diet may have psychosocial consequences for interpersonal behavior and relationships," Brinkworth said. "I am not entirely clear as to the effects of mood on long-term weight loss; however a recent review article ... suggested that one of the factors that may pose risk for poor long-term weight maintenance may be 'eating in response to negative emotions and stress.'" "Therefore, since negative mood may promote overeating, this suggests that consumption of a very low-carbohydrate diet over an even longer period beyond one year may have implications for maintaining dietary habits and weight loss maintenance," he added. "Further, longer-term studies would be required to confirm this."”

 
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