Mental Health
Depression
Aiding Teens with Depression and Anxiety - [10/25/08]
Summary: Many teens experience depression and anxiety in their lives without realizing that their feelings could be mental disorders. Teens are prompted to answer questions about trouble concentrating, being overly tired, constantly feeling stressed, feeling constant worry, experience of anxiety symptoms, and serious thoughts of suicide. These questions can show the possibility of depression or an anxiety disorder.
Comment: Often teens feel like they have no where to turn with their problems. By diagnosing these feelings as depression or an anxiety disorder these teens can be treated for their condition. Many resources exist to help teens deal with depression and anxiety in their lives, and using these resources can protect many people from pain.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com October 25, 2008
Preventing Falls - [10/22/08]
Summary: Falls are a serious health concern for millions of Americans. Some risk factors for falls include mobility difficulties, depression, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and hearing loss. Tips for avoiding falls include getting annual physical exams, consuming diets with adequate amounts of calcium and Vitamin D, not smoking, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, exercise, keeping homes safe from hazards, and wearing shoes with no-skid soles.
Comment: Every year more than 11 million Americans fall and injure themselves, resulting in 368,000 hip fractures last year. Seniors and those at risk for falls should follow the tips and guidelines issued to prevent falls. Making small changes in lifestyle can protect those with depression from falls and injuries.
Read article - HealthNewsDigest.com October 22, 2008
Patients Misunderstand Written Screening Tests - [10/14/08]
Summary: The majority of physicians require patients to answer written questions while in the waiting room to visit the doctor. However, a new survey has revealed the gap between doctors and patients in the process of answering the written questions. Because of the difference in literacy between patients and physicians, most patients are confused, or don't understand most of the questions. According to Dr. Master, one of the authors of this survey, the predominant reason for this is illiteracy.
Comment: Illiteracy is becoming more common in American which is causing great problems to physicians. Not only is there a problem with illiteracy but also with patients who are innumerate. By answering the surveys to the best of your abilities, you will receive better diagnosis or treatment of depression.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 14, 2008
Internet Consulted More Often Than Doctors - [10/12/08]
Summary: New market research shows that over the past year more adults went to the internet to get health information than consulted a doctor. This trend may likely be the product of an increasing consumer comfort in using the web to find reliable medical information. In addition, rising costs of healthcare coverage and visits to the doctor may be adding to the preference for first looking for information online.
Comment: The impacts of this trend, as well as others, will be discussed in an online seminar entitled "Is TV Dead? How the New New Media Changes Pharmaceutical DTC Advertising". The event is scheduled for October 14th at 11am EST and October 16th at 3pm EST.
Read article - Medical News Today. October 12, 2008.
Read article - Register for the Seminar
New Therapy Approved for Treatment Resistant Depression - [10/11/08]
Summary: The NeuroStar TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Therapy system, has been approved by the FDA for severe depression treatment. It is for adults with severe symptoms of depression who have failed to improve their condition with other depression treatments. TMS Therapy is a neuromodulation treatment which stimulates the nerve cells in an area of the brain that is linked to depression. It is safely promoted because it has no systemic side effects, no adverse effects on memory, no seizures, and no device-drug interactions.
Comment: TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) therapy can be very helpful for those have had no luck in improving their depression with other kinds of treatments. It is safe treatment and does not have any major know side effects. TMS is a new advancement in treatment that may improve a patients overall health.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 11, 2008
Vitamin D Linked to Overall Health - [10/10/08]
Summary: Vitamin D has been linked to improved overall health. This vitamin affects 36 organ tissues in the body including bone marrow, breast, colon, intestine, kidney, lung, prostate, retina, skin, stomach and uterus tissues. It has also been linked to improving immune systems, insulin secretion, heart health, blood pressure, muscle, brain activity, and decreased risk of cancer. For most adults 200-600 IU of daily vitamin D is recommended, but some experts recommend up to 2000 IU daily.
Comment: Vitamin D has previously been thought to improve bone health, but this study shows that it can affect all areas of health. By increased intake of vitamin D people with depression can experience improved health.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 10, 2008
St. John's Wort Helps with Depression - [10/09/08]
Summary: The herbal medicine St. John's Wort has been proved to work, in most cases, just as well as prescribed medication for those with depression. Though this herb is helpful in the United States, it is more effective in German-speaking countries and is often prescribed from doctors. Exactly how St. John's Wort treats depression is unknown, but there is no regulation to what the extract may contain.
Comment: Prescribed medications for depression can often be addicting, so it is important to find the right medication for yourself. St. John's Wort is most effective on milder cases of depression which can be an advantage if you are against taking prescribed medicine for a minor case of this condition.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 9, 2008
Learning Not to Be Anxious and Depressed - [10/09/08]
Summary: New research shows that being calm can be a learned trait. Researchers conducted an experiment teaching mice to be calm and feel safe in stressful situations. They were able to demonstrate that the mice could "learn" to feel less anxious and stressed. This "learned safety" was able to fight anxiety and depression as effectively as antidepressants.
Comment: This research shows that behavioral intervention can be effective in preventing anxiety and depression. This information could lead to new drugs that treat anxiety and depression. This research can help doctors treat the pathological fears that can lead to anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
Read article - Science Daily October 9, 2008
Suicide Risk in Cancer Patients - [10/06/08]
Summary: A recently conducted study shows that cancer patients are two times more likely to commit suicide than the average U.S. citizen. Most patients with cancer that committed suicide were diagnosed with the condition when it was at a terminal state, concluding that they were "better off dead". "Our data suggest that the psychological experience of cancer survivors deserves further attention, as urged by the Institute of Medicine, particularly because appropriate use of psychosocial interventions in patients with cancer can make a positive impact on quality of life," write the authors of this study.
Comment: Cancer patients are at higher risk for developing the condition of depression. It is very important to diagnose cancer as early as possible because of the even higher suicide risk of those who are diagnosed with cancer when it is at a terminal stage. Frequent doctor check-ups are a successful way to discover cancer early on, and reduce the chance of developing depression.
Read article - Medical News TODAY October 6, 2008
Depression Linked to Higher Death Rates in Elderly with Diabetes - [10/06/08]
Summary: For elderly people with diabetes depression can raise death rates from all causes. Both diabetes and depression increased the risk of death from all causes by about 36% to 38% over a two-year period. Patients diagnosed with depression were less likely to be African-American, more likely to be Hispanic, more likely to be female, and had a more severe medical condition.
Comment: It is suggested that depression worsens chronic conditions such as diabetes because patients are less likely to care for themselves and are more likely to have a harmful habit such as smoking or overeating. Depression has also been associated with many other factors that raise a person's risk of death. By avoiding and treating depression elderly patients with diabetes can prolong the patients life and improve their health.
Read article - Science Daily October 6, 2008