Answer Addiction

Tag: major depressive disorder

  • Can Omega-3s Help Treat Depression?

    Can Omega-3s Help Treat Depression?

    A panel of experts weighed in on whether the supplement provided any benefits for those with major depressive disorder. 

    Anyone with major depression or who is at high risk of developing the condition should take a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fish oil, according to new recommendations. 

    The International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research made the recommendations and released them on Sept. 3 in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 

    Panel Of Experts Weigh In

    “The expert consensus panel has agreed on using [omega-3s] in [major depressive disorder] treatment for pregnant women, children, and the elderly, and prevention in high-risk populations,” the review authors wrote. 

    The expert panel reviewed research on omega-3s in the treatment of major depression. It concluded that the benefits of omega-3s were well-established. 

    “Several lines of evidence have suggested the efficacy of [omega-3s] as a preventive and treatment strategy in [major depressive disorder], from epidemiological and case-controlled studies to randomized-controlled trials and meta-analyses,” the authors wrote. 

    Despite that, there were no clinical guidelines that dictated the best way to use omega-3s for patients with major depression. The committee set out to create guidelines for doctors. They laid out the dosage that patients should get. 

    “The recommended therapeutic dosages should aim for 1–2 g/day of total EPA from pure EPA or 1–2 g/day EPA from an EPA/DHA (>2:1) combination,” they wrote. 

    Finding The Right Dosage

    The amount of omega-3s can be increased biweekly. That same amount can also be used as a preventive measure for high-risk individuals, the study authors noted. 

    It’s important to emphasize that the authors said that omega-3s should be combined with other treatments, including antidepressant medications and therapy. They are not effective on their own, but could make a big difference when used in conjunction with other therapies. 

    Dr. Kuan-Pin Su has studied the effect of omega-3s on patients with depression and anxiety extensively. He told Medscape that their effectiveness is often “overlooked” and should be “on the radar” of more physicians who are treating people with depression and anxiety. 

    Earlier this year, a study showed that eating a Mediterranean diet can cut the risk of depression by up to one-third. That’s in part because this way of eating includes many healthy fats, like omega-3s. 

    Food is important to overall mental health, said Charles Conway, a researcher at Washington University in St. Louis.

    “Especially the omega three fatty acids,” he added. “Those are known to have pretty clear effects with depression.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Doctors Continue To Prescribe Benzos For Depression, Despite Guidelines

    Doctors Continue To Prescribe Benzos For Depression, Despite Guidelines

    A new study explored the prevalence of doctors prescribing benzos as the sole treatment for depression.

    Nearly 1 in 10 patients treated for depression are only given benzodiazepines, like Valium and Xanax, despite clinical guidelines that say benzodiazepines should not be used alone for the treatment of depression. 

    The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, show a disconnect between established best practices and what is actually happening in the treatment of depression patients. 

    “Depression guidelines discourage benzodiazepine monotherapy and limit use to short-term adjunctive therapy with antidepressants; however, patients with depression continue to receive benzodiazepine monotherapy,” study authors wrote. 

    They continued, “Whereas practice guidelines consider antidepressants and psychotherapy as primary treatment options, they either do not mention or fail to endorse benzodiazepine monotherapy for the treatment of [major depression].”

    Who’s More Likely To Get A Benzo Script?

    The study also identified patterns in which depression patients were solely being treated with benzodiazepines. Older patients (ages 45-64) and those with Medicare were more likely to be prescribed just benzodiazepines than younger patients and those with private insurance, according to Psychiatry Advisor. 

    In addition, having other medical conditions including epilepsy, pulmonary disease and opioid use also increased the likelihood of being given just benzodiazepines, despite the known risks of benzos for people with these conditions. 

    “A number of these variables contradict known concerns about benzodiazepines and their risk of dependence and delirium, especially with concomitant opioids,” Emily Pond wrote for Psychiatry Advisor. 

    The “X” Factor

    The study found that the most common benzos that were prescribed alone to people with major depression were alprazolam (brand name: Xanax) which made up more than 42% of prescriptions; lorazepam (brand name: Ativan), which made up nearly 28% of prescriptions; clonazepam (brand name: Klonopin), which made up 20% of prescriptions; and diazepam (brand name: Valium), which constituted nearly 14% of prescriptions.

    Although benzodiazepines are effective for treating anxiety, they are also potentially dangerous. According to a presentation by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “most people” will become dependent on benzos in less than 6 weeks, and only 30% of people who have become dependent on benzos will ever fully get off the pills. In part, that’s because withdrawing from benzos can be dangerous. 

    Researchers pointed out that doctors need to be better educated about the risk of treating depression solely with benzodiazepines.

    “Educational or technological interventions to minimize benzodiazepine monotherapy utilization should be implemented to raise the awareness of the impact of this treatment modality on patients with [major depressive disorder],” the study authors wrote. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • "Smiling Depression" Explained

    "Smiling Depression" Explained

    Low mood is not the only feature of depression. 

    Depression is associated with sadness, crying and an inability to get out of bed. However, up to 40% of people who have depression may have “smiling depression” and not exhibit these symptoms.

    “It can be very hard to spot people suffering from smiling depression. They may seem like they don’t have a reason to be sad – they have a job, an apartment and maybe even children or a partner. They smile when you greet them and can carry pleasant conversations. In short, they put on a mask to the outside world while leading seemingly normal and active lives,” Olivia Remes, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cambridge, wrote for Science Alert.

    Many people are able to “keep up appearances” even while they’re feeling down. Marissa, a 22-year-old from New Jersey, posted a picture of her smiling at an adorable puppy, with the caption, “Sometimes it’s the little things that bring the most joy.”

    However, Marissa told Women’s Health how she really felt that day: “I wish I had half of this puppy’s joy. Earlier today I was driving, and looking for objects to crash into. My life feels so overwhelming that I just can’t deal.”

    Smiling depression isn’t a medical term, but depression with atypical features is. People who suffer from depression with atypical features might have primary symptoms including weight gain or appetite increase, sleepiness, or social isolation.

    However, they can still experience positive reactions to good events, whereas many people with typical depression might not be able to tap into the joy brought by good news or positive occurrence. 

    This can make it hard for some people to recognize that they’re depressed, Dr. Michelle B. Riba, of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Depression Center, told Health.

    “Many people will come to their doctor complaining about sleep problems, or headaches, not realizing that it’s a mood disorder because they don’t have low mood. Not all symptoms of depression always occur at once.”

    Another woman who spoke with Women’s Health posted a picture of herself in a shirt that said “Be kind always.” However, that didn’t actually fit her mood, she explained. 

    “I feel so down I almost broke into tears at the grocery store today. I wish I could have extended this kindness to myself,” the 33-year-old said. 

    The feelings of smiling depression can sneak up and be surprising, said Rebecca, 36, who posted a photo of herself smiling at a friend’s wedding. 

    “After this, I snuck out of the reception to cry in my hotel because I suddenly felt depressed without knowing why,” she said. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Doctor Reflects On Missing Depression Symptoms

    Doctor Reflects On Missing Depression Symptoms

    “Psychiatrists are the experts in making the diagnosis, but primary care doctors like me are the ones who most frequently do make the diagnosis—although they may not catch it every time.”

    Long before Dr. Keith Roach was helping others get better, he himself was depressed. Only, he didn’t know it at the time. 

    Despite being overwhelmed by feelings of despair, Roach, an associate professor in Clinical Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill-Cornell Medical College, never thought to ask for help, he wrote in a recent piece for Men’s Health. 

    “It certainly didn’t cross my mind to see a doctor: I was 17 years old and in perfect health. The idea I might not be in perfect mental health didn’t even cross my mind,” he said. 

    It was only in medical school that he realized that what he experienced was more than teenage angst—it was clinical depression. 

    “I finally realized that I had been through a pretty textbook case of major depressive disorder. It was a bit of a shock reading about it,” he wrote. 

    Doctors use diagnostic criteria in the DSM-V to determine whether a patient has depression. Although the criteria—which include “depressed mood most of the day” and “moving or speaking more slowly (or much more faster) than normal”—seem straightforward, they contain a lot of nuance, which can cause doctors to miss depression diagnoses, Roach said. 

    “Experience is essential because interpreting the answers to the questions requires judgment: it isn’t always a simple yes or no answer,” he wrote. 

    Oftentimes, primary care doctors, who don’t specialize in mental health, are the ones screening patients. 

    Roach wrote, “Psychiatrists are the experts in making the diagnosis, but primary care doctors like me are the ones who most frequently do make the diagnosis—although they may not catch it every time.”

    In addition to helping educate doctors on the nuances of diagnosing depression, Roach reminds patients that it’s important to advocate for themselves and bring their symptoms to the attention of their medical provider. 

    “Even in 2019, there remains a stigma to mental illness, and many people (especially men) feel that depression is a sign of weakness, and they are loath to admit it, to themselves or to people who might help them. This is a barrier I have had to fight many times,” Roach wrote. 

    Sometimes, people with depression need to ask friends or family to help them seek medical care. 

    “One barrier to treatment of depression is the depression itself,” Roach wrote. “Some people have an overwhelming fatigue that prevents them from going to see someone about it.”

    Although it has been more than 30 years since Roach experienced feelings of depression, he still monitors himself for signs and asks his loved ones to do the same.

    He said, “If they recognize that I am not myself they can feel safe in letting me know so that I could get treatment sooner. I don’t want to feel that way, and my family, coworkers, and friends don’t want that for me either.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Is It Holiday Stress Or Symptoms Of Depression?

    Is It Holiday Stress Or Symptoms Of Depression?

    A recent Forbes article explores the differences between holiday stress, holiday blues and depression and what you can do to contend with them.

    While the December holiday season is typically a joyful time of the year, it can also be a period of considerable stress over gift-giving, travel and visitors, workloads and a host of other related issues.

    Expectations of happiness can also result in the “holiday blues” – feelings of loneliness, loss or isolation that can be exacerbated by the pace and tone of the time period – which can be compounded by the clash between a negative or sad experience, like the loss of a loved one and the pace of the holidays. In some cases, these feelings may be indicative of an actual underlying depression.

    A new essay by Forbes contributor Jeanne Croteau attempts to differentiate between holiday stress, holiday blues and genuine depression that may occur as December winds down into the new year, and what you can do to contend with them.

    As Croteau noted, it’s normal to experience some holiday stress due to the sheer amount of expectations and obligations that happen, often at the same time, during this time of year. The shorter, darker days of the winter months can also have an impact on your mood and can result in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can take a toll on your mood, energy and ability to sleep. Treatment options for this condition can include therapy, medication or light therapy. 

    What’s important, according to the feature, is to be aware if you are feeling depressed or alienated during the holiday season and to take action when possible. It can be easy, as Croteau noted, to wait for others around you to take notice of your feelings, but in the hectic pace of the holidays, they may miss the often subtle suggestions of depression. As a result, individuals can feel that those whom they consider loved ones don’t care, or consider them a burden.

    Reaching out to friends and family during periods of holiday depression can be crucial. Letting people know what one is experiencing can be an important first step in receiving support that can lead to more substantive assistance. Face-to-face meetings, phone calls and texts can all be lifelines that are needed in the face of oppressive sadness.

    There are also professionals who can provide greater insight or assistance to those in need. Therapists and support groups can be useful options, depending on your location and financial ability; barring those, the article cited the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) and Crisis Text Line as viable options for immediate assistance.

    The Forbes piece concludes with a call to readers to reach out to others – friends and family or otherwise – to reaffirm commitments and care. Calling or spending time with friends and loved ones and asking – and listening – to how they’re doing can be, as Croteau stated, “the biggest gift you can give anyone during the holiday season.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Michelle Williams Talks Depression, Getting Treatment In New Interview

    Michelle Williams Talks Depression, Getting Treatment In New Interview

    “For months, I was slipping and slipping and slipping [and] before you knew it I was at the bottom of the pit looking up.”

    This past spring, Michelle Williams reunited with Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland for a Destiny’s Child reunion at Coachella. Not long after, Williams checked into the hospital to deal with her depression.

    Williams sat down with Good Morning America to give the world an update on her mental health.

    Williams appeared on the show with her fiancé, Chad Johnson. She told Robin Roberts, “I am just sitting here and fighting back tears. I’m just thankful to be here to tell this story.”

    Williams fought her depression as hard as she could, but she eventually realized she couldn’t do it without help.

    “I was like, ‘Just fight it, you’ve been here before. I’m identifying it… I just didn’t do enough,” she said. “So for months, I was slipping and slipping and slipping [and] before you knew it I was at the bottom of the pit looking up like, ‘Am I really here again?’ And I suffered by myself. I didn’t want to tell anybody.”

    Williams had struggled with depression since she was 13. “I didn’t want anyone to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, here we go again. I thought you were over it.’”

    Johnson knew something was wrong, but he confessed that he didn’t understand what was going on with Williams at first. “The relationship just seemed to be slipping out of my hands. I could see [her] spiraling, but I had no idea that it was depression.”

    Once Williams decided to get help, she announced on Instagram, “I recently listened to the same advice I have given to thousands around the world and sought help from a great team of healthcare professionals.” She also vowed to “always lead by example as I tirelessly advocate for the betterment of those in need.”

    As a celebrity in the public eye, Williams also wants to help reduce the stigma many have with mental health that often prevents them from getting treatment.

    “When I was in the mental health facility, I didn’t see anybody that looked crazy,” she says. “I didn’t see anybody strapped up, I didn’t see anybody doing crazy behavior. And literally since then, I watch my mouth. I don’t call people crazy anymore. Some people… they just need help.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Everyday Changes That Can Improve Depression Symptoms

    Everyday Changes That Can Improve Depression Symptoms

    Experts offer a few tips on how to manage symptoms of depression.

    Depression is a serious disease that can require treatment with therapy and pharmaceuticals, but mental health professionals also say that making lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms. 

    Considering that depression rates have increased 33% in five years, it seems that more people than ever are paying attention to their mental health and prioritizing their wellbeing.

    Here are some changes that you can implement today in order to help control your symptoms of depression. 

    Focus on gut health. 

    Understanding how our microbiome works is the next frontier in medicine and it affects much more than just your gut health. 

    “There’s been an explosion of interest in the connections between the microbiome and the brain,” Emeran Mayer, a gastroenterologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told The Atlantic. 

    Your gut contains large amounts of the same neurotransmitters that keep communication running smoothly in your brain, including GABA, dopamine and serotonin. That’s why Alison Stone, a New York-based therapist told Well and Good that the gut is basically the “second brain.” 

    Avoiding sugar, processed food and alcohol can help reduce inflammation and improve gut health, which in turn can reduce symptoms of depression.

    “In addition to affecting our dopamine and GABA production [‘happy chemicals’ needed for healthy brain functioning] it’s estimated that the gut is responsible for up to 90% of the body’s serotonin production,” Stone said. “Since inflammation has been linked to depression, following an anti-inflammatory diet is an important step in creating a happy, healthy gut.”

    Socialize in person, not online. 

    While social media has been linked to feeling down, getting together with friends in person will boost your mental wellbeing, especially during the cold winter months when people tend to hibernate inside. 

    “I cannot emphasize the importance of human connection enough, especially now that we’re living in a world where technology has replaced many face-to-face interactions and altered the way we belong to communities,” Stone said.

    Meet a friend for a walk, attend a meeting or catch up over coffee. Research shows these social relationships will improve your health. 

    Care for your physical health with exercise and sleep. 

    Sleep and exercise are some of the most basic ingredients for healthy living, but too often they’re overlooked. This can have consequences for both physical and mental health. If revamping your sleep and exercise schedules feels overwhelming, start small. 

    “Even 15-20 minutes of moderate walking per day is better than nothing,” Stone said. 

    That small amount of physical activity, coupled with a bit more sleep, will help improve your mood. 

    View the original article at thefix.com