Recent research suggests patients suffering from depression should also receive cognitive testing as cognitive impairments were associated with the severity of depressive symptoms. The study found that impairments in executive functioning and language ability in particular predicted the severity of depressive symptoms after 12 months. Link to research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X18300427
The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 in major depressive disorder: a twelve-week treatment with duloxetine..
Evidence has indicated elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment response, but the nature of this association remains unclear. A sample of 32 medication-free participants with a major depressive episode (age 38.5 years) and age, gender, ethnicity and IQ matched 24 healthy controls (age 40.6 years) were examined.... Continue Reading →
Study shows 1 in 3 of those diagnosed with depression commence treatment…
A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine highlights that only about 1 in 3 individuals newly diagnosed with depression actually commence treatment. The study has found, of more than 240,000 patients who received a new diagnosis of depression in a primary care setting, only 35.7 percent initiated antidepressant medication or psychotherapy within 90 days... Continue Reading →
How much psychotherapy is needed to treat depression?
Research suggests that psychotherapy can be effective in the treatment of adult depression but it is not clear how this treatment effect is related to amount, frequency and intensity of therapy. The presented research paper aims to fill the research gap in this knowledge by analysing 70 studies with 5403 patients. Link to research paper: PsychotherapyDepression
Tailoring Positive Psychology Interventions to Treat Depression….
Positive psychology is focused on the prevention of mental health disorders, promotion of mental health, and treatment of distress via positive psychology interventions (PPIs). Effective in generating positive affect and experiences, PPIs alleviate depression and can boost happiness in clinical and nonclinical populations. With this in mind, the presented article explores PPIs to treat depression.... Continue Reading →
Mindfulness…
An interesting article exploring how mindfulness meditation may help alleviate depression and possibly anxiety. Before you have a read of the article, remember mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally. Also recall the the work Jon Kabat-Zinn (1979) in which chronically ill patients were recruited into an... Continue Reading →
Potentially new antidepressant treatment…
Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a potential new antidepressant and antianxiety treatment with a unique mechanism of action. The newly developed compound, known as BU10119, works in a different way to the most common antidepressant drugs such as SSRIs, in that unlike SSRIs which target the serotonin system in the brain, BU10119 works by blocking receptors... Continue Reading →
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy versus Psychodynamic Therapy for major depression….
Research posted on the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology has highlighted evidence to support the efficaciousness of psychodynamic psychotherapy as an evidence-based intervention. The randomized clinical trial compared the efficacy of cognitive–behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy for adult outpatient depression (341 Dutch adults meeting the DSM–IV criteria for major depressive episode and with a HAM-D score ≥14) on measures of psychopathology,... Continue Reading →
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Medication found to have the same efficacy for treating Depression…
The results from a systematic review of the literature to compare and provide clinical recommendations on the comparative effectiveness of treatment with second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) versus nonpharmacologic treatment for major depressive disorder in adults has found (based on moderate-strength evidence) similar response rates for CBT and antidepressants and remission rates were also similar for CBT and antidepressants.... Continue Reading →