Adolescents are at higher risk of depression if they have a parent who is depressed or have had prior depression or exhibited depressive symptoms. Intervention programs are most effective when they target such higher-risk teens.
Survivors of a suicide include the person’s family members, friends, coworkers, and in many cases mental health clinicians. Survivors may struggle with grief and guilt for much longer than those mourning other types of death.
Chronic depression is defined as lasting at least two years. Psychotherapy and treatment with an antidepressant may achieve remission, though long-term maintenance use of medication may be needed to prevent relapse.
Women with a psychiatric disorder who become pregnant must consider any potential risk to the fetus caused by medications, as well as the possible risk of relapse caused by stopping medications.
A survey of 26,000 college students, both undergraduate and graduate, found that about 10 percent had considered suicide in the previous year, but fewer than half of those had sought help or told anyone.
Investigators found that taking an SSRI antidepressant during the last trimester of pregnancy did not significantly increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
Social anxiety disorder, whether generalized or specific, can be severe enough to affect a person’s ability to work or have a social life, but only about half those with the disorder get treatment.
Early research on the use of deep-brain stimulation for treatment of major depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder has led to establishment of a set of recommendations regarding its use.
Research suggests that prolonged stress is linked to high blood pressure, clogged arteries, anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors, and obesity.
A small study found that people with major depression who received one dose of ketamine experienced a significant improvement in mood, but the results will be of interest mainly to researchers, because of how ketamine acts on the brain.