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QUOTE(Tanha @ May 23 2007, 10:02 PM) **hugs* I know how you feel...I often feel like an outsider here so it's hard for me to post at times, but I know I have a few friends here who care. I love the forum and that's why I stay. There's such a wide variety of people with all kinds of experiences to learn from...plus I need all the help I can get.
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated 40 million
Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives.

Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.



Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the �baby blues.� Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth.

Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions. - mcmanweb.com



Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.


According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder.
Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on America's health and productivity.  It affects more than 21 million American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.


Lost productive time among U.S. workers due to depression is estimated to be in excess of $31 billion per year.  Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status and prognosis.  It is also the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides in the U.S. each year.  In 2004, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, third among individuals 15-24.


According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020.

Depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer.

Research presented at the 56th Annual Conference of the Canadian Psychiatric Association shows a marked link between bipolar disorder and migraines.

The odds of migraine in persons with bipolar disorder were 40% higher than the general population.

Data obtained from 36,984 people aged 15 and over, who screened positive for manic or depressive episodes with migraine, were compared against those who screened positive for mania but who didn�t suffer from migraines.

Amongst males, 14.9% of those with manic episodes were also diagnosed with migraines compared with 5.8% of the general population. Amongst females, 34.7% had both migraines and bipolar disorder compared with 14.7% who only had migraines.unquote.gif

While the research was skewed towards persons who were already diagnosed with bipolar disorders, what does it mean for people who suffer from migraines but who may have an undiagnosed bipolar disorder?



Migraines and headaches aren�t fully understood but the manifestations are very real and debilitating for their sufferers:

Throbbing pain
Nausea
Heightened sensitivity to light or sound
Seeing dots, wavy lines, flashing lights, or blind spots
Difficulty with speech, sensation, or movement

 


An estimated 2.1 million American adolescents have experienced major depression within the last year, according to a new comprehensive government study.  Researchers surveyed more than 67,000 young people ages 12 to 17 and found that one in 12 had suffered from serious depression in the previous year.Nearly 13 percent of girls had struggled with depression, compared to less than 5 percent of boys. Odds of depression increased with age -- just 4 percent of 12-year-olds experienced depression but that climbed to 11 percent for older teens.

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Gene helps predict whether antidepressant will work

By kstours
by Julie Steenhuysen

Scientists have found a second gene that helps predict whether people with depression will respond to a commonly prescribed antidepressant, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

On its own, the gene variation plays only a small role in predicting a patient's response to Forest Laboratories Inc.'s Celexa, known generically as citalopram.

But when a patient also had a variation of another gene, they were 23 percent more likely to benefit, according to the study which appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

The finding may one day give doctors a better shot at choosing the right antidepressant for the right patient, helping to eliminate the trial-and-error process many people undergo before they find an effective treatment.

"This is definitely a step ahead," said Dr. Gonzalo Laje, a researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, in a telephone interview.

He said depression will be the second-leading cause of disability by the year 2020.

"It's huge. It costs the U.S. over billion every year in terms of direct and indirect medical costs."

"If we can identify markers that would predict who gets better with which treatment, we can maybe decrease this burden and make the disease easier to treat," Laje said.

He said researchers will need to identify more markers before the research will be of use, but it helps scientists better understand the disease and gives a clearer picture of who might benefit.

Ideally, Laje would like to be able to find enough gene variants to predict when a patient is 95 percent more likely to benefit.

Celexa is in a class of drugs called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Researchers studied DNA samples collected in the million, seven-year Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relative Depression, or STAR*D, a study paid for by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Earlier findings from this study found Celexa sent 37 percent of patients who took it into remission.

In the latest study, researchers examined genetic material from 1,816 patients, comparing data from those who responded to Celexa and those who didn't.

They found people with a variation in the GRIK4 gene were more likely to respond to the drug, especially when they also had a variation of the HTR2A gene.

Prior studies have shown variations in the HTR2A gene -- which makes a protein related to the chemical messenger serotonin -- play a role in a patient's response to Celexa.

The GRIK4 gene makes a protein that is involved with the glutamate system, which also has been linked with depression.

Researchers said the findings are building a better picture of the biological mechanisms that underlie depression, a disease that affects about 121 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

In the United States, an estimated 21 million adults, or 9.5 percent of the population, have depression at some point. It is the leading cause of suicide.

Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited.
Source: Yahoo News


Comments

Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Mental illness affects one in seventeen Americans. However, in this country alone, funding for mental health
facilities is dropping drastically and the care for the mentally disabled.
When the people who need those facilities have no where to go, they end up overcrowding emergency rooms.
Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
We would like to invite you to PM Forum Admin to share your story about your Depression or Mental Health issues as breaking the silence will help us to break open the stigma surrounding mental health that keeps people from getting the care that continues the misunderstandings about those affected by mental health disorders.
There is nothing better than to speak out, tell your story get the word out!
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Medical News
Depression News From Medical News Today
Latest Depression News From Medical News Today.

Izard Nobel LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Biovail Corporation
The law firm of Izard Nobel LLP, which has significant experience representing investors in prosecuting claims of securities fraud, announces that a lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of those who purchased Biovail Corporation ("Biovail" or the "Company") (NYSE: BVF) between December 14, 2006 and July 19, 2007, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Non-Invasive Treatment For Depression - Rush University Medical Center Psychiatrist Led Clinical Trials Of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now an entirely new treatment option for patients suffering from depression. Dr.




ADHD News From Medical News Today
Latest ADHD News From Medical News Today.

Many Factors To Consider In Getting Treatment Right For ADHD
The quality of a child's relationships and their diet are now known to be minor risk factors implicated in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Biological factors, including genetics, remain the most significant factor, however, so they must all be considered before treatment can begin. "ADHD is rarely encountered as a pure, discrete disorder," says Professor Alasdair Vance from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

ADHD Stimulant Treatment May Decrease Risk Of Substance Abuse In Adolescent Girls
Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs does not increase and appears to significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs. Their report in the October Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine parallels the findings of several earlier studies in boys, which needed to be confirmed in girls.




Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today
Latest Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today.

More City High Flyers Seeking Help As Credit Crunch Bites, London, England
The Priory Group has issued a list of top ten indicators for stressed City executives which should act as warning signs that professional help should be sought. As the global economy goes into meltdown, experts at the Priory Group are coping with escalating levels of depression and related conditions amongst staff in the financial sector, also leading to a rise in people seeking treatment for drink and drug abuse.

40 Million Americans Endure Anxiety Everyday
Despite anxiety and stress being one of today's most common disorders, it is regularly under diagnosed by medical professionals. Most of us experience occasional feelings of anxiety -- muscle tension, headache, nausea, fatigue, or trembling -- before important events such as exams, public speaking, first dates, or during times of stress such as a divorce, job change or a change in residence.




Bipolar News From Medical News Today
Latest Bipolar News From Medical News Today.

Awareness Campaign - To Dispel Myths About Mood Disorders - Mood Disorders Association Of Ontario
The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario (MDAO) today launches "It's All In Your Head!" an initiative to promote awareness of the work of the MDAO and dispel myths about mental illness. Volunteers will be in the Yonge-Eglinton subway station and the Yonge-Eglinton Centre to hand out "heady" information to commuters during the evening rush hour. Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder will affect one in five individuals at some point in their life.

Childhood Bipolar Disorder Could Extend Into Young Adulthood
Young adults who had bipolar disorder as children are likely to suffer from manic episodes, according to an article released on October 6, 2008 in Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder that involves episodes of mania and depression. There is significant debate about how pediatric bipolar disorder, which affects children, should be diagnosed.




Mental Health News From Medical News Today
Latest Mental Health News From Medical News Today.

WHO Report Shows Mental Health Services In England Leading The Way In Europe
Health Secretary Alan Johnson today welcomed publication of a landmark international report, which highlights that mental health services in England are leading the way in Europe. The report from the World Health Organisation, published to mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October, showed that: - England directs 13.

American Psychiatric Association Draws Attention To Mental Illness Awareness Week 2008
Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is Oct. 5-11, and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is raising awareness of mental health issues and the importance of eliminating the stigma surrounding them. Now in its 25th year, Mental Illness Awareness Week provides communities across the country with an opportunity to acknowledge the human and economic toll taken by mental illnesses and to celebrate new treatment advances. Most Americans know someone with a mental illness.




Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today
Latest Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today.

Schizophrenia Society Of Ontario Announces October Awareness Month
"Schizophrenia is a treatable brain disease." A significant element to the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario's awareness campaign this year is the website: with information on the October Awareness Campaign itself, the Access to Treatment initiative, as well as encouraging people to give to our organization.

Wiley-Blackwell Announces Launch Of Asia-Pacific Psychiatry
Wiley-Blackwell, the scientific, technical, medical and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, Inc (NYSE: JWa), (NYSE: JWb), today announced that it will be publishing a new psychiatry journal titled Asia-Pacific Psychiatry focused on the Asia and Pacific Rim region.




Schizophrenia News From Medical News Today
Latest Schizophrenia News From Medical News Today.

FDA Approves New Injection Site For RISPERDAL(R) CONSTA(R) For Schizophrenia Treatment
Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS) today announced that patients with schizophrenia now have a new administration option for RISPERDAL® CONSTA® [(risperidone) Long-Acting Injection]. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new injection site, the deltoid muscle in the arm, for RISPERDAL CONSTA for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. RISPERDAL CONSTA was previously approved as a gluteal injection only.

Schizophrenia Society Of Ontario Announces October Awareness Month
"Schizophrenia is a treatable brain disease." A significant element to the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario's awareness campaign this year is the website: with information on the October Awareness Campaign itself, the Access to Treatment initiative, as well as encouraging people to give to our organization.




Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia News From Medical News Today
Latest Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia News From Medical News Today.

Cognitive Deficits And Sleep-breathing Disorders In Children
Like adults, children can suffer from sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In new research published in the November issue of the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, scientists explore the interaction between sleep, breathing, and brain function and find that about two-thirds of children with SDB have some degree of cognitive deficit.

Symptoms Of Major Depression Relieved By St. John's Wort
New research provides support for the use of St. John's wort extracts in treating major depression. A Cochrane Systematic Review backs up previous research that showed the plant extract is effective in treating mild to moderate depressive disorders. "Overall, we found that the St.




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Depression & Mental Health FAQs 2
What is Clinical Depression?

Clinical depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, your ability to work and study, and how you interact with people.

Clinical depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed away. Clinically depressed people cannot "pull themselves together" and get better.

Depression can be successfully treated by a mental health professional or certain health care providers. With the right treatment, 80 percent of those who seek help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few weeks.

Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health
World Health Organization Finds Depression Often Goes Untreated
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 6, 2007 -- Depression has a greater impact on overall health than arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests.
more...Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health

For Additional Information About Depression Write To:
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
 

For free brochures on depression and its treatment call:  1-800-421-4211.
or visit: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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