Most homeless Americans are battling mental illness
Two-thirds of homeless people are experiencing some form of mental health disorder, a large, new review of data on the subject.
Apr 17, 2024
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Two-thirds of homeless people are experiencing some form of mental health disorder, a large, new review of data on the subject.
Apr 17, 2024
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Quiet preteens who feel they're a burden on others are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors, a new study reports.
Apr 15, 2024
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Months after Kaiser Permanente reached a sweeping agreement with state regulators to improve its mental health services, the health care giant is facing union allegations that patients could be improperly losing such care.
Apr 10, 2024
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Coronary artery disease and major depression may be genetically linked via inflammatory pathways to an increased risk for cardiomyopathy, a degenerative heart muscle disease, researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center ...
Apr 8, 2024
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Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive technique for neuroregulation. It offers several advantages, including being non-invasive, eliminating the need for general anesthesia requirements, ...
Apr 3, 2024
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Clinicians treating patients who live with or survive serious diseases such as cancer are familiar with the concept of fear of illness recurrence (FIR). FIR has been associated with greater avoidance of illness reminders, ...
Mar 26, 2024
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A new review paper from authors at Brigham and Women's Hospital and collaborators concludes that menopause does not uniformly elevate the risk of depression and other mental health conditions.
Mar 5, 2024
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A review by the American College of Physicians (ACP) of performance measures designed to evaluate quality of care for those suffering from major depressive disorder found only 1 of 8 measures relevant to internal medicine ...
Mar 5, 2024
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Preschoolers with clinical depression are more likely than their peers to have attempted suicide or to have had thoughts of killing themselves by age 12, according to a new study from researchers at Washington University ...
Mar 5, 2024
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Dartmouth researchers report they have developed the first smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence paired with facial-image processing software to reliably detect the onset of depression before the user even ...
Feb 27, 2024
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Major depressive disorder (MDD) (also known as recurrent depressive disorder, clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression, or unipolar disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. This cluster of symptoms (syndrome) was named, described and classified as one of the mood disorders in the 1980 edition of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual. The term "depression" is ambiguous. It is often used to denote this syndrome but may refer to other mood disorders or to lower mood states lacking clinical significance. Major depressive disorder is a disabling condition that adversely affects a person's family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health. In the United States, around 3.4% of people with major depression commit suicide, and up to 60% of people who commit suicide had depression or another mood disorder.
The diagnosis of major depressive disorder is based on the patient's self-reported experiences, behavior reported by relatives or friends, and a mental status examination. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians generally request tests for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms. If depressive disorder is not detected in the early stages it may result in a slow recovery and affect or worsen the person's physical health. Standardized screening tools such as Major Depression Inventory can be used to detect major depressive disorder. The most common time of onset is between the ages of 20 and 30 years, with a later peak between 30 and 40 years.
Typically, patients are treated with antidepressant medication and, in many cases, also receive psychotherapy or counseling, although the effectiveness of medication for mild or moderate cases is questionable. Hospitalization may be necessary in cases with associated self-neglect or a significant risk of harm to self or others. A minority are treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The course of the disorder varies widely, from one episode lasting weeks to a lifelong disorder with recurrent major depressive episodes. Depressed individuals have shorter life expectancies than those without depression, in part because of greater susceptibility to medical illnesses and suicide. It is unclear whether or not medications affect the risk of suicide. Current and former patients may be stigmatized.
The understanding of the nature and causes of depression has evolved over the centuries, though this understanding is incomplete and has left many aspects of depression as the subject of discussion and research. Proposed causes include psychological, psycho-social, hereditary, evolutionary and biological factors. Certain types of long-term drug use can both cause and worsen depressive symptoms. Psychological treatments are based on theories of personality, interpersonal communication, and learning. Most biological theories focus on the monoamine chemicals serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which are naturally present in the brain and assist communication between nerve cells.
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