Ways music influences moods of people suffering from depression

Ways music influences moods of people suffering from depression

“Without music, life would be a mistake” –Friedrich Nietzsche

Music has the capacity to alleviate stress, anxiety, etc. and accelerate the process of recovery by increasing the level of neurochemicals that are also known as “feel good endorphins” and providing a healthy distraction. Due to its pivotal role in healing depressive moods, music has been integrated into various kinds of treatment for a range of psychiatric disorders. According to an article published in Spirituality and Health, although music has been used for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years due to its capacity to heal, scientific research on the possibility of using […] Read more

Comprehending the magnitude and burden of depression among LGBTs

Comprehending the magnitude and burden of depression among LGBTs

Although a large number of people have, in recent times, extended support to the people of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, their daily travails are far from reaching an end. The stigma attached to their sexual orientation and lack of opportunity to integrate with the mainstream society often inflict numerous challenges, including mental disorders like anxiety, depression, etc. The continuous exposure to shame, rejection, alienation and discrimination further impacts their condition adversely.

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Study: Meta-analysis of crowd-sourced and existing data determine depression-related genome sites

Study: Meta-analysis of crowd-sourced and existing data determine depression-related genome sites

The notion that the blueprint of depression is etched deep within the genes has been backed by various scientific evidences. Despite the above fact, it was only recently that the scientists were able to identify the genome associated with depression amidst individuals, particularly those with the European lineage.

Since depression like any other disease is caused by multiple factors, the role of genetics remained neglected for long despite the fact that mental disorders often run in families. Despite earlier conventional genome-wide studies, scientists failed to determine the accurate information and pertaining to the genome sites responsible for triggering depression.

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Ketamine metabolite may alleviate depression without side effects

Ketamine metabolite may alleviate depression without side effects

With an increasing number of people facing the growing challenge of depression, one of the major hurdles before medical practitioners is ensuring effective treatment and diagnosis. In a bid to treat depression, scientists and medical practitioners have stumbled upon many interesting treatments. Of all, ketamine has become increasingly popular as a treatment due to its effectiveness in treating depression in a matter of few hours compared to antidepressants. Therefore, all efforts are being made to roll it out.

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Tackling depression through various treatment methods

Tackling depression through various treatment methods

Depression is a medical condition that affects the quality of life and impairs the normal functioning of a person. Contrary to the popular belief, this mental health condition is neither a sign of weakness nor a character flaw. Individuals going through depression cannot suddenly snap out of this problem. When depression is left undiagnosed or untreated, it can harbor negative thoughts of self-harm and suicide. Moreover, the likelihood of developing depression increases immensely with the presence of a physical illness.

However, depression is a treatable disorder. Appropriate treatment can improve health and quality of life holistically. At times, patients see the […] Read more

Early signs of childhood depression

Early signs of childhood depression

During the process of growing up, children are often taught the ways to deal with certain unwanted and unavoidable circumstances. But sometimes, parents fail to acquaint their children with the ways to not buckle down due to a problem triggered by mental health issues. Although children may exhibit the signs of depression at times, they are often overlooked as feelings of sadness or normal mood swings.

Being a common mental illness, depression affects millions of children worldwide. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has highlighted that an estimated 2.8 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States […] Read more

Understanding off-label prescriptions for antidepressants

Understanding off-label prescriptions for antidepressants

All drugs sold and marketed in the United States bear a specific FDA-approved label, which is a written report covering elaborate guidelines pertaining to approved uses and doses. These usage and dosage instructions are based on evidence from clinical studies and research labs, which the drug maker submits to the FDA. Before a drug is approved for prescription, the FDA ensures the company has clinically proven its safety and efficacy for intended use. However, ‘safe’ does not always mean it has no side effects. Instead, it represents the FDA assurance that benefits of the drug for a particular use outweigh […] Read more

Excessive social media browsing may cause depression

Excessive social media browsing may cause depression

Today, social media platforms are a go-to affair for almost every individual. For many people, such platforms have become a medium to share their feelings while maintaining an on-the-go virtual relationship with the world. From social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc. people announce to the world what is happening in their lives. It allows them to share their perspective about what is trending. From sharing their happiness over the arrival of their bundle of joy to announcing their latest travel destination, these sites have been breaking millions of news every day.

While such social media sites are keeping […] Read more