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Self-help books 'treat depression'
Can a self-help book aid depression?
Showing posts with label Depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Depression. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Depression, A Serious Medical Condition
http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Viewpoints/Wheel-Power/Profile/Articles/2014/11/06/Depression-a-serious-medical-disorder-thats-underrecognised-and-undertreated/
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Sibling Bullying Ups Depression Risk
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29082701
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 250,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.org You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Global Impact of Depression
Global impact of depression revealed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24818048
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Self-Help Books Treat Depression
BBC ONLINE 19 January 2013
Last updated at 00:42 GMT
Can a self-help book aid depression?
Can a self-help book aid depression?
Prescribing self-help books on the NHS is an effective treatment for depression, a study suggests.
Patients offered books, plus sessions guiding them in how to
use them, had lower levels of depression a year later than those offered
usual GP care.
The effect was seen in addition to the benefits of other treatments such as antidepressants, Scottish researchers report in the journal Plos One.
Such an approach may help the NHS tackle demand for therapy, they said.
More than 200 patients who had been diagnosed with depression by their GP took part in the study, half of whom were also on antidepressant drugs.
Some were provided with a self-help guide dealing with different aspects of depression, such as being assertive or overcoming sleep problems.
Patients also had three sessions with an adviser who helped them get the most out of the books and plan what changes to make.
After four months those who had been prescribed the self-help books had significantly lower levels of depression than those who received usual GP care.
The effect was seen in addition to the benefits of other treatments such as antidepressants, Scottish researchers report in the journal Plos One.
Such an approach may help the NHS tackle demand for therapy, they said.
More than 200 patients who had been diagnosed with depression by their GP took part in the study, half of whom were also on antidepressant drugs.
Some were provided with a self-help guide dealing with different aspects of depression, such as being assertive or overcoming sleep problems.
Patients also had three sessions with an adviser who helped them get the most out of the books and plan what changes to make.
After four months those who had been prescribed the self-help books had significantly lower levels of depression than those who received usual GP care.
A year later, those in the self-help group were more likely to be keeping on top of their depression.
Study leader Prof Christopher Williams, from the University
of Glasgow, who also wrote the books called Overcoming Depression and
Low Mood, said the guided sessions were the key to getting people
engaged.
The sessions can be delivered in general practice without referral to a specialist, taking pressure off waiting lists.
In Scotland, a telephone support service has now been set up to help support those using the books, which can be freely copied and disseminated, he added.
"We found this had a really significant clinical impact and the findings are very encouraging," he said.
"Depression saps people's motivation and makes it hard to believe change is possible."
The challenge for the NHS, where self-help books are already used in many places, is how to implement this model so people have easy supported access in primary care, he said.
'Worth investing in'
There has been huge investment in better treatment for depression in the UK in recent years with the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in England set up to widen access.
It has been estimated this approach could save the NHS up to £272m and the wider public sector £700m.
But, says Prof Williams, despite the huge levels of investment, it is just not possible to refer everyone with depression to mental health services.
Dr Paul Blenkiron, consultant in adult psychiatry at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said the results showed that guided self-help is effective and is "something the NHS should be investing in".
He is currently advising on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, on a National Books On Prescription Scheme, to be rolled out across UK public libraries this year.
Thirty books, including the one used in the study, have been selected.
But Dr Blenkiron said self-help would not be suitable for everyone: "The key thing is that the person is committed to doing some work."
The sessions can be delivered in general practice without referral to a specialist, taking pressure off waiting lists.
In Scotland, a telephone support service has now been set up to help support those using the books, which can be freely copied and disseminated, he added.
"We found this had a really significant clinical impact and the findings are very encouraging," he said.
"Depression saps people's motivation and makes it hard to believe change is possible."
The challenge for the NHS, where self-help books are already used in many places, is how to implement this model so people have easy supported access in primary care, he said.
'Worth investing in'
There has been huge investment in better treatment for depression in the UK in recent years with the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in England set up to widen access.
It has been estimated this approach could save the NHS up to £272m and the wider public sector £700m.
But, says Prof Williams, despite the huge levels of investment, it is just not possible to refer everyone with depression to mental health services.
Dr Paul Blenkiron, consultant in adult psychiatry at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said the results showed that guided self-help is effective and is "something the NHS should be investing in".
He is currently advising on behalf of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, on a National Books On Prescription Scheme, to be rolled out across UK public libraries this year.
Thirty books, including the one used in the study, have been selected.
But Dr Blenkiron said self-help would not be suitable for everyone: "The key thing is that the person is committed to doing some work."
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Sunday, December 09, 2012
Talk Therapy To Reduce Depression
BBC ONLINE: 7 December 2012
Last updated at 00:40 GMT
Cognitive behavioural therapy 'can reduce depression'
Cognitive
behavioural therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms of depression in people
who fail to respond to drug treatment, says a study in the Lancet.
CBT, a type of psychotherapy, was found to benefit nearly
half of the 234 patients who received it combined with normal care from
their GP.
Up to two-thirds of people with depression do not respond to anti-depressants.
Patients should have access to a range of treatments, the charity Mind said.
CBT is a form of talking psychotherapy to help people with depression change the way they think to improve how they feel and alter their behaviour.
The study followed 469 patients with treatment-resistant depression picked from GP practices in Bristol, Exeter and Glasgow over 12 months.
One group of patients continued with their usual care from their GP, which could include anti-depressant medication, while the second group was also treated with CBT.
After six months, researchers found 46% of those who had received CBT reported at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms.
Up to two-thirds of people with depression do not respond to anti-depressants.
Patients should have access to a range of treatments, the charity Mind said.
CBT is a form of talking psychotherapy to help people with depression change the way they think to improve how they feel and alter their behaviour.
The study followed 469 patients with treatment-resistant depression picked from GP practices in Bristol, Exeter and Glasgow over 12 months.
One group of patients continued with their usual care from their GP, which could include anti-depressant medication, while the second group was also treated with CBT.
After six months, researchers found 46% of those who had received CBT reported at least a 50% reduction in their symptoms.
This compared with 22% experiencing the same reduction in the other group.
The study concluded CBT was effective in reducing symptoms
and improving patients' quality of life. The improvements had been
maintained for a period of 12 months, it added.
Other options
Dr Nicola Wiles, from the Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research at the University of Bristol, said: "While the addition of CBT was effective for patients who had not responded to anti-depressants, not everyone who received CBT got better. These patients had severe and chronic depression so it is unlikely that one treatment would be effective for everyone."
"We need to invest in other research to find alternative treatments for patients whose symptoms have not responded to treatment with anti-depressants."
Chris Williams, professor of psychosocial psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, and part of the research team, said: "The research used a CBT intervention alongside treatment with anti-depressants. It confirms how these approaches - the psychological and physical - can complement each other.
"It was also encouraging because we found the approach worked to good effect across a wide range of people of different ages and living in a variety of settings."
Paul Farmer, chief executive at the mental health charity Mind, said there was no "one size fits all" treatment for people with mental health problems.
"We welcome this research because it recognises that patients should have the right to a wide range of treatment options based on individual needs," he said.
"Initiatives such as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has helped to ensure that more treatment options are available for conditions such as depression, however, we know that there still is a huge difference between what treatment people want and what they actually get."
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive.
Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE.
We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly.
PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing!
PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily.
Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE.
You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my
You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT.
Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Dr Nicola Wiles, from the Centre for Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Research at the University of Bristol, said: "While the addition of CBT was effective for patients who had not responded to anti-depressants, not everyone who received CBT got better. These patients had severe and chronic depression so it is unlikely that one treatment would be effective for everyone."
"We need to invest in other research to find alternative treatments for patients whose symptoms have not responded to treatment with anti-depressants."
CBT can help you to change how you think (cognitive) and what you do (behaviour).
Unlike some other talking treatments, it focuses on the "here and now" instead of the causes of distress or past symptoms.
The patients who did benefit from
cognitive behavioural therapy spent one hour a week with a clinical
psychologist learning skills to help change the way they think.
Chris Williams, professor of psychosocial psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, and part of the research team, said: "The research used a CBT intervention alongside treatment with anti-depressants. It confirms how these approaches - the psychological and physical - can complement each other.
"It was also encouraging because we found the approach worked to good effect across a wide range of people of different ages and living in a variety of settings."
Paul Farmer, chief executive at the mental health charity Mind, said there was no "one size fits all" treatment for people with mental health problems.
"We welcome this research because it recognises that patients should have the right to a wide range of treatment options based on individual needs," he said.
"Initiatives such as the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has helped to ensure that more treatment options are available for conditions such as depression, however, we know that there still is a huge difference between what treatment people want and what they actually get."
Monday, October 01, 2012
Time Off For Depression
30 September 2012
Last updated at 23:20 GMT
People can find it hard to keep on working when experiencing depression
One in 10 workers has taken time off for depression
People can find it hard to keep on working when experiencing depression
One in 10 workers has taken time off because of depression, a poll of 7,000 people in seven European countries has found.
The Mori survey was carried out for the European Depression Association (EDA) in Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Spain and France.
Those in Britain, Denmark and Germany were most likely to be off work because of depression.
A UK expert said support for people with depression was improving.
Overall, 20% of the 7,000 polled had received a diagnosis of depression at some point in their lives.
The highest rate was in Britain, where 26% had been diagnosed and the lowest in Italy, where the figure was 12%.
Among workers experiencing depression, those in Germany (61%), Denmark (60%), and Britain (58%) were most likely to take time off work, while those in Turkey were the least likely (25%).
Researchers have previously estimated the cost of depression at €92bn (£73bn) in 2010 across the EU, with lost productivity due to time off or under-performance accounting for most of the costs.
The Mori survey was carried out for the European Depression Association (EDA) in Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Spain and France.
Those in Britain, Denmark and Germany were most likely to be off work because of depression.
A UK expert said support for people with depression was improving.
Overall, 20% of the 7,000 polled had received a diagnosis of depression at some point in their lives.
The highest rate was in Britain, where 26% had been diagnosed and the lowest in Italy, where the figure was 12%.
Among workers experiencing depression, those in Germany (61%), Denmark (60%), and Britain (58%) were most likely to take time off work, while those in Turkey were the least likely (25%).
Researchers have previously estimated the cost of depression at €92bn (£73bn) in 2010 across the EU, with lost productivity due to time off or under-performance accounting for most of the costs.
An average of 36 days were taken for the last episode of depression - but figures ranged from 41 in Britain to 23 in Italy.
Across the countries surveyed, one in four of with depression said they did not tell their employer.
One in three of them said they were worried it could put their job at risk.
A third of the 792 managers surveyed said they had no formal support in place to help them deal with employees experiencing depression.
But the situation was better in Britain, with most of the 117 managers questioned reporting good back-up from their HR department.
Across the countries surveyed, one in four of with depression said they did not tell their employer.
One in three of them said they were worried it could put their job at risk.
A third of the 792 managers surveyed said they had no formal support in place to help them deal with employees experiencing depression.
But the situation was better in Britain, with most of the 117 managers questioned reporting good back-up from their HR department.
'Attention and action'
Dr Vincenzo Costigliola, president of the EDA, said "The
results of the survey show that much needs to be done in raising
awareness and supporting employees and employers in recognising and
managing depression in the workplace.
"We ask policymakers to consider the impact of depression on the workforce and charge them with addressing depression and workers and workplace safety."
MEP Stephen Hughes, who holds the Employment and Social Affairs portfolio in the European Parliament, backs better support and protection for workers.
He said: "Depression in the workplace is an employment and societal challenge that is causing serious damage and which requires attention and action from the European Union."
Emer O'Neill, chief executive of the Depression Alliance, said the situation in the UK was improving.
"We have moved forward significantly. Depression and anxiety is being talked about more and is more widely recognised. GPs are more receptive.
"In addition, employers are increasingly coming to groups like us to help them provide support and put procedures in place to allow people to go through this illness like they would any other.
"We ask policymakers to consider the impact of depression on the workforce and charge them with addressing depression and workers and workplace safety."
MEP Stephen Hughes, who holds the Employment and Social Affairs portfolio in the European Parliament, backs better support and protection for workers.
He said: "Depression in the workplace is an employment and societal challenge that is causing serious damage and which requires attention and action from the European Union."
Emer O'Neill, chief executive of the Depression Alliance, said the situation in the UK was improving.
"We have moved forward significantly. Depression and anxiety is being talked about more and is more widely recognised. GPs are more receptive.
"In addition, employers are increasingly coming to groups like us to help them provide support and put procedures in place to allow people to go through this illness like they would any other.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Blood Test Diagnoses Major Depression
Health
April 20, 2012
Blood Test Diagnoses Major Depression
Could be especially helpful in designing treatments for teens
Photo: photos.com
A new blood test
is the first to identify the many different types of major depression,
including bipolar disorder and depression driven by severe anxiety.
Scientists have developed the first blood test to diagnose major depression.
The landmark test could give psychiatrists a more objective way to identify different types of depression in their patients, and would be especially helpful in designing treatments for depression in highly-vulnerable teenagers.
The blood test is not designed to determine whether a teen is at risk for the condition or already suffers from major depression. That's something psychiatrists can do, using traditional subjective analysis, during their patients' office visits.
Rather, says Eva Redei, a professor of psychiatry at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Illinois, the new blood test is the first to identify the many different types of major depression, from bipolar disorder to depression driven by severe anxiety. She says this additional information can help doctors tailor therapies for each patient.
"The test probably can identify subgroups of depressed patients, which is the aim in define[ing] the best treatment," Redei says.
Statistics show that depressed teenagers are at particularly high risk of suicide, so there is an urgent need for a test that can zero in on the precise nature of their depression and suggest the most appropriate treatments.
Redei had previously discovered 26 genetic markers, or substances in the blood, that appear to be elevated in depression. She says everyone has the markers, which she likens to those that indicate levels of blood sugar and cholesterol, and the depression markers can be in the normal range or elevated.
That's what Redei and her colleagues discovered in their study of blood markers in a group of 14 male and female adolescents, aged 15 to 19. They had been diagnosed with, but not yet treated for, major depression.
The study also included 14 healthy volunteers. In the blinded study - where researchers did not know which of the subjects had a mood disorder - investigators found they were able to differentiate between the two groups on the basis of 11 genetic markers in their blood.
Among depressed teens, researchers found 18 of the 26 blood markers could tell which participants had major depression and which also suffered from depression plus an anxiety disorder.
Patients with depression are treated with a variety of medications but, according to Redei, treatment is not always effective because one-size does not fit all.
"We can't choose a treatment at the moment because...we can't objectively diagnose how many kinds of depressions there are, what are the characteristics, and so on," Redei says.
The new test will enable that objective diagnosis. But Redei believes the markers she's discovered could be just "the tip of the iceberg," because depression is such a complex disorder. And she says further study should help scientists more precisely identify which markers are positively associated with each subtype of depression.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Walking Can Fight Depression
BBC ONLINE: 13 April 2012
Last updated at 23:06 GMT
Mild exercise for mild depression?
Something as simple as going for a brisk stroll could play an important role in fighting depression, according to researchers in Scotland.
Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear.
A study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a "large effect" on depression.
One in 10 people may have depression at some point in their lives.
The condition can be treated with drugs, but exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild symptoms.
Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise - walking.
They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill.
Therapy The report's authors showed "walking was an effective intervention for depression" and had an effect similar to other more vigorous forms of exercise.
They said: "Walking has the advantages of being easily undertaken by most people, incurring little or no financial cost and being relatively easy to incorporate into daily living."
However, they cautioned that much more research needed to be done. There are still questions over how long, how fast and whether walking should take place indoors or outdoors.
Prof Adrian Taylor, who studies the effects of exercise on depression, addiction and stress at the University of Exeter, told the BBC: "The beauty of walking is that everybody does it."
He added: "There are benefits for a mental-health condition like depression."
How any form of exercise helps with depression is unclear. Prof Taylor said there were ideas about exercise being a distraction from worries, giving a sense of control and releasing "feel-good" hormones.
The mental-health charity Mind said its own research found that spending time outdoors helped people's mental health.
Its chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: "To get the most from outdoor activities it's important to find a type of exercise you love and can stick at. Try different things, be it walking, cycling, gardening or even open-water swimming.
"Exercising with others can have even greater impact, as it provides an opportunity to strengthen social networks, talk through problems with others or simply laugh and enjoy a break from family and work. So ask a friend to join you."
Walking could be a useful tool in treating depression
Mild exercise for mild depression?
Something as simple as going for a brisk stroll could play an important role in fighting depression, according to researchers in Scotland.
Vigorous exercise has already been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, but the effect of less strenuous activities was unclear.
A study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity showed walking had a "large effect" on depression.
One in 10 people may have depression at some point in their lives.
The condition can be treated with drugs, but exercise is commonly prescribed by doctors for mild symptoms.
Researchers at the University of Stirling scoured academic studies to find data on one of the mildest forms of exercise - walking.
They found eight studies, on a total of 341 patients, which fitted the bill.
Therapy The report's authors showed "walking was an effective intervention for depression" and had an effect similar to other more vigorous forms of exercise.
They said: "Walking has the advantages of being easily undertaken by most people, incurring little or no financial cost and being relatively easy to incorporate into daily living."
However, they cautioned that much more research needed to be done. There are still questions over how long, how fast and whether walking should take place indoors or outdoors.
Prof Adrian Taylor, who studies the effects of exercise on depression, addiction and stress at the University of Exeter, told the BBC: "The beauty of walking is that everybody does it."
He added: "There are benefits for a mental-health condition like depression."
How any form of exercise helps with depression is unclear. Prof Taylor said there were ideas about exercise being a distraction from worries, giving a sense of control and releasing "feel-good" hormones.
The mental-health charity Mind said its own research found that spending time outdoors helped people's mental health.
Its chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: "To get the most from outdoor activities it's important to find a type of exercise you love and can stick at. Try different things, be it walking, cycling, gardening or even open-water swimming.
"Exercising with others can have even greater impact, as it provides an opportunity to strengthen social networks, talk through problems with others or simply laugh and enjoy a break from family and work. So ask a friend to join you."
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Fight Depression Through Leisure Time Exercise
From BBC Online 1 November 2010 Last updated at 00:32 GMT
Leisure-time exercise 'reduces depression risk'
The fact that people get more enjoyment from exercising during their leisure time is key
People who take regular exercise during their free time are less likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, a study of 40,000 Norwegians has found.
But physical activity which is part and parcel of the working day does not have the same effect, it suggests.
Writing in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the researchers said it was probably because there was not the same level of social interaction.
The charity Mind said that exercise and interaction aids our mental health.
Higher levels of social interaction during leisure time were found to be part of the reason for the link.
Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London teamed up with academics from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Bergen in Norway to conduct the study.
Participants were asked how often, and to what degree, they undertook physical activity in their leisure time and during the course of their work.
Researchers also measured participants' depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
People who were not active in their leisure time were almost twice as likely to have symptoms of depression compared to the most active individuals, the study found.
But the intensity of the exercise did not seem to make any difference.
Social benefits Lead researcher Dr Samuel Harvey, from the Institute of Psychiatry, said: "Our study shows that people who engage in regular leisure-time activity of any intensity are less likely to have symptoms of depression.
"We also found that the context in which activity takes place is vital and that the social benefits associated with exercise, like increased numbers of friends and social support, are more important in understanding how exercise may be linked to improved mental health than any biological markers of fitness.
"This may explain why leisure activity appears to have benefits not seen with physical activity undertaken as part of a working day."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, said that lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise are known to have a positive impact on mental well-being.
"Exercise gives you a natural high and is a great way to boost your mood. However, another mental health benefit of physical activity is derived from social interaction.
"So going out with a running club, taking part in a team sport or working on a communal allotment is far better for your mental well-being than a physically demanding job.
"Mind has found that after just a short country walk 90% of people had increased self-esteem," Mr Farmer said.
The fact that people get more enjoyment from exercising during their leisure time is key People who take regular exercise during their free time are less likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety, a study of 40,000 Norwegians has found.
But physical activity which is part and parcel of the working day does not have the same effect, it suggests.
Writing in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the researchers said it was probably because there was not the same level of social interaction.
The charity Mind said that exercise and interaction aids our mental health.
Higher levels of social interaction during leisure time were found to be part of the reason for the link.
Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London teamed up with academics from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Bergen in Norway to conduct the study.
Participants were asked how often, and to what degree, they undertook physical activity in their leisure time and during the course of their work.
Researchers also measured participants' depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
People who were not active in their leisure time were almost twice as likely to have symptoms of depression compared to the most active individuals, the study found.
But the intensity of the exercise did not seem to make any difference.
Social benefits Lead researcher Dr Samuel Harvey, from the Institute of Psychiatry, said: "Our study shows that people who engage in regular leisure-time activity of any intensity are less likely to have symptoms of depression.
"We also found that the context in which activity takes place is vital and that the social benefits associated with exercise, like increased numbers of friends and social support, are more important in understanding how exercise may be linked to improved mental health than any biological markers of fitness.
"This may explain why leisure activity appears to have benefits not seen with physical activity undertaken as part of a working day."
Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, said that lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise are known to have a positive impact on mental well-being.
"Exercise gives you a natural high and is a great way to boost your mood. However, another mental health benefit of physical activity is derived from social interaction.
"So going out with a running club, taking part in a team sport or working on a communal allotment is far better for your mental well-being than a physically demanding job.
"Mind has found that after just a short country walk 90% of people had increased self-esteem," Mr Farmer said.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). Our reports and stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is now 70,000 and going strong! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Sometimes even twice or three times a day. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook as PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support. Thank you!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Doctors Must Pay More Attention To Heart Patients With Depression
BBC ONLINE 15 September 2010 Last updated at 23:20 GMT
Depressed heart patients 'at risk' 
Experts studied the physical and mental health of 6,000 people over several years
French and British experts say people with both conditions could be four times more likely to die from heart or circulatory disease.
The study, in Heart journal, tracked the mental and physical health of 6,000 middle-aged people over five years.
Experts said doctors must pay more heed to depression in heart patients.
Experts from the University College London and the University of Versailles followed the health of just under 6,000 male and female civil servants for an average of five and a half years.
The volunteers were taking part in the British Whitehall Study II, which is looking at social and economic factors in long-term health.
Experts studied the physical and mental health of 6,000 people over several years The combination of depression and coronary heart disease in a patient could be much more deadly than either condition alone, researchers say.
French and British experts say people with both conditions could be four times more likely to die from heart or circulatory disease.
The study, in Heart journal, tracked the mental and physical health of 6,000 middle-aged people over five years.
Experts said doctors must pay more heed to depression in heart patients.
Experts from the University College London and the University of Versailles followed the health of just under 6,000 male and female civil servants for an average of five and a half years.
The volunteers were taking part in the British Whitehall Study II, which is looking at social and economic factors in long-term health.
Exercise They found people with heart disease alone had a 67% higher chance of dying from any cause than those without either heart disease or depression.
But the combination of heart disease and depression tripled the risk of death from any cause and quadrupled the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Amy Thompson, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which partly funded the study, said: "This study builds on previous research which suggests that depression is linked to coronary heart disease.
"Enjoying regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you are feeling low - so, good news for your mental health as well as your heart health.
"Whether or not you have heart disease, if you feel depressed it's essential to talk to your doctor."
But the combination of heart disease and depression tripled the risk of death from any cause and quadrupled the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
Amy Thompson, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, which partly funded the study, said: "This study builds on previous research which suggests that depression is linked to coronary heart disease.
"Enjoying regular exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you are feeling low - so, good news for your mental health as well as your heart health.
"Whether or not you have heart disease, if you feel depressed it's essential to talk to your doctor."
PET+BLOGSPOT is an ACTIVE ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive). We strive to keep our reports and stories CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then is now 55,000 and counting. PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Sometimes even twice and three times a day. Kindly take note that views expressed in this blog are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook as PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Thank you for your support.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
BBC ONLINE: Depression Linked To Alzheimer's
Depression linked to Alzheimer's
 Depression has been linked to loss of brain cells |
People who have had depression may be more prone to Alzheimer's disease, two studies suggest.
Dutch researchers found Alzheimer's was 2.5 times more likely in people with a history of depression.
Similarly, US researchers, examining Catholic clergy, found those with signs of depression were more likely to go on to develop Alzheimer's.
The Dutch appears in the journal Neurology and the US study in Archives of General Psychiatry.
The Dutch study was small - 486 people over an average of six years, with just 33 people developing Alzheimer's.
But it found that people who showed signs of depression before the age of 60 were four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's.
 |  We don't know yet whether depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease, or whether another unknown factor causes both depression and dementia  Dr Monique Breteler Erasmus University Medical Center |
The researchers, from the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, said more work was needed to fully understand the link between Alzheimer's and depression.
Lead researcher Dr Monique Breteler said: "We don't know yet whether depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease, or whether another unknown factor causes both depression and dementia."
One theory is that depression leads to the loss of cells in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which then contributes to Alzheimer's disease.
However, the latest study found no difference in the size of these two brain areas in people with depression and people who had never developed the condition.
Second study
The findings were echoed in a second study by Rush University in the US published in Archives of General Psychiatry.
The researchers followed more than 900 members of the Catholic clergy for up to 13 years during which time 190 developed Alzheimer's.
They found that those with more signs of depression at the start of the study were more likely to develop Alzheimer's.
But there was little evidence of an increase in depressive symptoms during the early stages of disease.
Even after the diagnosis of Alzheimer's was made there was no general increase in depression, but rather an increase that was confined to individuals with certain personality traits.
The researchers said their findings suggested that depression was a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease - rather than a subtle early sign of its underlying pathology.
Researcher Dr Robert Wilson said: "Depressive symptoms may be associated with distinctive changes in the brain that somehow reduce neural reserve, which is the brain's ability to tolerate the pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease."
Rebecca Wood, of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said the research was interesting, and potentially useful.
She said: "Identifying people at higher risk could lead to ways to reduce the number of people who develop dementia, help researchers to understand more about dementia and create new avenues of research."
Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "More research is needed to clarify the relationship between dementia and depression and determine whether depression causes changes in the brain that make dementia more likely."Friday, February 08, 2008
BBC ONLINE: Exercise Can Help You Overcome Depression
Persons with depression are one of the target groups of PETPOSITIVE. Developing a positive state of mind and building up one's personal self esteem are some of the core goals of Our unique Society.
It must be admitted that getting persons with depression and mental illness to take part in our activities have been one of our toughest challenges. Despite our many attempts, we found out that for some of them getting out to socialize is a big problem. This is often because of the lack of self confidence that they possess.
The article below is a very interesting one that encourages exercise as a means to help persons who are depressed instead of healthcare professionals resorting to medication as the only way all the time.
There are many parallels that can be drawn between exercise and animal-assisted therapy as another means of treatment for persons with mental illness. Read on. Comments from readers are always welcome.
PET+BLOGSPOT
Doctors are increasingly prescribing exercise for people with depression, mental health campaigners have found.
It must be admitted that getting persons with depression and mental illness to take part in our activities have been one of our toughest challenges. Despite our many attempts, we found out that for some of them getting out to socialize is a big problem. This is often because of the lack of self confidence that they possess.
The article below is a very interesting one that encourages exercise as a means to help persons who are depressed instead of healthcare professionals resorting to medication as the only way all the time.
There are many parallels that can be drawn between exercise and animal-assisted therapy as another means of treatment for persons with mental illness. Read on. Comments from readers are always welcome.
PET+BLOGSPOT
Exercise aids depression, say GPs
 Trainers devise personal exercise regimes for each patient |
In a survey of 200 English GPs, the Mental Health Foundation found 22% suggest exercise to help people with milder forms of the condition.
This compares with just 5% in a similar survey three years ago.
The foundation said it was important that doctors did not just prescribe antidepressants for patients, and looked for other options.
Tackling isolation
Research has shown that exercise can help people with mild forms of depression by improving self-esteem - through better body image or achieving goals, and by relieving feelings of isolation which can fuel their depression.
It also releases feel-good brain chemicals such as endorphins.
Andrew McCulloch, Mental Health Foundation
Celia Richardson, campaigns director for the Mental Health Foundation, said: "It can help people physically, socially and biologically.
"They often meet others who have been in the same situation as them, but are now further down the line and feeling better."
The survey found there is now a wider belief by GPs that exercise therapy can be beneficial.
Three years ago, 41% thought it was "effective or very effective", rising to 61% now.
But half of the GPs questioned did not have access to an exercise referral scheme. Two thirds of these doctors said they wished they had.
More patients are also interested in how exercise can help them - one in six GPs say they have noticed an increase in the number of people asking whether exercise could help them.
Choice
Exercise programmes run by the Mental Health Foundation, partly funded by the Department of Health, are now available in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, London, Northamptonshire, Redcar and Cleveland, and the Wirral.
People referred under the schemes are given a personal trainer who can devise a suitable exercise regime for them.
Results from the six areas will be published next year.
Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the foundation, said: "There is a real need for increased availability of exercise on prescription so that it is accessible alongside antidepressant medication and psychological therapies.
"Depression is a complex illness - it is important that GPs have a range of treatments to offer and that people with depression have a choice."
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BBC ONLINE ON DEPRESSION
Depression risk 'highest in 40s'
 Realistic aspirations may be the key to happiness |
Data analysis on two million people from 80 countries found a remarkably consistent pattern around the world.
The risk of depression was lowest in younger and older people, with the middle-aged years associated with the highest risk for both men and women.
The study, by the University of Warwick and Dartmouth College in the US, will feature in Social Science & Medicine.
Professor Andrew Oswald
University of Warwick
The only country which recorded a significant gender difference was the US, where unhappiness reached a peak around the age of 40 for women, and 50 for men.
Previous research has suggested that the risk of unhappiness and depression stays relatively constant throughout life.
However, the latest finding - of a peak risk in middle age - was consistent around the globe, and in all types of people.
Researcher Professor Andrew Oswald, an economist at the University of Warwick, said: "It happens to men and women, to single and married people, to rich and poor, and to those with and without children."
He said the reason why middle age was a universally vulnerable time was unclear.
Count your blessings
However, he said: "One possibility is that individuals learn to adapt to their strengths and weaknesses, and in mid-life quell their infeasible aspirations.
Marjorie Wallace
SANE
"Another possibility is that a kind of comparison process is at work in which people have seen similar-aged peers die and value more their own remaining years. Perhaps people somehow learn to count their blessings."
Professor Oswald said for the average person, the dip in mental health and happiness comes on slowly, not suddenly in a single year.
Only in their 50s do most people emerge from the low period.
"But encouragingly, by the time you are 70, if you are still physically fit then on average you are as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year-old.
"Perhaps realizing that such feelings are completely normal in midlife might even help individuals survive this phase better."
Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: "This study raises intriguing questions about the processes that lead to depression in mid-life, as well as indicating what a common experience it is worldwide.
"Depression is a complex and challenging condition that remains poorly understood, with as many as one in ten people with severe depression taking their own life.
"We welcome any scientific contribution to our understanding of this illness, particularly if the research can aid the development of better treatments, both therapeutic and pharmaceutical."
Andy Bell, of the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, said mental health problems were extremely common - but he stressed they could occur at any time in life.
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