Insomnia and Depression

Insomnia has long been associated with anxiety and depression, and has largely been seen as a symptom of the illness. However, new studies indicate that insomnia may be a cause of depression more than a symptom... and that cognitive behavioral therapy may help as much as Ambien.

Read Insomnia and Depression.

Grim News for Anxiety and Depression

This has been a grim news week for anxiety and depression research. First the New York Times published a government-sponsored survey saying that half of Americans will experience mental illness at some point in their lives. Then another study pegged the number of Americans with Bipolar Disease at 4%, rather than the 1% that everyone had quoted for years.

This is on top of an NIH study earlier this month that said depressed people can wait for decades for proper diagnosis and treatment, and that most never get it at all.

The conservative press has responded to all this by poo-pooing the notion that we are a nation of crazies. This has rekindled an old debate about what actually constitutes mental illness, with one group of medical professionals saying mental illness is the inability to fulfill one's potential and fully contribute to society, and another group saying that mental illness is when you occupy one of the lower circles of DSM diagnostic hell.

No matter where you come down on this debate, it seems clear that there are millions of pretty miserable people out there, and that they are largely undertreated. Ironically, scientific support for relatively inexpensive alternative treatments continue to mount.

Anxiety Depression News

Placebos Beat Anxiety

Placebos can beat back anxiety almost as well as conventional anti-anxiety medications. An article in the journal Neuron reveals that placebos have been shown to be almost as effective as benzodiazepines in lowering anxiety.

The real question is how much of the efficacy of conventional medications is due to "the placebo effect?"

Read Anxiety Responds To Placebos.

Tetanus Toxin for Anxiety and Depression

Tetanus toxin may eventually be used as a therapy against psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Researchers at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona have discovered that part of the tetanus toxin molecule- the toxin that causes tetanus-- may be useful in a number of neurological disorders.

Read Tetanus Toxin for Anxiety and Depression.

Computer Program Therapy

In Britain, computer programs to defeat anxiety and depression have been cleared for widespread use by the National Health Service. That means that millions of people suffering from depression, phobias and anxiety attacks will be able to get counseling by computer.

Primary care trusts, which treat 95% of mental health problems in Britain, are expected to have the programs available by the end of the year.

Read Beating Depression and Anxiety with Computer Programs.

Phone Therapy for Depression

Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of many conventional and alternative treatments for depression, many depressed people do not receive effective courses of antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy... much less alternative treatments.

Of course many people are simply not diagnosed, much less treated. But for those who have been diagnosed and are seeking treatment, why not seek help over the phone?

Depression Hurts

Recent studies confirm the surprising link between depression and common aches and pains. Individuals with depression often suffer from chronic physical pain and chronic pain sufferers are frequently depressed.

However, most people suffering from major depression do not realize aches and pains are frequently symptoms of depression. And many doctors may not appreciate the link either.

Read Depression Hurts.