Depression: U.K.'s Biggest Social Problem

Around 15% of the British population suffers from depression or anxiety, says Richard Layard, emeritus professor at the Centre for Economic Performance of the London School of Economics. In an article in the British Medical Journal, he estimates a massive economic cost in terms of lost productivity: 1.5% of UK gross domestic product, or £17bn.

That makes depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness the greatest social problem in the UK, even greater than unemployment.

These figures are roughly the same in the United States, when differences in population size are taken into account.

In both countries these figures are probably underestimates, since many people suffering from mental illness do not report their problems, or are incorrectly diagnosed. In addition, probably half of diagnosed patients receive inadequate treatment, usually amounting to medication alone, with poor follow-up.

Alternative treatments for anxiety and depression.

Chronic Exposure to Stress Hormone Causes Anxiety and Depression in Mice

Neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School and its affiliate McLean Hospital have shown that long-term exposure to stress hormone in mice directly results in the anxiety that often comes with depression. After years of circumstantial evidence linking stress and depression, this evidence may be the "smoking gun" of what, for some, causes some types of mood disorders. The research appears in the April issue of Behavioral Neuroscience, which is published by the American Psychological Association.

The findings are important for understanding the causes and improving the treatment of depression. Scientists already knew that many people with depression have high levels of cortisol, a human stress hormone, but it wasn’t clear whether that was a cause or effect. Now it appears likely that long-term exposure to cortisol actually contributes to the symptoms of depression.

Read about the neurological implications of Stress, Anxiety and Depression In Mice.

BRITE: Technological Help For Depression Treatment

A national study called BRITE (Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Efficacy in Major Depression) is currently demonstrating the usefulness of a new technology that shortens the time that psychiatrists and patients with major depression need to find a successful treatment.

The new technology, from Aspect Medical Systems, Inc., uses brain monitoring to establish the effectiveness of medications. It can save months of frustrating and emotionally debilitating attempts to find the right medication or combination of medications.

Of course, the technology could probably also be used to monitor the effectivesness of CAM treatments for depression such as light therapy or St John's Wort. But for now, it's being used to evaluate responses to FDA-approved medications (Lexapro, Wellbutrin XL or a combination).

Read more about the BRITE studies.

Brain imaging can predict effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for treating depression

Whether or not cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) will help a person recover from depression can be predicted through brain imaging, according to research results published by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the April issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association.

According to the lead researcher, "We may be able to predict what therapies will be most effective for individual patients by using imaging technology, bypassing the lengthy trial and error process that is often necessary to find the right treatment."

Read more on Brain Imaging and CBT.