Major Depressive Disorder

Most depressed people acknowledge impaired concentration and other related symptoms-but skilled clinicians can distinguish between non-melancholic depression and melancholia. How? They ask the right questions.

What is the possibility that the very illness we’re trying to improve is getting worse-with treatment?

The authors shed light on a disorder that is difficult to diagnose and manage, and offer insights on how to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Psychiatrists need to understand the patient’s cancer diagnosis, staging, treatments and their adverse effects, and prognosis to appreciate the challenges the patient is coping with throughout treatment as well as survivorship or end-of-life.

From a psychodynamic and neurobiological perspective, the recommendation to screen all pregnant and postpartum women for depression and anxiety falls short of what is actually needed to improve the lives of many mothers and their infants and children.

The therapist "goes underwater" with the patient to find what lies in her mind.

Here's an overview of motivation for assaults by chronically aggressive inpatients and steps to de-escalate.

The authors review the association between depression and violence, and the role that anger and emotional dysregulation play.

Is dysphoric hypomania a phase of mania itself? Or does it represent a descent into a mixed state?

To augment or not to augment? That is the question.

The co-occurrence of depression and cognitive impairment doubles every 5 years after the age of 70. Here we present a list of elements in a comprehensive and extended evaluation of depression in the elderly.

A review of smartphone tools for suicide prevention and recommendations for clinicians.

Is it time to think outside the light box for treatment of seasonal depression?

A new protocol makes light therapy an option for patients with bipolar depression.

Since ancient times, doctors have shown a good deal of interest in identifying seasonal patterns in the incidence of symptoms and disease. Could the holiday blues be a myth?

Two recent clinical trials of opioid medication for depression and suicidality highlight the role of brain opioid systems in depression.

The articles in part 1 of this Special Report provide concise reviews of important research findings and clinical applications of mindfulness meditation, breath practices, and uses of CAM therapies for perinatal depression.

Many women choose to avoid standard treatment for perinatal depression, and instead prefer integrative treatments that incorporate complementary and alternative therapies. This article reviews the evidence base for these treatments.

Recent studies demonstrate the far-reaching effects of childhood trauma related to depression and suicidality in adulthood. The evidence to support these associations is presented here.

Are you aware of 2 newly identified predictors of a pernicious depression course in middle-aged women?

Although recent reviews caution against overenthusiasm, what if a simple, inexpensive, and extremely low-risk anti-inflammatory was at hand?

The supposed “epidemic” of mental illness turns out to be mostly a myth in the US adult population, 2000-2015.

What an exciting time to be involved in understanding and providing care for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders!

A review of the distinction between depressive and psychotic symptom domains, current knowledge about the etiology and neurobiology of depression and psychosis, and how this knowledge can inform the treatment of patients with features of both.

Will novel treatments from around the world be treats or tricks? Whatever they turn out to be, they are as fascinating and varied as Halloween costumes.

Recent studies examine placebo responses to antidepressants, the effect of SSRIs on sleep in the elderly, and the best time of day for psychotherapy sessions.

Is St. John’s wort (SJW; Hypericum perforatum) an appropriate treatment option for patients with MDD? What advice should be given to patients who inquire about it?

The authors focus on the psychiatric management of transplant recipients and the evaluation and care of living organ donors.

"Like many good psychiatrists, I have empathy and concern for my patients. But in my case, I’ve quite literally walked in their shoes."

Three new studies help predict which patients with depression may not respond to pharmacotherapy and which women may become depressed during menopause.