This week featured some interesting news articles about depression, bipolar disorder, suicide, and sleep.
Depression
Depression Can Interfere with Memory and More
Everyone knows that depression involves having a low mood, but did you know depression can actually interfere with how you think, how you make decisions, and with your memory? Read this article for more details.
A New Cause of Depression Found
This article describes what they call a new kind of depression. More accurately, it’s a study which may have identified another potential cause of depression which does not respond to antidepressants. You can read more about it here.
Your Prescriptions May Cause Depression
A new study has concluded that about one-third of adults in the U.S. are taking a prescription drug which has depression or increased risk of suicide as one of its potential side effects. Of particular interest was the fact that researchers found that about 15% of patients who took 3 of these prescriptions simultaneously experienced depression, compared to just 5% of adults who did not use any of the medications.
Bipolar Disorder
New Potential Avenue for Bipolar Disorder Treatments
Scientists have discovered a gene mutation that may play a role in bipolar disorder. This discovery could make new medication therapies possible in the future. You can read more about it here.
Suicide
Suicide Rates Have Climbed Quickly
This study found that from 1999 to 2015 suicide rates have dramatically increased. Kansas was among the worst increases at 45% and Missouri had an increase of 37%. A particularly frightening finding was that I 2015 54% of the people who died by suicides in 27 states had no known mental health condition.
Sleep
A Discovery of a New Biochemical Component of Sleep
Researchers have identified a new biochemical process which is involved in feeling sleepy. Researchers hope this finding may lead to new medication interventions for insomnia in the future. To learn more, you can read a summary of the findings here.
