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The article discusses research which showed the association between apathy and increased risk of developing dementia among older patients. It describes the study's methodology including the use of the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to identify symptoms of apathy and depression. The study noted the association of both apathy and depressive symptoms with incident dementia and associations with incident dementia stronger in the short term.

The point prevalence rates for ICD-10 depressive episode and ICD-10 mixed anxiety and depressive disorder were 2.3% and 9.0% respectively, according to the 2007 household survey of adult psychiatric morbidity in England. Adults in the UK with these diagnoses were estimated to have taken more than a quarter of the total number of days' sickness absence in one year. Few patients receive effective treatment and between one- and two-thirds of primary care patients with major depression have not fully recovered 12 months later. The NHS Outcomes Framework has identified 'Enhancing quality of life for people with mental illness' as a key improvement area. The NICE quality standard on depression in adults is intended to facilitate this by providing a definition of high quality care. If the standard is followed, patients will benefit from: reduced prescribing of antidepressants to those who will not benefit; increased access to psychological interventions; increased support through structured monitoring and active follow-up and reduced risk of chronic relapsing depression. People who may have depression should receive an assessment that identifies the severity of symptoms, the degree of associated functional impairment and the duration of the episode. Health outcomes at each appointment should be recorded and the findings used to adjust delivery of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about how discontinuation of antidepressants too early raises risk of relapse. It mentions that British Association for Psychopharmacology's guideline recommends that all patients should take antidepressants for at least six-nine months after full remission, along with discusses risk factors associated with it.

An editorial is presented on the role of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Topics include the postnatal depression has not been shown to improve maternal and infant outcomes, the unless all false positives are recognised immediately there is a risk of over diagnosis and overtreatment of depression, and the clinical assessment is also unclear as it is neither a diagnostic tool nor an accurate measure of depression severity.

The article informs that according to a English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, loneliness is associated with an increased risk of depression. It mentions that causal link between loneliness and depression is plausible, with a number of potential mediators, and perceived social isolation is tantamount to feeling unsafe and this may lead to anxiety, insomnia, social distancing behaviour and low self-esteem.

The article focuses on statin use is associated with a reduced risk of depression and does not increase the risk of suicide, anxiety or seizures, a Swedish national cohort study has found. Topics include the cohort has comprised all individuals aged 15 years and over who were prescribed statins between January 2006 and December 2013, and the incidence of the defined outcomes during periods of treatment and non-treatment has compared.

The article looks at a cohort study by researcher E. Netsi and others published in "JAMA Psychiatry" which found that children of women with severe persistent postnatal depression (PND) are at substantially increased risk of preschool behaviour problems and adolescent depression. It also mentions risk of adverse outcomes is particularly high for those with severe persistent depression. It also mentions adjunctive parenting intervention which is effective than relaxation therapy.

The article discusses the study on the adverse effect of cancer diagnosis to the patients mental health, in which it states that it increases the risk of developing common mental health disorders. It mentions that patients has been recommended to undergo psychological treatment to overcome depression.

The article reports on research studies conducted to determine the efficacies of antidepressants. Researchers conducted Placebo-controlled and head-to-head trials of 21 antidepressants that were taken by participants who had moderate to severe depression. It was found that all antidepressants were significantly more efficacious than placebo in these adults.

The article focuses on the ineffectiveness of sertraline in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and depression with the results of randomised controlled trial. It mentions exclude patients with CKD 3a and patients with moderate to advanced CKD have generally been excluded from previous antidepressant trials. It also mentions selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) undergo hepatic oxidative metabolism for toxic metabolites.

The article reports that a study in Great Britain has revealed link between common mental disorders in men and increased use of high sugar intake. It reveals that diets high in sugar may result in insulin resistance and obesity, which can cause low self-esteem and depression. It asked participants to fill up the 30-item General Health Questionnaire on several occasions, with common mental disorder (CMD) defined as a GHQ score more than or equal to 5.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to address 1) whether exercise provides protection against new-onset depression and anxiety and 2) if so, the intensity and amount of exercise required to gain protection and, lastly, 3) the mechanisms that underlie any association.Method: A "healthy" cohort of 33,908 adults, selected on the basis of having no symptoms of common mental disorder or limiting physical health conditions, was prospectively followed for 11 years. Validated measures of exercise, depression, anxiety, and a range of potential confounding and mediating factors were collected.Results: Undertaking regular leisure-time exercise was associated with reduced incidence of future depression but not anxiety. The majority of this protective effect occurred at low levels of exercise and was observed regardless of intensity. After adjustment for confounders, the population attributable fraction suggests that, assuming the relationship is causal, 12% of future cases of depression could have been prevented if all participants had engaged in at least 1 hour of physical activity each week. The social and physical health benefits of exercise explained a small proportion of the protective effect. Previously proposed biological mechanisms, such as alterations in parasympathetic vagal tone, did not appear to have a role in explaining the protection against depression.Conclusions: Regular leisure-time exercise of any intensity provides protection against future depression but not anxiety. Relatively modest changes in population levels of exercise may have important public mental health benefits and prevent a substantial number of new cases of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a cohort study which suggest depression as a risk factor for dementia. It mentions association between depressive symptoms and dementia based on analysis of sociodemographic factors, health behaviors and chronic conditions. It mentions use of antidepressants to treat depression resulting in improvement in mild cognitive impairment.

The article reports that a meta-analysis has found that almost one in two depressed adult patients experienced maltreatment in childhood and have a higher risk of early onset, chronic or treatment-resistant depression. Topics covered include how emotional abuse could involve conveying to a child their worthlessness or being unloved as well as humiliating or threatening behavior and how building a family tree can provide a historical context to cases of childhood abuse.

The article discusses research on the effectiveness of combination treatment for depression. It references a study by S. D. Hollon et al published in a 2014 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): Psychiatry." Results show that the combination of cognitive therapy and antidepressant treatment increases the likelihood of recovery from the disease, but only in those with severe non-chronic depression.

The article discusses a study which found that adults with Asperger's syndrome are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Topics discussed include the diagnosis of 367 patients with Asperger's syndrome where 116 reported depression, 243 reported suicidal ideation and 27 reported suicidal plans and the importance of recognising the significance of a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome when conducting a suicide risk assessment.

The article presents the multicentre study conducted in the U.S. and Canada as of April 2014, which showed that the drug citalopram substantially lessens agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study participants did not meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) IV criteria for major depression and had clinically significant agitation. The agitation subscale of the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale (NBRS-A) was used to measure agitation.

The article discusses an epidemiological study from Great Britain's primary care which found that adult patients prescribed with oral glucocorticoids are seven times more likely to try suicide than untreated patients with similar medical condition. The risk is small and said patients will more likely develop depression, mania and panic disorder. The article recommends caution when prescribing glucocorticoids and for patients to be informed about possible neuropsychiatric effects.

The article describes the potential of life review therapy as a depression treatment. A study was conducted in the Netherlands to prove the concept, which involved adult participants age 55 years and above. The study conducted the therapy in small groups and composed of eight 2-hour sessions. Results of the study proved that life review therapy mitigates the impact of depression as it enables the creation of positive dimension out of traumatic experiences addressed by adults.

The author examines a study in the U.S. on the effects of on-line messaging, with the use of electronic medical record, on the care of depressed patients. He cites findings showing lower depression measure scores, higher levels of medication adherence, and increased patient satisfaction rate. He notes that management of depression could be greatly improved with electronic communication whose convenience and effectiveness was demonstrated by the study.

The article presents a review which concluded that patients with mild to moderate anxiety and depression derive limited short-term benefit from guided self-help interventions in primary care. A definition of guided self-help is given along with the result of meta-analysis at the completion of treatment. The short-lived benefits of treatment are expressed including the use of antidepressants. Recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are presented.

The article discusses the study "Prevalence of Depression in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," conducted by researcher Z. Ismail and colleagues. It is noted that the study suggested that early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment can alert a group of patients with high risk for depression.

The article reports on the Danish cohort study on women who are using hormonal contraception are more prone to depression. Discussed are the women with age group between 15 and 34 which are being studied in Denmark. Also discussed is the prescription of non-hormonal contraception for the depressed women.

The article presents the study which examines the effectiveness of whole body hyperthermia to treat depression.

The article suggests that overdiagnosis of depression is more of a problem than missed cases in primary care. A study shows that unassisted GP diagnoses of depression are usually erroneous. The author emphasizes that depression severity measures can play a major role in filtering out some erroneous data, provided the cut-off score is set at an appropriate level.

The article focuses on a primary care study which suggests that screening for depression in high-risk patients is not effective. It outlines the quality and outcome framework for depression indicators. One problem encountered by the researchers was the unwillingness of patients to accept treatment for depression. The study emphasizes the need for more effective care to patients with recognised depression.

The article discusses research on the association between lifestyle and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in depression. It references a study by M. A. Whooley et al, published in a 2008 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." The researchers found that the association between depressive symptoms and adverse cardiovascular events can be mostly explained by poor health behaviour, particularly physical inactivity.

The article discusses research being done on the effect of depression on sense of humor. It references a study by Uekermann et al published in a issue of the "Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society." Results of the study revealed that an impaired ability to understand and appreciate humor is associated with depression. Laughter and humor therapy was mentioned as a tool for the treatment of depression.

The article reports on a primary care study from the U.S. which has assessed the extent to which clinicians follow depression guidelines and whether there is a correlation with patient outcomes. A patient questionnaire was utilized to evaluate clinicians' adherence to the guideline recommendations. A significant inverse relationship was discovered between quality of care and the probability of persistent depression at 18 and 24 months which suggests that physicians whose practice is in accordance with the guidelines achieve better results.

The article discusses a research on Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for symptoms of depression and anxiety. It references a study by V. Spek et al, published in a 2007 issue of "Psychological Medicine." It is found in the study that in cognitive therapy, the patient's experience of understanding and empathy from the therapist is basic and important and in this regard, computers may complement but not replace the therapist.

The article discusses the effectiveness of light therapy, sole therapy and in combination with fluoxetine in treating patient with nonseasonal depression, according to an American secondary care study. Randomization of several treatment groups including light treatment, fluoxetine and inactive negative ion generator and placebo pill, are presented. Also highlighted is the use of Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in assessment of severe depression.

The article reviews a British cohort study that found that children who are frequently bullied during adolescence are more than twice as likely to experience depression as young adults. Topics include data being obtained from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in Bristol, England, a bullying and friendship interview schedule (BFIS) and the computerised Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). Also mentioned are general practices (GPs) having a role in recognisng bullying.

The article discusses research being done on subthreshold depression. It references the study "Psychotherapy for subclinical depression: meta-analysis," by P. Cuijpers, S.L. Koole, A. van Dijke, et al, published in a 2014 issue of "British Journal of Psychiatry. The researchers found a little effect of psychotherapy on major depression. The factors that need to be considered before treating depressed patients including the severity of symptoms and functional impairment.

The author talks about the effectiveness of integrated collaborative care for depressed cancer patients, according to a study in Great Britain. Topics include the application of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire in studying three Scotland cancer centers, an outline of the collaborative care implemented in the study, and an analysis of the study's primary outcome measure results. Also mentioned is the British Association for Psychopharmacology.

The article discusses a primary care study in Finland which suggests a poor long-term prognosis in depression. It references the study "Five-Year Outcome of Major Depressive Disorder in Primary Care" by K. A. Riihimaki and colleagues published in the 2014 issue of "Psychological Medicine." The study, which was participated by a total of 137 patients, considered the fact that most patients with depression do not receive an effective treatment.

The article discusses a primary care study on collaborative care and depression published in a 2013 issue of the "British Medical Journal." The study found that collaborative care consisting of education about depression, medication management, behavioural activation therapy and relapse prevention improves depression outcomes. The study also informs on the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard on depression which recommends regular reassessment.

The article discusses a study that found cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an effective addition to treatment-resistant depression. A total of 469 patients with depression from Great Britain, aged 18 to 75 were treated with antidepressants for six weeks, with 234 patients receiving CBT. After six weeks, 95% of those who received CBT had reduced symptoms of depression. Patients with moderate to severe depression are recommended to have a combination of antidepressants and individual CBT.

The article argues that it is common for deaf patients to suffer common mental disorders (CMD) like anxiety and depression. It states that it is due to communication and psychosocial problems that deaf people encounter. The author presents several challenges encountered when treating deaf patients like miscommunication, misdiagnosis and dealing with the patient's previous negative experience at surgeries.

The article reviews a trial showing that individual exercise therapy has little benefit to depression in adults, although group exercise therapy is recommended. Exercise reportedly physically benefits depressed patients with chronic conditions and mediates increased cardiovascular risk in depressed coronary heart disease patients. The article states that low-intensity interventions to watchful waiting can be offered to patients with mild to moderate depression of less than eight weeks.

The article presents a meta-analysis of studies that compared the symptom profiles of younger and older patients with major depression. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) is mentioned as a measurement tool for the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms. Possible explanations for the increased prevalence of somatic symptoms among elderly depressed patients are discussed along with the difficulty in the recognition and diagnosis of depression in older patients.

The article discusses a comparative study that examined the risks and benefits of smoking cessation programs. Analysis of data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows that the risk of depression and suicidal or self-harm behaviour is greater with varenicline than with other smoking cessation treatments. It is suggested that varenicline is unsuitable for first-line use in smoking cessation, with smokers twice as likely to become depressed than non-smokers.

The article reports on the results of a study on music therapy as an adjunct to treat depression. It discusses how the study was conducted which involved a randomised controlled trial with 79 participants diagnosed with ICD-10 depression in Finland. The study reportedly revealed that individual music therapy improves results in depression when it is combined with standard therapy.

The article discusses research on the safety of tricyclics as antidepressants in older people. It references the study "Antidepressant Use and Risk of Adverse Outcomes in Older People: Population Based Cohort Study," by C. Coupland and colleagues in a 2011 issue of "British Medical Journal." The study involved 60,746 primary care patients diagnosed with depression from January 1996 to December 31, 2007. Also cited is the fact that almost 90% of patients received antidepressants.

The author relates that women who are suffering from both diabetes and depression face fatal risks. This is the result of the Nurses' Health Study which was conducted among 78,282 patients who have been followed up for six years. According to the author, the risk of combined diabetes and depression can be reduced if the important mediators of the increase in mortality are established.

The article discusses research on the efficacy of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in patients with chronic physical illness. It references a study by David Taylor of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and his colleagues, published in the "British Journal of Psychiatry." The researchers reviewed 63 studies including cancer, heart disease, and musculoskeletal disorders. They found selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor as the choice if antidepressant is to be prescribed as it is better tolerated.

The author talks about the higher risk of death among patients with depression and coronary heart disease (CHD) based on studies. He cites that there is an increasing evidence of a surge in all cause mortality especially among older patients. He states that the Whitehall II study in Great Britain found a reduced risk of death among patients with CHD alone while those with depression alone remain at high risk. He mentions that a significant reduction in risk of death was observed in a randomised controlled trial of managed care for elderly patients.

The article presents a meta-analysis that claimed the strong link between obesity and depression. It presents a total of 15 studies and how seven of them made a clinical diagnosis of depression while the rest focused on subjects with elevated depressive symptoms. The analysis claimed that participants who were overweight had increased risks in depression or elevated depressive symptoms while normal weight participants who were depressed showed higher risks of obesity.

The article reports that a high level of agreement was found between the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV definition of major depressive disorder (MDD) and a simpler definition excluding the somatic criteria, according to an American study participated by 2,510 patients. It notes that the authors of the study states that the simpler definition is preferred because it is easier to remember and prevents difficulty of deciding whether somatic symptoms are caused by depression or physical illness itself.

The article reviews a research paper related to mental health. The study deals with the importance of case management by healthcare assistants (HCA) in improving care for depressed patients who received calls for HCA twice weekly. Included in the case management and usual care were 310 and 316 patients, respectively. The reviewer proposed telephone follow-up by a HCA as an alternative to practice nurse time.

The author comments on the revised National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on depression in adults. He thinks the guidance will significantly change the way depressed patients are managed. He welcomes the decision of NICE to switch from the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV). He is disappointed that NICE no longer recommends enhanced care despite evidence on the effectiveness of a case management programme.