Major Depressive Disorder News and Research

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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by depressed mood or anhedonia (significant loss of interest or pleasure). The condition affects more than 15.7 million adults and approximately 3 million adolescents (aged 13 to 17 years) in the USA each year.

BDNF abnormalities may predict bipolar disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder show abnormalities in the conversion of pro-brain derived neurotrophic factor to the mature form, which may be used to aid diagnosis of the condition.

28 Feb 2014

How do people become depressed? An interview with Anna Watters and Professor Lea Williams, University of Sydney

A clinical diagnosis of depression (i.e. major depressive disorder) is currently defined on the basis of reported symptoms.

19 Feb 2014

Urinary tract infections linked to acute psychosis relapse

Patients with an acute episode of psychosis have a high incidence of urinary tract infections, report researchers.

12 Feb 2014

Simple hypomania checklist detects bipolar II disorder

A 15-item hypomania checklist has shown potential for differentiating bipolar disorder, particularly type II, from major depressive disorder.

30 Jan 2014

Continuity of care protects mental health patients

Research shows that seeing the same psychiatrist over time is associated with reduced mortality in patients using mental health services, particularly those with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or schizophrenia.

28 Jan 2014

Cortical thickness may distinguish bipolar from unipolar disorder

Patients with depression have areas of reduced cortical thickness, with clear distinctions between those with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, report US researchers.

23 Jan 2014

Forest Laboratories third quarter net sales increase 24.9% to $846.8 million

Forest Laboratories, Inc., a leading, fully integrated, specialty pharmaceutical company largely focused on the United States market, announced that reported diluted earnings per share equaled $0.07 in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to a reported loss per share of ($0.58) in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. The third quarter of fiscal 2014 included a $45 million charge ($28.2 million net of tax) related to Project Rejuvenate.

21 Jan 2014

Emotion regulation deficits characterize bipolar and MDD patients

Patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder have increased use of maladaptive and decreased use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, researchers report.

15 Jan 2014

Study finds discrepancies in prevalence estimates of mental disorders in middle-aged and older adults

Common methods of assessing mental or physical disorders may consistently underestimate the prevalence of mental disorders among middle-aged and older adults, a new study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found.

9 Jan 2014

Support for DSM-5 mixed features specifier

Study findings uphold the value of the DSM-5 mixed features specifier of at least three depressive symptoms during a manic episode for diagnosing and classifying patients with mixed mania.

8 Jan 2014

PET imaging of brain reveals ketamine may act as antidepressant by regulating serotonin activity

Ketamine is a potent anesthetic employed in human and veterinary medicine, and sometimes used illegally as a recreational drug. The drug is also a promising candidate for the fast treatment of depression in patients who do not respond to other medications.

7 Jan 2014

Antidepressant medications do not increase suicide risk in children

A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study released today shows there is no evidence that the risk of suicide differs with two commonly prescribed antidepressants prescribed to children and adolescents.

7 Jan 2014

Portage acquires approximately 54% equity in Biohaven

Portage Biotech Inc., is pleased to announce that it has acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited, a private corporation formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, for $3.5 million, payable as $1.75 million upfront and the balance in three installments over the next eleven months.

6 Jan 2014

Inactive patients following cardiac surgery have higher risk of depression

New research indicates that inactive patients following cardiac surgery have a substantially higher risk of depression and that the number of patients suffering from depression after cardiac surgery is as high as 40%. Investigators recommend that cardiac patients should be assessed for depression and level of physical activity and remain as active as they safely can after surgery to minimize post-operative depression. The results are published in the December issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

19 Dec 2013

Eli Lilly reports edivoxetine Phase III program did not meet primary endpoint for major depressive disorder

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced today that results from three studies of edivoxetine did not meet the primary study objective of superior efficacy in depression after eight weeks of treatment.

6 Dec 2013

Early natural history of bipolar disorder mapped

A longitudinal study of children of parents with bipolar disorder gives insights into the developmental trajectory of the condition, which researchers say should prove valuable in guiding future intervention and prevention efforts.

28 Nov 2013

Bipolarity caution in depressed MS patients

Physicians should be sure to exclude bipolar disorder before prescribing antidepressants to patients with multiple sclerosis who have depression, say researchers.

26 Nov 2013

Mood disorder subtypes remain in the family

Psychosis, mania, and depression are unlikely to have shared hereditary causes, report researchers in Molecular Psychiatry.

8 Nov 2013

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation announces recipients of NARSAD Investigator Grants

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (formerly known as NARSAD, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression), under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein, President & CEO, has announced the latest recipients of its NARSAD Distinguished Investigator Grants.