Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life.

Clinical Depression: Diagnosis, Causes & Treatment

Depression is a clinical condition that, contrary to popular opinion, cannot simply be overcome with time and it needs to be treated.

Treatment Options for Children with Depression

Depression and Sleep Length

How Does Your Diet Affect Depression?

Treatment of Depression

Genes and Depression

Symptoms of Depression

Food Insecurity and Depression

Contributing Factors to Post-Adoption Depression

Can Depression and Anxiety Occur Together?

Depression Diagnosis

Prisoner Depression and Low Mood

See more featured articles »

Depression in children

The Science Behind the Winter Blues: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Situational Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Causes of Depression

Ghrelin and Depression

Link Between Chronic Illness and Depression

Antidepressants and Weight Changes

5 Facts You May Not Know About Depression

How Can I Tell if My Child is Depressed?

Supporting Children with Mental Health Disorders

How is Depression in Children Diagnosed?

Intrusive Thoughts and Depression

Latest Depression News and Research

UC San Diego study reveals genetic causes of rare neuromuscular disorders

Scientists at the University of California San Diego have uncovered how genetic mutations cause a rare group of inherited neuromuscular disorders and identified promising new strategies to correct them, including a potential new use for an existing antidepressant.

1 Jul 2026

Scientists map how chronic stress alters somatostatin levels in the brain

Consider the brake. Not the engine, which gets all the attention, but the brake, the quiet thing that decides how fast a system is allowed to go.

1 Jul 2026

Real-time monitoring shows how daily habits influence cognitive performance in older adults

New research using smartwatches shows that older adults can accurately assess how well they are thinking in the moment. The study finds their self-ratings closely match actual cognitive performance.

1 Jul 2026

Study links semaglutide and tirzepatide to fewer anxiety and depression diagnoses in obesity care

A US electronic health record study found that adults with obesity who started semaglutide or tirzepatide had lower recorded hazards of anxiety and depression than matched patients using naltrexone-bupropion. However, among adults without type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide was linked to higher recorded hazards of anxiety and insomnia than semaglutide, underscoring the need for cautious monitoring.

1 Jul 2026

Trial evaluates interdisciplinary care for veterans with brain trauma and PTSD

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is leading a new multi-center clinical trial to evaluate an interdisciplinary rehabilitation model for military veterans and first responders with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

30 Jun 2026

University of Surrey team develops first grief tool for unpaid carers

The first dedicated support tool for unpaid carers who grieve for an older person they care for before they have died is being developed by a team led by the University of Surrey.

30 Jun 2026

Researchers identify key predictors for mother-infant bonding difficulties

Mother-to-infant bonding difficulties (MIBD) are commonly associated with postnatal depression. MIBD has been linked to developmental delays and child abuse.

30 Jun 2026

Review assesses the efficacy of creatine as an add-on therapy for depression

Walk into any gym supplement aisle and creatine is there, sold by the tub to people chasing bigger muscles. It is one of the most studied compounds in sports science.

30 Jun 2026

Teen reliance on AI could hinder healthy relationship development

As teenagers increasingly turn to artificial intelligence chatbots for advice about friendships, family conflicts and romantic ties, researchers are raising concerns that the technology could disturb how young people learn to navigate human relationships.

29 Jun 2026

Daily weather fluctuations affect mental health service demand in England

New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) suggests even modest, short-term changes in weather can have a measurable impact on NHS mental health service demand across England.

29 Jun 2026

One in three adults in England now lives with obesity

Obesity trends show significant disparities among demographics, stressing the importance of targeted prevention to address widening health inequalities.

29 Jun 2026

Brighter daytime light is linked to a lower dementia risk

The study finds that greater exposure to daytime light may lower dementia risk, pointing to light's role in enhancing circadian rhythms and cognitive function.

29 Jun 2026

Multi-decade study tracks subsequent cancer risks in survivors

As people continue to live longer and the survival rate of cancer diagnoses increases, researchers from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center led a multi-decade analysis studying the rates of subsequent primary cancers (SPCs), which are new cancers unrelated to the original diagnosis.

26 Jun 2026

Neuroticism and adversity dominate depression and anxiety risk in UK Biobank study

In a UK Biobank study of 87,648 adults followed for 13.7 years, psychosocial factors accounted for the largest estimated population burden of depression and anxiety in both women and men. Neuroticism symptoms, childhood and adult adversity, obesity, chronic inflammation, and some reproductive factors in women were linked to incident mental health outcomes, although the PAF estimates remain theoretical and not proof of causality.

25 Jun 2026

Blueberries may boost children's memory and mood

Research suggests blueberry compounds could enhance mood and cognitive function in children, yet stronger evidence is required for clinical recommendations.

25 Jun 2026

Maternal blood test reveals prenatal methylation clues linked to autism risk

Researchers found that maternal plasma cell-free DNA methylation patterns in late pregnancy were associated with later autism diagnosis and maternal obesity in a high-likelihood ASD cohort. The findings suggest cfDNA may offer a minimally invasive way to study prenatal epigenetic changes linked to neurodevelopmental risk, but larger validation studies are needed.

25 Jun 2026

Scientists map blood chemistry links to hundreds of diseases

A UK Biobank study of nearly 390,000 people mapped 251 NMR-derived plasma metabolic traits against hundreds of health traits, prevalent diseases, and future disease outcomes. The atlas revealed tens of thousands of replicated associations, showed stronger prediction for selected short-term and cardiometabolic outcomes, and identified putative causal links that may guide future precision medicine research.

24 Jun 2026