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.

Causes of Depression

How is Depression in Children Diagnosed?

Treatment Options for Children with Depression

5 Facts You May Not Know About Depression

Depression Diagnosis

Situational Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments

Symptoms of Depression

Antidepressants and Weight Changes

The Science Behind the Winter Blues: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Genes and Depression

Contributing Factors to Post-Adoption Depression

See more featured articles »

Can Depression and Anxiety Occur Together?

Prisoner Depression and Low Mood

Treatment of Depression

How Can I Tell if My Child is Depressed?

Ghrelin and Depression

Intrusive Thoughts and Depression

Food Insecurity and Depression

Supporting Children with Mental Health Disorders

Depression in children

How Does Your Diet Affect Depression?

Depression and Sleep Length

Link Between Chronic Illness and Depression

Latest Depression News and Research

One in four women in Norway found to miss postpartum check-ups

In a new study, Christine Agdestein has surveyed several aspects of the postnatal check-up. Agdestein is a specialist in general practice and a general practitioner, and is currently a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

2 Jan 2026

Depression links to chronic headaches through weight and diet, not physical activity alone

Depression was associated with a higher likelihood of chronic headaches in Iranian adults, with statistical models identifying body mass index and dietary iron intake as partial mediators. Physical activity was linked to depression but did not independently mediate headache outcomes, highlighting interconnected, non-causal pathways.

1 Jan 2026

Study reveals gaps in postnatal care information and attendance

31 Dec 2025

Marijuana use associated with worse school performance and emotional distress for teens

Using marijuana just once or twice a month was associated with worse school performance and emotional distress for teens, according to a large national study of adolescents led by Ryan Sultán, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

23 Dec 2025

People with central vision loss can accurately judge approaching vehicles

People with central vision loss can judge the motion of vehicles almost as accurately as people with normal vision, a new international study shows.

19 Dec 2025

Younger epigenetic age linked to increased depression in older women

A new research paper was published in Volume 17, Issue 11 of Aging-US on November 18, 2025, titled "Epigenetic age predicts depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging: importance of biological sex."

19 Dec 2025

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher mortality in Black women with breast cancer

A study from Rutgers Cancer Institute researchers in eClinicalMedicine is the first to link ultra-processed foods to reduced survival in Black women with breast cancer.

18 Dec 2025

Researchers point to mitochondria as a missing link between mental health and brain function

A stressful year leads to anxiety. Lasting isolation gives way to depression. An old trauma nags until it becomes paralyzing.

18 Dec 2025

Study finds Brain Care Score as a strong predictor of stroke across racial groups

A new study from Mass General Brigham found the Brain Care Score (BCS) is a strong predictor of stroke across different racial groups in the U.S.

18 Dec 2025

Extra sleep after the autumn clock change linked to reduced demand for NHS health services

The week after the autumn clock change is associated with a reduction in demand for NHS services for sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and psychiatric conditions in England, finds a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2025

Washington’s homeless hide in plain sight, growing sicker and costing taxpayers more

Every night, Abdullah Ibrahim retreats from the streets into a wooded stretch along the Potomac River.

18 Dec 2025

Couples-based programs boost heart-healthy behaviors

Research highlights the need for couple-based interventions in heart disease to focus on emotional support and relationship quality for better health outcomes.

18 Dec 2025

Social isolation emerges as a key, independent risk factor for cognitive decline

Using longitudinal data from the US Health and Retirement Study, this study applied causal inference modeling to disentangle the independent and joint effects of social isolation and loneliness on later-life cognitive function. It shows that reducing social isolation is associated with modest but meaningful protection against cognitive decline, with loneliness mediating only a small proportion of this effect.

17 Dec 2025

Coordinated housing and health care models better serve homeless populations

Organizations aiming to help homeless people with either housing or health care can be more effective when they form partnerships with other service groups, a Rutgers study has found.

17 Dec 2025

Confusing symptom questionnaires could undermine mental health diagnosis and treatment

Imagine sitting down for an appointment with a therapist – or any care provider. Perhaps it's the first time you've seen this provider, or the first time in a while. You'll likely need to fill out a form with a set of questions to ensure they know why you're there or how you're doing.

17 Dec 2025

Study examines fairness of oxygen desaturation thresholds in sleep apnea diagnosis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in the U.S. affecting tens of millions, with estimates ranging from 25 to more than 80 million adults.

17 Dec 2025

Stress may help explain why patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Patients with depression are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and a new study suggests that stress may help explain why.

17 Dec 2025

Chronic breathlessness drives longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs

Chronic breathlessness, a symptom often overlooked by healthcare systems, is associated with longer lengths of hospital stay on already overstretched healthcare resources, says new Flinders University research.

16 Dec 2025

Combined physical frailty and depression may sharply raise dementia risk

Concurrent physical frailty and depression likely boost the risk of dementia in older people, with the interaction of these 2 factors alone contributing around 17% of the overall risk, suggest the findings of a large international study, published in the open access journal General Psychiatry.

16 Dec 2025

Positive parenting reduces the risk of adolescent self-harm

Self-harm refers to intentionally injuring one's own body as a coping mechanism to emotional distress. It manifests in many forms and has serious consequences not only on physical health but also on mental health. Self-harm among adolescents is becoming a significant public issue.

16 Dec 2025