Depression

Did you know that almost 7% of the U.S. population is diagnosed with depression?

Clinical depression is a serious condition that negatively affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. In contrast to normal sadness, clinical depression is persistent, and significantly interferes with daily life. Untreated, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years; and if inadequately treated, depression can lead to other health-related issues. Symptoms include: a depressed mood most of the day, every day; diminished interest in daily activities; changes in appetite and sleeping patterns; fatigue; restlessness; anxiety; feelings of worthlessness or helplessness; difficulty concentrating; increased alcohol or drug use; thoughts of death or suicide.

Read more about depression and it's causes, symptoms, and treatment options

Marina R. Picciotto, Ph.D. Charles B.G. Murphy Professor of Psychiatry, Neurobiology and Pharmacology Yale University 1996 NARSAD Young Investigator Grantee 2004 NARSAD Independent Investigator Grantee, expert on depression
Marina R. Picciotto, Ph.D.
December 17, 2012

Patients with depression tend to smoke a lot, which led to the idea that nicotine may ease depressive symptoms. Research has shown how the process works. Nicotine binds to particular receptor molecules on the surface of...

Ronald S. Duman, Ph.D. Scientific Council Member 1989 NARSAD Young Investigator 1997 NARSAD Independent Investigator 2005 NARSAD Distinguished Investigator 2002 Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Falcone Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research Elizabeth Mears and House Jameson Professor of Psychiatry Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobiology Director, Division of Molecular Psychiatry and Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities Yale University School of Medicine
Ronald S. Duman, Ph.D.
December 17, 2012

Three-time NARSAD Grantee talks about his groundbreaking work on depression since the 1980s

When did your research career begin, and what made you pursue research on depression in particular?

My...

Christine Marcelle Heim, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Emory University 2002 and 2005 NARSAD Young Investigator Grantee, expert on depression
Christine Marcelle Heim, Ph.D.
December 17, 2012

Childhood trauma, such as sexual or physical abuse, domestic violence, neglect or parental loss, can have long-lasting consequences. Researchers are exploring the effects of early trauma on the stress-response systems...

Edi Guyton - On CNN with Helen Mayberg and Paul Holtzheimer - using deep brain stimulation to treat depression
Edi Guyton on CNN
December 17, 2012

Earlier this year, in April, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent for ‘CNN Presents,’ produced a special segment on deep brain stimulation (DBS). See the video at bbrfoundation.org/cnn-video.

Currently...

Robert Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.
Robert Malenka, M.D., Ph.D.
December 17, 2012

A ‘bottom up’ approach to understanding the brain leads to crucial new discoveries


What causes depression? Experience tells us that people can become depressed when they are under acute or chronic stress...

Pages

Subscribe to