Antidepressants are prescription drugs used to treat depression and a variety of other psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Some depression drugs are also used to treat medical conditions (e.g. some tricyclic antidepressants are given for chronic pain).
Here is a list of helpful information about antidepressants (not in order of importance).
Antidepressants help correct chemical imbalances in your brain by affecting certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which are responsible for sending messages between nerve cells. Neurotransmitters are responsible for different functions in the body. For example, some antidepressants help alleviate depression by increasing the neurotransmitter, Serotonin which plays a role in a variety of functions such as mood, appetite, sleep, memory and sexual behavior. Other antidepressants increase the neurotransmitters, Norepinephrine and Dopamine. Norepinephrine manages functions in the sympathetic nervous system (e.g. fight or flight response, blood pressure, heart rate and concentration) while Dopamine plays a part in emotion, learning, motivation, pleasure, memory, movement and other roles.
There are basically three major types of antidepressants. The different categories of antidepressants differ in terms of the neurotransmitters affected and the process involved in increasing these neurotransmitters.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) - SSRIs (e.g. Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. SSRIs increase the amount of Serotonin by hindering the process involved in eliminating Serotonin (which is called Reuptake). After Serotonin is released from a nerve cell, the Reuptake process removes any Serotonin that is not used. Since the re-absorption of Serotonin is blocked, the level of Serotonin is increased.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) - TCAs (e.g. Elavil, Nortriptyline) increase Seratonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine by also blocking the Reuptake process (the removal of these neurotransmitters). Because of more adverse side effects, TCAs are prescribed less often than SSRIs.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI) - MAOIs (e.g. Nardil, Marplan) inhibit the action of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which breaks down certain neurotransmitters. As a result, the amounts of Serotonin and Norepinephrine are increased. MAOIs are less prescribed than SSRIs and TCAs because of possible severe side effects and drug interactions. They are often used to treat depression that has not responded to other depression medications.
There are other antidepressants that don't fall in any of the above categories, which affect a different combination of neurotransmitters. For example, Wellbutrin is a Dopamine and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (DNRI), which increases both Dopamine and Norepinephrine by blocking the removal of these two neurotransmitters.
Be patient when working with your doctor. It often takes several tries to find the right antidepressant. A doctor will select the most appropriate antidepressant based on your symptoms, the antidepressant's potential side effects, your medical conditions and any medications you're taking. Because of the many antidepressants on the market today, doctors have many options to choose from. So don't worry if the first antidepressant is not working well for you.
Antidepressants are not a quick fix and take time to work. They often take several weeks (or more) before positive results are noticed. Because everyone's brain chemistry is different, antidepressants will affect individuals differently.
Each antidepressant will have its own particular side effects. Many side effects are temporary and will go away once your body adjusts to the medication. Ask your doctor about the typical side effects, how long they may last and when you should contact your doctor.
Don't stop antidepressants too early. If you do, the chances of re-experiencing depression are increased. For most people, it is not necessary to take antidepressants for the rest of your life. Many individuals take antidepressants for six months to a year or more.
The beliefs that antidepressants will change your personality or not allow you to feel are myths. If you truly need antidepressants, they should make you feel better and not worse. If you feel any of these concerns, talk to your doctor. You may be on the wrong medication or dose.
Antidepressants are not habit forming (addictive). Often people cope with depression and other problems in less healthy ways such as using alcohol or illicit drugs. Taking depression medication is a healthier alternative with less negative consequences.
Don't stop taking antidepressants without talking to your doctor first. For example, some SSRIs (e.g. Paxil) which are short-acting (stays in the body for a short period of time) may cause withdrawal like symptoms if they are stopped suddenly or dosage is reduced too quickly. If you stop or reduce certain SSRIs suddenly, you may experience SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome which is characterized by flu like symptoms such as nausea, chills, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, vomiting and dizziness. See a doctor if you start to experience these symptoms.
There has been recent concern about using antidepressants with children. Short-term studies have shown that children using antidepressants have an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in the first few months of treatment. Children should be closely monitored when beginning antidepressants or changing dosage. Likewise, adults who have depression (or other psychiatric conditions) and a history of suicidal behavior should also be closely watched.
About the Author
Dr. Joanne Chao is a psychologist practicing in California and is the editor of Depression Help Resource, a website providing information about antidepressants, treatment options and depression related articles and resources.
depression-help-resource
View drug information on Celexa; Lexapro; Marplan Tablets.
понедельник, 30 мая 2011 г.
суббота, 28 мая 2011 г.
Untreated Depressed People Have Fewer Serotonin & Opioid Receptors, And Variation Is Linked To Symptoms And Treatment Response
Depressed people may have far fewer of the receptors for some of the brain's "feel good" stress-response chemicals than non-depressed people, new University of Michigan Depression Center research shows.
And even among depressed people, the numbers of these receptors can vary greatly. What's more, the number of receptors a depressed person has appears to be linked with the severity of their symptoms - and the chances that they'll feel better after taking a medication.
These preliminary findings, presented at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., amplify a growing understanding of depression as a condition that affects different people in different ways, and is solidly rooted in genetic and molecular factors that are unique to each individual.
The lead U-M researcher, Jon-Kar Zubieta, M.D., Ph.D., says these new results bolster what other researchers have been finding in recent years.
"There's a substantial amount of biological difference even among people who have major depression, which is just as important as the biological differences between people with depression and people without," he says. "The more we can understand about these differences, the better we can address treatment to the individual and have the greatest effect on symptoms."
At the APA meeting, Zubieta presented data from positron emission tomography, or PET, scans of the brains of patients who met the criteria for major depression but had not yet received treatment for it. Those scans were compared with scans of the brains of non-depressed comparison volunteers.
In one group of depressed and non-depressed volunteers, the scans were made using a tracer that can reveal the location and concentration of a particular type of receptor. Called the 5HT1a receptor, it allows brain cells to receive signals from serotonin, a chemical neurotransmitter produced by the brain.
Serotonin levels in the brain are linked to depression, but the importance of 5HT1a receptor concentrations in the brains of depressed people has been cloudy. That's why Zubieta's team chose to scan only people who had not yet received antidepressant medications, since some such medications may actually encourage the brain's cells to make more serotonin receptors - and masking the actual level of receptors that the person has naturally.
In the study, 5HT1a receptor concentrations were markedly lower in depressed people compared with non-depressed people, in both the left and right hippocampus region of the brain.
But even among depressed people, the lower a person's the 5HT1 receptor levels were, the worse he or she scored on assessments of their ability to function day-to-day - and they less likely he or she was to get relief from symptoms when the researchers prescribed them a common antidepressant.
This finding of individual variation may help explain why in current depression treatment, some patients find great relief from a medication that doesn't help other equally depressed patients, says Zubieta, who is the Phil F. Jenkins Research Professor of Depression in the U-M Department of Psychiatry. He also holds positions in the U-M Nuclear Medicine division, and the Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute.
The other group of depressed volunteers - both depressed and non-depressed - received PET scans with a tracer that allowed the researchers to see the mu-opioid receptors in their brains. These receptors are the gateway for signals sent by chemicals called endogenous opioids -- the brain's natural "painkillers" - which are involved in stress response including response to pain.
Another name for the neurotransmitters that bind to mu-opioid receptors is endorphins, which have become known as a "feel good" chemical involved in reinforcing rewarding experiences. Illicit drugs such as heroin also act upon mu-opioid receptors, creating the "high" sensation and probably playing a role in the addiction process.
In this group of depressed and non-depressed volunteers, the researchers studied the distribution of the mu-opioid receptors and looked at how active the receptors were when the volunteers were asked to summon a sad memory or scenario to mind.
Depressed volunteers had lower concentrations of mu-opioid receptors to begin with. But when they underwent the "sadness challenge", those receptors were much more active than the receptors in non-depressed people. And, just as with the serotonin 5HT1a receptors, the fewer mu-opioid receptors a person had, the less well they responded to an antidepressant medication.
Zubieta and his colleagues are now working to submit these new data for publication. At the same time, they are continuing to recruit depressed volunteers who are not taking medication for more brain imaging studies. To find out more about how to participate in depression research at the U-M Depression Center, visit umengage/.
For more on research by Zubieta and other researchers at the U-M Depression Center, visit depressioncenter/.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Pritzker Foundation, and by NARSAD, a leading mental health charity.
What are Opioids?
For more information on what opioids are, and opioid-induced constipation (OIC), please see:
All About Opioids and Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC)
And even among depressed people, the numbers of these receptors can vary greatly. What's more, the number of receptors a depressed person has appears to be linked with the severity of their symptoms - and the chances that they'll feel better after taking a medication.
These preliminary findings, presented at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., amplify a growing understanding of depression as a condition that affects different people in different ways, and is solidly rooted in genetic and molecular factors that are unique to each individual.
The lead U-M researcher, Jon-Kar Zubieta, M.D., Ph.D., says these new results bolster what other researchers have been finding in recent years.
"There's a substantial amount of biological difference even among people who have major depression, which is just as important as the biological differences between people with depression and people without," he says. "The more we can understand about these differences, the better we can address treatment to the individual and have the greatest effect on symptoms."
At the APA meeting, Zubieta presented data from positron emission tomography, or PET, scans of the brains of patients who met the criteria for major depression but had not yet received treatment for it. Those scans were compared with scans of the brains of non-depressed comparison volunteers.
In one group of depressed and non-depressed volunteers, the scans were made using a tracer that can reveal the location and concentration of a particular type of receptor. Called the 5HT1a receptor, it allows brain cells to receive signals from serotonin, a chemical neurotransmitter produced by the brain.
Serotonin levels in the brain are linked to depression, but the importance of 5HT1a receptor concentrations in the brains of depressed people has been cloudy. That's why Zubieta's team chose to scan only people who had not yet received antidepressant medications, since some such medications may actually encourage the brain's cells to make more serotonin receptors - and masking the actual level of receptors that the person has naturally.
In the study, 5HT1a receptor concentrations were markedly lower in depressed people compared with non-depressed people, in both the left and right hippocampus region of the brain.
But even among depressed people, the lower a person's the 5HT1 receptor levels were, the worse he or she scored on assessments of their ability to function day-to-day - and they less likely he or she was to get relief from symptoms when the researchers prescribed them a common antidepressant.
This finding of individual variation may help explain why in current depression treatment, some patients find great relief from a medication that doesn't help other equally depressed patients, says Zubieta, who is the Phil F. Jenkins Research Professor of Depression in the U-M Department of Psychiatry. He also holds positions in the U-M Nuclear Medicine division, and the Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute.
The other group of depressed volunteers - both depressed and non-depressed - received PET scans with a tracer that allowed the researchers to see the mu-opioid receptors in their brains. These receptors are the gateway for signals sent by chemicals called endogenous opioids -- the brain's natural "painkillers" - which are involved in stress response including response to pain.
Another name for the neurotransmitters that bind to mu-opioid receptors is endorphins, which have become known as a "feel good" chemical involved in reinforcing rewarding experiences. Illicit drugs such as heroin also act upon mu-opioid receptors, creating the "high" sensation and probably playing a role in the addiction process.
In this group of depressed and non-depressed volunteers, the researchers studied the distribution of the mu-opioid receptors and looked at how active the receptors were when the volunteers were asked to summon a sad memory or scenario to mind.
Depressed volunteers had lower concentrations of mu-opioid receptors to begin with. But when they underwent the "sadness challenge", those receptors were much more active than the receptors in non-depressed people. And, just as with the serotonin 5HT1a receptors, the fewer mu-opioid receptors a person had, the less well they responded to an antidepressant medication.
Zubieta and his colleagues are now working to submit these new data for publication. At the same time, they are continuing to recruit depressed volunteers who are not taking medication for more brain imaging studies. To find out more about how to participate in depression research at the U-M Depression Center, visit umengage/.
For more on research by Zubieta and other researchers at the U-M Depression Center, visit depressioncenter/.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Pritzker Foundation, and by NARSAD, a leading mental health charity.
What are Opioids?
For more information on what opioids are, and opioid-induced constipation (OIC), please see:
All About Opioids and Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC)
четверг, 26 мая 2011 г.
Mental Health 101 - American Psychiatric Association
Across the country, students are preparing to start or return to college. This is an
exciting time, though for some it's overwhelming and stressful. Depression, substance use and eating
disorders are increasingly common mental health issues on college campuses. According to a recent
survey1, the rate of students reporting ever being diagnosed with depression has increased 56 percent
in the last six years, from 10 percent in spring 2000 to 16 percent in spring 2005.
Major depression increases the likelihood of substance abuse, impairs functioning at school; and
influences an individual's subsequent development in negative ways. Depression can also co-occur
with other disorders, including physical illnesses and other mental disorders, such as anxiety and
eating disorders.
"We are seeing more students coming to college with mental health issues," said Jerald Kay, M.D.,
chair of the American Psychiatric Association's Corresponding Committee on Mental Health on
College and University Campuses. "Tragedies like at Virginia Tech only amplify the importance of
the availability of mental health services on college campuses. It is important for college-age students
to seek care so they can have a healthy mind and lead a healthy life."
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) encourages everyone to learn more about the warnings
signs of mental illnesses. For August, HealthyMinds, the APA's free consumer Web site,
features information to help parents learn more about college mental health on topics such as:
-- NEW: Suicide Prevention TV Public Service Announcement
-- "Let's Talk Facts" brochure: College Students and Alcohol Abuse
-- College Students and Alcohol Abuse Statistics
-- College Mental Health Fact Sheet: Depression
-- Disasters: Mental Health Recommendations for Students and Colleges
-- Eating Disorders: Tips for College Students
About the American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the nation's leading medical specialty society whose more than 38,000
physician members specialize in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses including
substance use disorders. Visit the APA at psych and HealthyMinds.
"Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives." is APA's consumer campaign to improve understanding of mental illnesses,
psychiatry, and successful treatment options, as well as to reduce stigma. Learn more about these issues and
hear people's real-life stories by visiting the campaign's Web site at HealthyMinds .
1 American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health
Assessment: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2006. Baltimore: American College Health
Association; 2007.
exciting time, though for some it's overwhelming and stressful. Depression, substance use and eating
disorders are increasingly common mental health issues on college campuses. According to a recent
survey1, the rate of students reporting ever being diagnosed with depression has increased 56 percent
in the last six years, from 10 percent in spring 2000 to 16 percent in spring 2005.
Major depression increases the likelihood of substance abuse, impairs functioning at school; and
influences an individual's subsequent development in negative ways. Depression can also co-occur
with other disorders, including physical illnesses and other mental disorders, such as anxiety and
eating disorders.
"We are seeing more students coming to college with mental health issues," said Jerald Kay, M.D.,
chair of the American Psychiatric Association's Corresponding Committee on Mental Health on
College and University Campuses. "Tragedies like at Virginia Tech only amplify the importance of
the availability of mental health services on college campuses. It is important for college-age students
to seek care so they can have a healthy mind and lead a healthy life."
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) encourages everyone to learn more about the warnings
signs of mental illnesses. For August, HealthyMinds, the APA's free consumer Web site,
features information to help parents learn more about college mental health on topics such as:
-- NEW: Suicide Prevention TV Public Service Announcement
-- "Let's Talk Facts" brochure: College Students and Alcohol Abuse
-- College Students and Alcohol Abuse Statistics
-- College Mental Health Fact Sheet: Depression
-- Disasters: Mental Health Recommendations for Students and Colleges
-- Eating Disorders: Tips for College Students
About the American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the nation's leading medical specialty society whose more than 38,000
physician members specialize in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses including
substance use disorders. Visit the APA at psych and HealthyMinds.
"Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives." is APA's consumer campaign to improve understanding of mental illnesses,
psychiatry, and successful treatment options, as well as to reduce stigma. Learn more about these issues and
hear people's real-life stories by visiting the campaign's Web site at HealthyMinds .
1 American College Health Association. American College Health Association-National College Health
Assessment: Reference Group Executive Summary Fall 2006. Baltimore: American College Health
Association; 2007.
вторник, 24 мая 2011 г.
A New Troublesome Long-Term Effect Of Antidepressant Drugs; Tardive Dysphoria.
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) may be related to inadequate dosing of antidepressants or antidepressant tolerance. Alternatively, there are reasons to believe that antidepressant treatment itself may contribute to a chronic depressive syndrome. This study reports a case of antidepressant discontinuation in a TRD patient, a 67-year-old white man with onset of major depressive illness at the age of 45. He was homozygous for the short form of the serotonin transporter. He was treated off and on until the age of 59 and had been on an antidepressant continuously until the age of 67. Over the previous 2 years he had been depressed without any relief by medication or 2 electroconvulsive treatments. His medications at the time of evaluation included paroxetine 10 mg daily, venlafaxine 75 mg daily and clonazepam 3 mg daily. His 17-item Hamilton depression score was 22. Over the subsequent 6 months, he was started on bupropion and then tapered off all antidepressants, including the bupropion. His Hamilton depression score dropped to 18. The patient was not satisfied with his progress and sought another opinion to restart antidepressants. One year later, on duloxetine 60 mg daily, he continued to complain of unremitting depression.
A possible prodepressant effect of antidepressants has been previously proposed. Fava was the first to suggest that an antidepressant-related neurobiochemical mechanism of increasing vulnerability to depression might play a role in worsening the long-term outcome of the illness. Understanding of potential mechanisms of this phenomenon can be gleaned from observations regarding the short form of the serotonin transporter (5HTTR). Patients with the short form of the 5HTTR and prolonged antidepressant exposure, may be particularly vulnerable to antidepressant-related worsening. In other words, prolonged exposure to antidepressants can induce neuroplastic changes that result in the genesis of antidepressant-induced dysphoric symptoms. The investigators propose the term 'tardive dysphoria' to describe such a phenomenon and describe diagnostic criteria for it. Tapering or discontinuing the antidepressant might reverse the dysphoric state. Antidepressant discontinuation may not provide immediate relief. In fact, it is likely that transient symptoms of withdrawal will occur in the initial 2-4 weeks following antidepressant discontinuation or tapering. However, after a prolonged period of antidepressant abstinence, one may see a gradual return to the patient's baseline.
A possible prodepressant effect of antidepressants has been previously proposed. Fava was the first to suggest that an antidepressant-related neurobiochemical mechanism of increasing vulnerability to depression might play a role in worsening the long-term outcome of the illness. Understanding of potential mechanisms of this phenomenon can be gleaned from observations regarding the short form of the serotonin transporter (5HTTR). Patients with the short form of the 5HTTR and prolonged antidepressant exposure, may be particularly vulnerable to antidepressant-related worsening. In other words, prolonged exposure to antidepressants can induce neuroplastic changes that result in the genesis of antidepressant-induced dysphoric symptoms. The investigators propose the term 'tardive dysphoria' to describe such a phenomenon and describe diagnostic criteria for it. Tapering or discontinuing the antidepressant might reverse the dysphoric state. Antidepressant discontinuation may not provide immediate relief. In fact, it is likely that transient symptoms of withdrawal will occur in the initial 2-4 weeks following antidepressant discontinuation or tapering. However, after a prolonged period of antidepressant abstinence, one may see a gradual return to the patient's baseline.
понедельник, 16 мая 2011 г.
Stephen Fry Named BT Mind Champion Of The Year 2007, UK
Mental health charity Mind yesterday announced Stephen Fry as BT Mind Champion of the Year at its annual awards ceremony in central London hosted by Melvyn Bragg.
Last year, in his BBC documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, Stephen talked candidly about his personal experience of bipolar disorder as well as interviewing others about how they live with the condition. The humour and sincerity with which he presented the programme moved audiences and has helped to raise awareness about an often misunderstood condition.
For the first time, Mind enabled the public to vote on its website for the person they thought had made the most significant contribution to challenging discrimination against people with mental health problems over the last year. The shortlist featured mental health activists, campaigners and fundraisers but Stephen received hundreds of votes to win the prestigious prize.
On receiving the accolade, Stephen said: "I would like to accept this award on behalf of all the people involved in making the film. I learnt a lot from making the documentary, not just about my own condition, but about what it is to be human. Mood disorders are like your own internal weather. You need to accept when it is raining but you must recognise that it will be sunny again."
"Mental health is a pressing problem for all people in Britain. A quarter of the problem with mental health is experienced by the people who are actually taking the medication or using the talking treatments and three quarters of the problem lies with the mentally healthy and their attitude to mental health."
Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: "As one of Britain's best loved entertainers, Stephen has used his high profile to draw mass attention to mental health issues. In his powerful documentary, Stephen opened people's eyes to the reality of what it is like to live with manic depression. He has challenged the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder and has helped to increase public understanding."
Awards were also presented for BT Mind Book of the Year - which went to Michele Hanson for Living With Mother, her accounts of her mother's dementia; BT Mind Journalist of the Year - which went to joint winners Derek Draper and Dr Cecilia d'Felice for their detailed and innovative feature on depression in Psychologies magazine and BT Mind Student Journalist of the Year - which was awarded to Helen Thompson of the University of Cardiff newspaper, Gair Rhydd for her article on Asperger's syndrome.
This year BT sponsored the Mind Awards. BT's work on employee mental health makes them a leader in the field for promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace.
The BT Mind Awards are part of Mind Week, which this year focuses on the mental health benefits of green exercise - exercise outdoors - and the potential to use ecotherapy to treat mental health problems.
Last year, in his BBC documentary The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, Stephen talked candidly about his personal experience of bipolar disorder as well as interviewing others about how they live with the condition. The humour and sincerity with which he presented the programme moved audiences and has helped to raise awareness about an often misunderstood condition.
For the first time, Mind enabled the public to vote on its website for the person they thought had made the most significant contribution to challenging discrimination against people with mental health problems over the last year. The shortlist featured mental health activists, campaigners and fundraisers but Stephen received hundreds of votes to win the prestigious prize.
On receiving the accolade, Stephen said: "I would like to accept this award on behalf of all the people involved in making the film. I learnt a lot from making the documentary, not just about my own condition, but about what it is to be human. Mood disorders are like your own internal weather. You need to accept when it is raining but you must recognise that it will be sunny again."
"Mental health is a pressing problem for all people in Britain. A quarter of the problem with mental health is experienced by the people who are actually taking the medication or using the talking treatments and three quarters of the problem lies with the mentally healthy and their attitude to mental health."
Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: "As one of Britain's best loved entertainers, Stephen has used his high profile to draw mass attention to mental health issues. In his powerful documentary, Stephen opened people's eyes to the reality of what it is like to live with manic depression. He has challenged the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder and has helped to increase public understanding."
Awards were also presented for BT Mind Book of the Year - which went to Michele Hanson for Living With Mother, her accounts of her mother's dementia; BT Mind Journalist of the Year - which went to joint winners Derek Draper and Dr Cecilia d'Felice for their detailed and innovative feature on depression in Psychologies magazine and BT Mind Student Journalist of the Year - which was awarded to Helen Thompson of the University of Cardiff newspaper, Gair Rhydd for her article on Asperger's syndrome.
This year BT sponsored the Mind Awards. BT's work on employee mental health makes them a leader in the field for promoting mental wellbeing in the workplace.
The BT Mind Awards are part of Mind Week, which this year focuses on the mental health benefits of green exercise - exercise outdoors - and the potential to use ecotherapy to treat mental health problems.
воскресенье, 15 мая 2011 г.
Fifth Annual Conference On College Depression
Every year, more than a thousand college students die by suicide, and thousands more attempt to kill themselves. Tens of thousands of other students struggle with depression, bipolar disorder and related problems such as addiction, prescription drug and alcohol abuse, anorexia and bulimia, and self-mutilation or "cutting".
Colleges and universities across the country are working to help students understand these issues and get help. On March 19 and 20, representatives from many campuses will gather at the University of Michigan to share information about what has worked for them and to get the latest research results.
The fifth annual Depression on College Campuses Conference, organized by the University of Michigan Depression Center in collaboration with many U-M schools and colleges, takes place at a time when new national statistics suggest that suicide is on the rise among teenagers, and when parents are worried about the safety of treating depressed young people with antidepressant medications.
At the same time, colleges are struggling with an ever-increasing demand for counseling services, and with legal issues involving suicidal students.
The conference will begin with a first-person account of what it's like to develop and get help for depression while in college, from Aimee Belisle, who sought treatment for depression while a student at Bentley College, and later made depression awareness her platform during her time as the 2004 Miss Rhode Island. She is now a member of the American Psychiatric Association's Presidential Task Force on Mental Health on College Campuses. Other students will also share stories of their own experience with depression in college during a special panel on March 20.
The conference will also feature speakers from around U-M, and from institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Penn State and New York University. John Greden, M.D., executive director of the UMDC and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, will give opening and closing remarks.
Several conference sessions will focus on treatment options including talk therapy, carefully monitored medication regimens, Internet-based tools, and telemedicine consultations with psychiatrists for students at rural colleges. Panel discussions will examine University policies and protocols for helping severely distressed students, and also identify key sources of data on student mental health which can be used to help determine appropriate programs and services.
Much of the conference is designed to give college personnel, mental health professionals, student group organizers and others the kind of specific information they need to bring about change on their own campuses. Special breakout sessions for academic advisors, campus administrators, mental health clinicians, faculty, student housing officials and students will foster that sharing.
The conference will also include presentations about current research. For example, Daniel Eisenberg, Ph.D., a member of the UMDC and assistant professor in the U-M School of Public Health, and other researchers, will discuss surveys that are trying to accurately assess how many college students are experiencing or getting treatment for depression, anxiety and related issues. Eisenberg leads the Healthy Minds Study, which will be fielded at nine schools around the country this spring. (For more information, visit healthymindsstudy/)
Another highlight of the conference will be the presentation of the first-ever Student Mental Health Advocate Award during a banquet lunch on March 19. Student advocates around the country have poured their energy into raising awareness of depression symptoms, suicide warning signs, and treatment options among their fellow students, and the award was created to recognize those who have made the greatest impact.
The award will be presented by Kathy Cronkite, an author and advocate who has spoken publicly of her own struggle with depression. Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 16 at med.umich/depression/docc/award.htm.
Registration for the conference is free for students, including physicians in training. The fee for all others is $99 before March 1, and $115 afterward. Group discounts are available for five or more people from the same campus who register together before March 1. Lunch on March 19 is available for $20 per person.
Continuing medical education credit is available for physicians, psychologists, nurses and social workers.
To register or for more information, visit med.umich/depression/docc
The University of Michigan Depression Center is the nation's only comprehensive center dedicated to patient care, research, education and public policy in depression and bipolar disorder. Founded in 2001, its mission is to detect depression and bipolar disorders early, treat them earlier and more effectively, prevent recurrences and progression, counteract stigma, and improve public policy. More than 160 faculty, staff and students from throughout the University are members of the Center. More information is available at med.umich/depression.
Contact: Kara Gavin
University of Michigan Health System
Colleges and universities across the country are working to help students understand these issues and get help. On March 19 and 20, representatives from many campuses will gather at the University of Michigan to share information about what has worked for them and to get the latest research results.
The fifth annual Depression on College Campuses Conference, organized by the University of Michigan Depression Center in collaboration with many U-M schools and colleges, takes place at a time when new national statistics suggest that suicide is on the rise among teenagers, and when parents are worried about the safety of treating depressed young people with antidepressant medications.
At the same time, colleges are struggling with an ever-increasing demand for counseling services, and with legal issues involving suicidal students.
The conference will begin with a first-person account of what it's like to develop and get help for depression while in college, from Aimee Belisle, who sought treatment for depression while a student at Bentley College, and later made depression awareness her platform during her time as the 2004 Miss Rhode Island. She is now a member of the American Psychiatric Association's Presidential Task Force on Mental Health on College Campuses. Other students will also share stories of their own experience with depression in college during a special panel on March 20.
The conference will also feature speakers from around U-M, and from institutions such as Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Penn State and New York University. John Greden, M.D., executive director of the UMDC and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the U-M Medical School, will give opening and closing remarks.
Several conference sessions will focus on treatment options including talk therapy, carefully monitored medication regimens, Internet-based tools, and telemedicine consultations with psychiatrists for students at rural colleges. Panel discussions will examine University policies and protocols for helping severely distressed students, and also identify key sources of data on student mental health which can be used to help determine appropriate programs and services.
Much of the conference is designed to give college personnel, mental health professionals, student group organizers and others the kind of specific information they need to bring about change on their own campuses. Special breakout sessions for academic advisors, campus administrators, mental health clinicians, faculty, student housing officials and students will foster that sharing.
The conference will also include presentations about current research. For example, Daniel Eisenberg, Ph.D., a member of the UMDC and assistant professor in the U-M School of Public Health, and other researchers, will discuss surveys that are trying to accurately assess how many college students are experiencing or getting treatment for depression, anxiety and related issues. Eisenberg leads the Healthy Minds Study, which will be fielded at nine schools around the country this spring. (For more information, visit healthymindsstudy/)
Another highlight of the conference will be the presentation of the first-ever Student Mental Health Advocate Award during a banquet lunch on March 19. Student advocates around the country have poured their energy into raising awareness of depression symptoms, suicide warning signs, and treatment options among their fellow students, and the award was created to recognize those who have made the greatest impact.
The award will be presented by Kathy Cronkite, an author and advocate who has spoken publicly of her own struggle with depression. Nominations are being accepted until Feb. 16 at med.umich/depression/docc/award.htm.
Registration for the conference is free for students, including physicians in training. The fee for all others is $99 before March 1, and $115 afterward. Group discounts are available for five or more people from the same campus who register together before March 1. Lunch on March 19 is available for $20 per person.
Continuing medical education credit is available for physicians, psychologists, nurses and social workers.
To register or for more information, visit med.umich/depression/docc
The University of Michigan Depression Center is the nation's only comprehensive center dedicated to patient care, research, education and public policy in depression and bipolar disorder. Founded in 2001, its mission is to detect depression and bipolar disorders early, treat them earlier and more effectively, prevent recurrences and progression, counteract stigma, and improve public policy. More than 160 faculty, staff and students from throughout the University are members of the Center. More information is available at med.umich/depression.
Contact: Kara Gavin
University of Michigan Health System
Avoiding Employee Depression In A Recession
As employees become increasingly anxious about job security and financial worries during an economic recession, satisfaction with the job they have, commitment to their company and engagement with their work are all affected detrimentally. This trend could be self-fulfilling in that disengaged employees could have a negative impact on a company's products or services and lead to its decline which would inevitably see the company failing.
Researchers in business and management have now formulated a model of how such employee engagement can change during an economic downturn. The model could help management identify and acknowledge the impact of employee anxiety and implement workplace actions that help staff stay engaged, committed and improve job satisfaction.
Kenneth Green of the Department of Management at Southern Arkansas University and Bobby Medlin of the College of Business at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith have collected data from several hundred full-time employees in a range of jobs regarding job satisfaction and worries. The data were collected at the height of the 2009 US recession, during which gross domestic product fell dramatically and corporate bankruptcies were at a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Workers were rightly concerned about whether or not they would keep their jobs and whether or not they would be compensated if their company did not survive the recession.
The team uses an obvious definition of employee engagement that says an engaged employee is one who is fully involved in and enthusiastic about the work. This might be qualified by adding that a fully engaged worker is prepared to offer discretionary effort or be willing to "go the extra mile", the team explains. They add that intuitively one would assume that workplace anxiety would have negative consequences on level of engagement and earlier research has supported this notion in recent years. The Arkansas team has now quantified this issue and suggests that it can be used by management to improve employee engagement, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction by helping individuals overcome their recession anxiety.
The team recommends that managers acknowledge the impact of the anxiety generated during recessionary times and take actions to reduce the negative impact of workplace anxiety by providing employees with information related to the organization's current situation and each employee's status.
"Impact of recession-based workplace anxiety" in Int. J. Management and Enterprise Development, 2010, 9, 213-232
Researchers in business and management have now formulated a model of how such employee engagement can change during an economic downturn. The model could help management identify and acknowledge the impact of employee anxiety and implement workplace actions that help staff stay engaged, committed and improve job satisfaction.
Kenneth Green of the Department of Management at Southern Arkansas University and Bobby Medlin of the College of Business at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith have collected data from several hundred full-time employees in a range of jobs regarding job satisfaction and worries. The data were collected at the height of the 2009 US recession, during which gross domestic product fell dramatically and corporate bankruptcies were at a level not seen since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Workers were rightly concerned about whether or not they would keep their jobs and whether or not they would be compensated if their company did not survive the recession.
The team uses an obvious definition of employee engagement that says an engaged employee is one who is fully involved in and enthusiastic about the work. This might be qualified by adding that a fully engaged worker is prepared to offer discretionary effort or be willing to "go the extra mile", the team explains. They add that intuitively one would assume that workplace anxiety would have negative consequences on level of engagement and earlier research has supported this notion in recent years. The Arkansas team has now quantified this issue and suggests that it can be used by management to improve employee engagement, organizational commitment, and job satisfaction by helping individuals overcome their recession anxiety.
The team recommends that managers acknowledge the impact of the anxiety generated during recessionary times and take actions to reduce the negative impact of workplace anxiety by providing employees with information related to the organization's current situation and each employee's status.
"Impact of recession-based workplace anxiety" in Int. J. Management and Enterprise Development, 2010, 9, 213-232
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