Below are seven facts about depression from researchers studying psychology and neuroscience.
1.) Some forms of “positive thinking” have been linked to depression. Research published in the journal Psychological Science found people who fantasized about an idealized future tended to have fewer depressive symptoms in the present, but faced more depressive symptoms in the future. “Inducing positive fantasies may indeed produce depressive symptoms by encouraging people to enjoy their success prematurely in their minds, thus lowering energy and effort,” which leads to failures in the future, the researchers explained.
2.) Persistent depression can damage parts of the brain. Research published in Molecular Psychiatry found depression was associated with hippocampal shrinkage. (The hippocampus is an area of the brain responsible for memory formation.) “Your whole sense of self depends on continuously understanding who you are in the world – your state of memory is not about just knowing how to do Sudoku or remembering your password – it’s the whole concept we hold of ourselves,” said co-author Ian Hickie.
3.) Research published in Depression and Anxiety found the more time young adults spent using social media, the more likely they were to be depressed. But the cause-and-effect relationship is unclear. “It may be that people who already are depressed are turning to social media to fill a void,” explained lead author Lui yi Lin.
4.) Other research suggests that addiction to mobile technology is linked to depression. “People who self-described as having really addictive style behaviors toward the Internet and cellphones scored much higher on depression and anxiety scales,” the researchers said. Luckily, simply using mobile devices to alleviate boredom was not associated with depression.
5.) Youth who join gangs are more likely to be depressed and suicidal, according to a study in the journal Criminal Justice and Behavior. “Youth who join a gang are much more likely to have mental health issues, and then being in the gang actually makes it worse,” said researcher Chris Melde. “It doesn’t act as an antidepressant. And some people may be seeking that out – a sense of well-being or purpose.”
6.) Research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society concluded that face-to-face social interactions can guard against depression in older adults. “Research has long-supported the idea that strong social bonds strengthen people’s mental health. But this is the first look at the role that the type of communication with loved ones and friends plays in safeguarding people from depression. We found that all forms of socialization aren’t equal. Phone calls and digital communication, with friends or family members, do not have the same power as face-to-face social interactions in helping to stave off depression,” said lead author Alan Teo.
7.) Depression may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes when combined with other metabolic risk factors, according to a study in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Depression alone did not appear to significantly increase the risk. But those with both depression and metabolic risk factors were more than six times more likely to develop diabetes. This could be because people suffering from depression are less likely to adhere to medical advice or because depression causes changes in the body’s metabolic systems (or both.)