Depression

A new study found that structural brain differences—specifically in the amygdala—may predict who will develop depression. These changes were present before symptoms began, suggesting a possible early biomarker for identifying individuals at elevated risk for first-time depressive episodes.

A new study has found that people with depression who internalize stigma are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. The findings highlight how shame and self-judgment can intensify suicidal ideation, independent of depression severity.

Individuals who frequently experience or witness gun violence are more likely to report symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation, according to nationwide survey data, highlighting the mental health risks associated with exposure to firearm-related incidents.

A new analysis of health survey data suggests that extended use of oral contraceptives may be connected to better mental health outcomes in women. The researchers observed a steady decline in depression symptoms with longer pill use.

Researchers discovered that disrupting a thalamic brain region reduced passive behavior in stressed rats, similar to antidepressant treatment. The study also found that male and female rats showed different patterns of brain activation in response to stress and drug exposure.

A new study using nearly two decades of national health data suggests that people who more closely follow a ketogenic diet are less likely to experience depression, raising fresh questions about how low-carb, high-fat eating patterns affect mental health.

A surprising new study reveals a twist in the gut-brain connection. While anxiety and depression are linked to distinct gut bacteria, commonly prescribed medications show an even stronger association with microbiome changes than the mental health conditions themselves.

A new study suggests that lamotrigine, a drug used to prevent bipolar depression, may influence how people recall emotional information. Healthy volunteers who took a single dose remembered more positive self-relevant words than negative ones, without reporting mood changes.

A new study reveals a stark link between culture and mental health. People living in U.S. states with strong "honor cultures" are more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, with the connection being particularly strong for non-Hispanic White residents.

Caffeine may help prevent stress-induced depression-like symptoms in mice by protecting gut health and reducing inflammation. While more research is needed, the findings raise the possibility that everyday dietary habits could play a meaningful role in mental health

Older adults with higher triglyceride-glucose levels were not more likely to develop depression over time after accounting for health and lifestyle factors, suggesting this metabolic marker does not predict future depression in this age group.

Among young adults, stress from election news was linked to higher risks of depression and anxiety, while pre-election anticipatory stress was linked to depression only. Stress about the election outcome was not associated with either condition.

A large American survey finds that adults who have sex fewer than a dozen times a year die sooner when extra abdominal fat coincides with depression, hinting that mood and body shape can combine in a dangerous feedback loop.

New research shows a single low, non-anesthetic dose of ketamine revived pleasure seeking in chronically stressed mice by restoring weakened excitatory synapses onto nucleus accumbens dopamine D1 neurons, pinpointing a circuit mechanism for the drug’s rapid antidepressant effect.

Researchers have identified metabolic differences in the brains of young adults with depression who also experience cognitive impairment. The study sheds light on how chemical imbalances in key brain regions may contribute to thinking and memory problems in depression.