Common sense dictates that genetic predispositions probably interact with life stressors to influence our mental health. Plenty of research has been published to evaluate whether this is actually true, but findings have been mixed.

Whether minor depression responds to antidepressant medication is up for debate, with few studies yielding mixed results.

Demonstrating the value of genetic testing in psychiatry is a tricky proposition. The latest case in point is the debate over whether determining variations in the gene coding for the serotonin transporter pump (5-HTTLPR) is useful for predicting future risk for depression.

response rates in depressed patients who were put on citalopram (Celexa) for eight weeks. Recently, some clinicians have advocated starting depressed patients with a combination of antidepressants, in the hopes that targeting multiple neurotransmitters will boost efficacy.

A combination of clinical lore and some studies have led many psychiatrists to believe that it is crucial to screen depressed patients for subtle signs of “bipolarity.”

Regular exercise can extend remission from major depression, regardless of whether remission was initially achieved through exercise or medication, a new study suggests.

Many patients come into our offices feeling demoralized or unhappy, but without meeting the full diagnostic criteria for major depression or dysthymia.

Insomnia and sleep disturbance are common symptoms of depression in adults, but this is not always the case in adolescents. In fact, a group of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh who studied insomnia in depressed teens found that, compared to adults, insomnia in adolescents is different—very different.

The Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) taught us that fluoxetine (Prozac) plus cognitive behavioral therapy was superior to medication alone or placebo for short-term recovery from major depressive disorder (MDD). But TADS didn’t tell us anything about long-term recovery.

More than a decade ago, researchers introduced the concept of “vascular depression,” a specific type of depression associated with cerebrovascular disease and loss of blood to the brain in older adults.