If latest findings are anything to go by, then ketamine can help relieve the feelings of depression to some extent at least. Ketamine works by dissociating patients from negative feelings. In doing so, it prevents neurotransmitters like glutamates from intermingling with certain brain receptors. Past studies have showed that getting the receptor glutamate link severed can help lift symptoms of depression in as little as two hours. The new study on depression was led by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Medical Health. 18 patients were recruited to take part in the trial which came out with amazing results.

Via: Epigee 

That a person affected by cancer would be required to undergo a series of tests, chemotherapy, radiation and surgical sessions is a known fact now. However, apart from the obvious physical effects, cancer also comes attached with a plethora of psychological nuances. Depression is one among them. In a recent study, it was revealed that phone care management as an option for treating depression is worth considering. It works by giving the patients immediate access to professionals who, apart from addressing issues of pain management, can also provide callers with social support. Since oncologists remain busy with chemotherapy or testing, they have little time to deal with issues of depression and pain. It was this lack of communication between specialists and their patients that prompted researchers to look for possible solutions. According to the research, cancer patients who received such depression management calls showed improved symptoms irrespective of the cancer phase they were in.

Via: Labmanager 

Research shows that Tai Chi, the famous Chinese martial arts form concentrating on methodical movement and breathing, may help improve the condition of medical health. The latest findings surfaced when an associate professor from the Tufts University School of Medicine conducted a meta study of around forty smaller studies. So how does Tai Chi help fight depression? The focused concentration, when applied in conjugation with fluid movements and controlled breathing keeps the mind away from stress and depression. The miraculous effects of Tai Chi, especially on the mind and body, have been known to human race since time immemorial. The research team was able to detect the connection between anxiety or depression and regular Tai Chi practices.

Via: Mentalhealthnews

According to latest findings, stress or depression affects the body in a plethora of harmful ways. The patient can feel most of these effects. A good many, however, go unnoticed. One of the most significant of such effects works to shorten the telomere length. Telomere refers to a protective cap found on chromosomal ends. Since their main function lies in indicating aging, telomeres shorten with time. However, in a study it was revealed that telomeres are also susceptible to depression and stress. This is not the first time that the medical community has discovered a link between depression and aging. Researchers across the length and breadth of the globe have been linking depression to telomere shortening for quite some time now. The group of scientists working on the current research topic brought all the prior work together by observing and studying the close relationships that depression, stress and telomere length share with one another. So how did the current group of researchers conduct their study? The group measured the length of telomere in both healthy individuals and those suffering from depressive disorder. Further on, they also got the cortisol and stress levels measured.

Via: Sciencedaily 

Anti depressants comprise an important area of the overall research work on depression. The existing medications are known to affect the activities of specific neurotransmitters like MAOIs and TCAs. While older medications may influence the way both these neurotransmitters function, they are, all the same, known to have a variety of side effects. Keeping such considerations in mind, researchers have devised newer medications, like SSRIs, bearing little or no side effects. Both the generations of medicines are equally effective when it comes to treating depression. However, patients may respond differently to each drug type. The newest generation of anti depressants that are currently undergoing research may take weeks to become effective. There is no denying the fact that they start altering the brain chemistry right from the very first dosage. So what makes antidepressants function in a mysterious manner? According to research, the effects of anti depressants generally result from adaptive changes taking place inside brain cells: a major reason contributing to the frequent fluctuations in dosage effects.

Via: Psychcentral