Around 35.7 percent of the participants suffered depression at one point or another during the study. Of those, 17.8 percent remained depressed during two consecutive follow-up periods, 11.2 percent during three consecutive evaluations, 6.3 percent during four, and 4.5 percent during all five follow-up evaluations. More women that men were found to be depressed at each 18-month evaluation, and women were more likely than men to experience depression at later follow-ups, the researchers wrote.
A loss of appetite, agitation, irritability make sense, but Itching? Scientists think they know why. Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina used magnetic resonance imaging to look at the brain activity of 13 healthy volunteers while they were scratched on a lower leg with a small brush. The study found that scratching muted activity in parts of the brain associated with unpleasant emotions and memories. What that means, says lead author Gil Yosipovitch, is that scratching may suppress the emotional connection to the itch, even if it's not addressing the cause.
The study, published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, suggests it will take more than topical remedies to cure itchy skin. "The skin sends messages to the brain, and the brain sends them back. It's one of those marriages of body and mind," says Yosipovitch, a dermatologist. "You need to target the neuro system, not just the skin."
The study also showed increased activity in other parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, which is linked to compulsive behavior. That might explain why, once people start scratching, they can find it hard to stop.
The physical consequences (increased asthma and other respiratory ailments, headaches, fatigue, and sore throats . . .) of living in a damp, moldy house are well documented. A just released study of 5,882 adults living in 2,982 households, (October 2007, the American Journal of Public Health) found that people who live in moldy environments may also have more depression.
The connection between mold and mental health even surprised the lead author, epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa of Brown University, who was skeptical of the mold–depression link suggested by smaller studies. "We thought that once we statistically accounted for physical factors like crowding and psychological aspects like not having control over one's living environment, then the association between mold and depression would vanish," he says. But rather than debunking the notion, Shenassa found an association between mold toxins and depression.
Shenassa and colleagues analyzed data collected by the Large Analysis and Review of European Health Status, a survey of housing, health, and place of residence compiled by the WHO in 2002 and 2003. WHO interviewers visited households in eight European cities and asked residents about depressive symptoms, such as problems sleeping and decreased appetite. They also asked whether a physician had diagnosed depression in the past year. Then they measured the level of dampness and mold in each residence and classified any discernable mold exposure as minimal, moderate, or extensive.
About 40% of the residents lived in visibly damp, moldy households, and overall their risk for depression averaged 34–44% higher than that for residents of mold-free dwellings, with moderate exposure associated with the highest increase in risk. Shenassa says there may be a tipping point where a certain critical amount of mold triggers a response that is not dose-related.
The heightened depression risk also correlated to respondents' perceptions that a damp, moldy environment cannot be controlled, as well as to documented physical health problems linked to mold exposure. "If you are sick from mold and feel you can't get rid of it, it may affect your mental health," says Shenassa, who is undertaking animal studies to investigate whether mold toxins alter behavioral and biochemical brain pathways involved in depression.
Robert Gifford, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, interprets the results cautiously. Considering only the highest level of mold contamination, when both physical health and perception of control were factored in, the link between mold and depression shrank to "virtually nothing," he says. However, at minimal and moderate mold exposure, even when controlling for both mediators, there still remained a statistically significant 28–34% higher risk, says Shenassa.
"There is a relationship between depression and mold and dampness, but it is impossible to say that there is a causal relationship," Gifford says. In addition, more details about income should be explored—wealthier people can afford to clean up extensive mold contamination, whereas low-income people may be forced to live with it. "Income could be an important missing variable," he notes.
Why is mold growing in my home?
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional. You may also wish to consult your state or local health department.
Here is the list from contributors to asd:
0. "What's your problem?"
1. "Will you stop that constant whining? What makes you think that anyone cares?"
2. "Have you gotten tired yet of all this me-me-me stuff?"
3. "You just need to give yourself a kick in the rear."
4. "But it's all in your mind."
5. "I thought you were stronger than that."
6. "No one ever said life was fair."
7. "As you get stronger you won't have to wallow in it as much."
8. "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps."
9. "Do you feel better now?" (Usually said following a five minute conversation in which the speaker has asked me "what's wrong?" and "would you like to talk about it?" with the best of intentions, but absolutely no understanding of depression as anything but an irrational sadness.)
10. "Why don't you just grow up?"
11. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself."
12. "There are a lot of people worse off than you."
13. "You have it so good, why aren't you happy?"
14. "It's a beautiful day!"
15. "You have so many things to be thankful for, why are you depressed?"
16. "What do you have to be depressed about."
17. "Happiness is a choice."
18. "You think you've got problems..."
19. "Well at least it's not that bad."
20. "Maybe you should take vitamins for your stress."
21. "There is always somebody worse off than you are."
22. "Lighten up!"
23. "You should get off all those pills."
24. "You are what you think."
25. "Cheer up!"
26. "You're always feeling sorry for yourself."
27. "Why can't you just be normal?"
28. "Things aren't *that* bad, are they?"
29. "Have you been praying/reading the Bible?"
30. "You need to get out more."
31. "We have to get together some time." [Yeah, right!]
32. "Get a grip!"
33. "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
34. "Take a hot bath. That's what I always do when I'm upset."
35. "Well, everyone gets depressed sometimes!"
36. "Get a job!"
37. "Smile and the world smiles with you, cry and you cry alone."
38. "You don't look depressed!"
39. "You're so selfish!"
40. "You never think of anyone but yourself."
41. "You're just looking for attention."
42. "Have you got PMS?"
43. "You'll be a better person because of it!"
44. "Everybody has a bad day now and then."
45. "You should buy nicer clothes to wear."
46. "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
47. "Why don't you smile more?"
48. "A person your age should be having the time of your life."
49. "The only one you're hurting is yourself."
50. "You can do anything you want if you just set your mind to it."
51. "This is a place of business, not a hospital." (after confiding to supervisor about my depression)
52. "Depression is a symptom of your sin against God."
53. "You brought it on yourself"
54. "You can make the choice for depression and its effects, or against depression, it's all in your hands."
55. "Get off your rear and do something." -or- "Just do it!"
56. "Why should I care?"
57. "Snap out of it, will you?"
58. "You want to feel this way."
59. "You have no reason to feel this way."
60. "Its your own fault."
61. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
62. "You're always worried about *your* problems."
63. "Your problems aren't that big."
64. "What are you worried about? You should be fine."
65. "Just don't think about it."
66. "Go Away."
67. "You don't have the ability to do it."
68. "Just wait a few weeks, it'll be over soon."
69. "Go out and have some fun!"
70. "You're making me depressed as well..."
71. "I just want to help you."
72. "The world out there is not that bad..."
73. "Just try a little harder!"
74. "Believe me, I know how you feel. I was depressed once for several days."
75. "You need a boy/girl-friend."
76. "You need a hobby."
77. "Just pull yourself together"
78. "You'd feel better if you went to church"
79. "I think your depression is a way of punishing us." &emdash;My mother
80. "Sh_t or get off the pot."
81. "So, you're depressed. Aren't you always?"
82. "What you need is some real tragedy in your life to give you perspective."
83. "You're a writer, aren't you? Just think of all the good material you're getting out of this."
84. This one is best executed with an evangelical-style handshake, i.e., one of my hands is imprisoned by two belonging to a beefy person who thinks he has a lot more charisma than I do: "Our thoughts and prayers are with you." This has actually happened to me. Bitten-back response: "Who are 'our'? And don't do me any favors, schmuck."
85. "Have you tried chamomile tea?"
86. "So, you're depressed. Aren't you always?"
87. "You will be ok, just hang in there, it will pass." "This too shall pass." --Ann Landers
88. "Oh, perk up!"
89. "Try not being so depressed."
90. "Quit whining. Go out and help people and you won't have time to brood..."
91. "Go out and get some fresh air... that always makes me feel better."
92. "You have to take up your bed and carry on."
93. "Why don't you give up going to these quacks (i.e., doctors) and throw out those pills, then you'll feel better."
94. "Well, we all have our cross to bear."
95. "You should join band or chorus or something. That way you won't be thinking about yourself so much."
96. "You change your mind."
97. "You're useless."
98. "Nobody is responsible for your depression."
99. "You don't like feeling that way? So, change it."
Click here to read about the most researched St. John's Wort formulation in America.
Click here to read about other natural antidepressant/emotional mood balancers...
Indeed, one of the best things we can do for our brain is to simply keep exercising it. (Use it or loose it!). Puzzles and brain-teasers are a good way to keep our neurons in shape. Become an active observer of the world around you. Create mental "snapshots," or vivid images, of things you want to remember.
1. Healthy people wishing cognitive enhancement and brain energizer effects.
2. Stroke victims wishing to improve memory, emotional or speech disturbances.
3. Alzheimer's and cerebrovascular dementia patients.
4. Those preparing for major surgery, especially brain, heart, liver or kidney.
5. People with heart energetics problems, e.g. cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure.
6. People with myelination problems, e.g. multiple sclerosis or "white matter" stroke injury.
7. Those seeking to increase their general energy and vitality levels.
8. People with especially high endurance energy needs, e.g. cross country skiers, long distance runners.
9. Those at risk of excitatory amino acid brain damage, e.g. people who routinely consume large amounts of aspartame sweetened foods/ drinks, or those who routinely eat MSG or "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" containing restaurant or prepared foods.
10. People wishing to enhance the brain serotonin benefits of tryptophan or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan supplements or SSRI herbs and drugs, such as St. John's Wort, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, or Luvox etc.
11. Those suffering acute or chronic liver damage from poison mushrooms, toxic chemicals, hepatitis.
Numerous studies have shown that idebenone is well distributed through-out the body after absorption, accumulating in cellular and organelle membranes, as well as in the electron transport chain, exactly where it does the most good!
February 2 , 2008
Results of a new study find that people living in the state of Maryland are among the least depressed in the US. This is the first such a study to rank states based on the amount of people living in the country that have been treated for some form of depression at one time or another. "No state should be satisfied with the level of depression they have," said Dr. David L. Shern, head of Mental Health America. "I am very confident that we can drive these rates lower. No one should be satisfied, but some states are perhaps doing a better job than other states."
The study ranked the state of Maryland 5th in the category of being home to the least amount of depressed people, and 8th in lowest suicide rate. South Dakota was found to be the least depressed state. "What (the report) shows is that we have a good private health sector in Maryland and we also have a good public health sector," said Brian Hepburn, director of the state's Mental Hygiene Administration. "Does that mean that it can't be better? No. There are things we work on every day to try and improve mental health care."
The national average when it comes to Americans who at one point or another have reported a depressive event is around 9 percent. Spanning 2004 to 2005, only 7 percent of people living in the state reported having any such episode. "The thinking (has been) if you have a mental illness, you're screwed. It's over, you're stigmatized," said Dr. Reef Karim, an attending psychiatrist from the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute who attended the press conference. "(But) times have changed." Other states such as Indiana did not fair as well according to the results from the study. Out of the 50 states, they were ranked 39th, with 8.9 percent of adults reporting at least 1 depressive episode. The top 10 depressed states according to the study findings are: Utah, West Virginia, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Nevada, Oklahoma, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, Wyoming.
Four different measures of depression and mental health status were used to develop one composite measure of the level of depression in a given state. The four measures were: (1) the percentage of the adult population experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year, (2) the percentage of the adolescent population (ages 12 to 17) experiencing at least one major depressive episode in the past year, (3) the percentage of the adult population experiencing serious psychological distress, and (4) the average number of days in the past 30 days in which the population reported that their mental health was not good.
Age-adjusted suicide rates were also examined since suicide is the most significant negative outcome of depression.
State Ranking on Depression Status
State Ranking on Suicide Rates
South Dakota was the healthiest state with respect to depression status. Among adults in South Dakota, 7.31 percent had a major depressive episode in the past year and 11.16 percent experienced serious psychological distress. Among adolescents in South Dakota, 7.4 percent had a major depressive episode in the past year. On average, individuals in South Dakota reported having 2.41 poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
Utah was the most depressed state. Among adults in Utah, 10.14 percent experienced a depressive episode in the past year and 14.58 percent experienced serious psychological distress. Among adolescents in Utah, 10.14 experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. Individuals in Utah reported having on average 3.27 poor mental health days in the past 30 days.
In terms of 2004 suicide rates, the District of Columbia was the lowest, followed by New York and Massachusetts. Alaska had the highest suicide rate, followed by Nevada and New Mexico.
While many factors likely contribute to these differences which are not represented in the state summary data employed in these analyses, a clear and compelling theme emerges from the data included. The availability of and access to mental health services improves mental health outcomes. This is particularly true for suicide, where less difficulty in obtaining needed care, actual utilization of services, and the availability of a professional workforce are all related to decreased rates of death. Similarly, access to health insurance - a key variable in obtaining care - is also related to decreased rates of suicide.
In "Ranking America's Mental Health," Mental Health America found statistically significant associations between the following factors and better depression status and lower suicide rates:
In addition, the report found the following factor to be significantly associated with the level of mental health service utilization in a state:
Mental health parity - The more generous a state's mental health parity coverage, the greater the number of people in the population that receive mental health services.
Factors That Influence State Mental Health Status and Suicide Rates
The report provides a snapshot of the level of mental health of each state's population, particularly depression - from the "healthiest" state in terms of depression status to the least. Importantly, it links that data to a number of factors that are significantly associated with better depression status and lower suicide rates, and thus provides for the first time a statistical foundation for pathways to reduce depression and its profound consequences. Specifically, the analyses suggest that the following factors reduce depression and suicide:
Having At Least One Major Depressive Episode in Past Year among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by State: Percentages, Annual Averages Based on 2004 and 2005 NSDUH
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004 and 2005.
Having At Least One Major Depressive Episode in Past Year among Youths Aged 12 to 17, by State: Percentages, Annual Averages Based on 2004 and 2005 NSDUH
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004 and 2005.
Serious Psychological Distress in Past Year among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by State: Percentages, Annual Averages Based on 2004 and 2005 NSDUH
Source: SAMHSA, Office of Applied Studies, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004 and 2005.
Average Number of Poor Mental Health Days in Past 30 Days among Persons Aged 18 or Older, by State
Source: 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Age-Adjusted Suicide Rate in Each State per 100,000, 2004
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Injury Mortality Data.
1. "I love you!"
2. "I care"
3. "You're not alone in this"
4. "I'm not going to leave/abandon you"
5. "Do you want a hug?"
6. "I love you (if you mean it)."
7. "It will pass, we can ride it out together."
8. "When all this is over, I'll still be here (if you mean it) and so will you."
9. "Don't say anything, just hold my hand and listen while I cry."
10. "All I want to do know is give you a hug and a shoulder to cry on.."
11. "Hey, you're not crazy!"
12. "May the strength of the past reflect in your future."
13. "God does not play dice with the universe." --A. Einstein
14. "A miracle is simply a do-it-yourself project." --S. Leek
15. "We are not primarily on earth to see through one another, but to see one another through"
16. "If the human brain were simple enough to understand, we'd be too simple to understand it." --a co-developer of Prozac, quoted from "Listening to Prozac"
17. "You have so many extraordinary gifts; how can you expect to live an ordinary life?" --from the movie "Little Women" (Marmee to Jo)
18. "I understand your pain and I empathize."
19. "I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I am not going to leave you. I am going to take care of myself so you don't need to worry that your pain might hurt me."
20. "I listen to you talk about it, and I can't imagine what it's like for you. I just can't imagine how hard it must be."
21. "I can't really fully understand what you are feeling, but I can offer my compassion."
22. "You are important to me."
23. "If you need a friend..... (and mean it)"
Click here to read about the most researched St. John's Wort formulation in America.
Click here to read about other natural antidepressant/emotional mood
