https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/depression/ Read the latest research findings and in-depth information on clinical depression and stress in adults, teens, and children. Expand your understanding of the symptoms and available treatment for depression and related conditions. Learn techniques for managing stress. en-us Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:50:23 EDT Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:50:23 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/depression/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000328.htm Researchers report that vagus nerve stimulation helped many people with long-standing, treatment-resistant depression feel better—and stay better—for at least two years. Most participants had lived with depression for decades and had exhausted nearly every other option. Those who improved at one year were very likely to maintain or increase their gains over time. Even some patients who didn’t respond initially improved after longer treatment. Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:44:34 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000328.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074451.htm Tiny lab-grown brains are offering an unprecedented look at how schizophrenia and bipolar disorder disrupt neural activity. Researchers found distinct electrical firing patterns that could identify these conditions with high accuracy. The discovery opens the door to more precise diagnoses and personalized drug testing. Instead of guessing medications, doctors may one day see what works before treating the patient. Sun, 28 Dec 2025 07:44:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228074451.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225235946.htm A new study suggests the vagus nerve may be one of the heart’s most important defenders against aging. Researchers found that keeping this nerve connected to the heart helps protect heart cells and maintain strong pumping ability. Even partial restoration of the nerve was enough to slow harmful changes in heart tissue. The discovery could reshape future heart and transplant surgeries. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:47:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225235946.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251223084855.htm A massive global genetics study is reshaping how we understand mental illness—and why diagnoses so often pile up. By analyzing genetic data from more than six million people, researchers uncovered deep genetic connections across 14 psychiatric conditions, showing that many disorders share common biological roots. Instead of existing in isolation, these conditions fall into five overlapping families, helping explain why depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders so frequently occur together. Sat, 03 Jan 2026 02:28:04 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251223084855.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052213.htm Nitrous oxide may offer quick, short-term relief for people with major depression, especially those who haven’t responded to standard medications. The meta-analysis found rapid improvements after a single dose and more sustained benefits after repeated treatments. Side effects were generally mild and brief, though researchers stress the need for larger, longer-term studies. Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251202052213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251108083910.htm Sertraline (Zoloft) may relieve emotional symptoms of depression and anxiety within two weeks, while physical side effects stabilize later. The research highlights how antidepressants can act on specific symptom networks rather than uniformly across all aspects of depression. Sat, 08 Nov 2025 23:51:50 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251108083910.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803011817.htm Researchers discovered that PTSD may be driven by excess GABA from astrocytes, not neurons. This chemical imbalance disrupts the brain’s ability to forget fear. A new drug, KDS2010, reverses this effect in mice and is already in human trials. It could represent a game-changing therapy. Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:37:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803011817.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250717013903.htm Premature menopause isn t just a hormonal issue it s a deeply emotional one for many women. A new study reveals that almost 30% experience depression, and it s not just about hormone loss but also grief, identity, and support systems. Thu, 17 Jul 2025 01:39:03 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250717013903.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124428.htm Persons with Parkinson's disease increasingly lose their mobility over time and are eventually unable to walk. Hope for these patients rests on deep brain stimulation, also known as a brain pacemaker. In a current study, researchers investigated whether and how stimulation of a certain region of the brain can have a positive impact on ambulatory ability and provide patients with higher quality of life. To do this, the researchers used a technique in which the nerve cells are activated and deactivated via light. Tue, 27 May 2025 12:44:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124428.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124618.htm A new study confirms that children of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder have a higher risk of developing psychopathology compared to children whose parents do not have these conditions. The study, examines how the clinical and social characteristics of parents influence the mental health of their offspring. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:46:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124618.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124256.htm SSRIs boosted the ability of T cells to kill cancer cells and suppressed tumor growth in both mouse and human tumor models. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:42:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124256.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165139.htm A new study suggests that it might be possible to personalize care for people with bipolar disorder, using the results of detailed personality tests. It finds that such tests might help identify people who have certain combinations of personality traits that could raise or lower their risk of repeated depressive episodes or poor functioning in everyday life. Fri, 16 May 2025 16:51:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250516165139.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180844.htm Sleeping nine hours or more per night is associated with worse cognitive performance, and it is even more the case for those with depression. Wed, 14 May 2025 18:08:44 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514180844.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142254.htm Childhood trauma significantly increases the likelihood of engaging in harmful alcohol consumption, smoking and illicit drug use, by the age of 18. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:22:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142254.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142245.htm Depression, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions affect 1 in 4 people in their lifetime, but mechanisms underlying these conditions are poorly understood. New research has linked the body's immune response with schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and bipolar disorder. The study demonstrates mental health conditions might be affected by the whole body as well as changes in the brain. The findings could pave the way for better treatments of some mental health conditions. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:22:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142245.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142231.htm Researchers have identified the neural mechanisms in the brain that regulate both positive and negative impressions of a social encounter, as well as how an imbalance between the two could lead to common neuropsychiatric disorders. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:22:31 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430142231.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250425113347.htm A new study sheds new light on these big questions, illuminating a general principle of neural processing in a mysterious region of the midbrain that is the very origin of our central serotonin (5-HT) system, a key part of the nervous system involved in a remarkable range of cognitive and behavioral functions. Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:33:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250425113347.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250415211247.htm Macaque mothers experience a short period of physical restlessness after the death of an infant, but do not show typical human signs of grief, such as lethargy and appetite loss, finds a new study by anthropologists. Tue, 15 Apr 2025 21:12:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250415211247.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411110035.htm Police officers are more than twice as likely to have traumatic brain injuries compared to the general population. Fri, 11 Apr 2025 11:00:35 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250411110035.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318204110.htm Research has tracked depressive symptoms in 7100 young people from Tokyo and London and shown girls have more depressive symptoms than boys in both cities. The study found that this gap is around twice as large in London and the year-on-year rise in depressive symptoms is around four times steeper for teenage girls in London than for teenage girls in Tokyo. Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:41:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318204110.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312145730.htm Scientists have developed an approach that combines rehabilitation robotics with spinal cord stimulation to restore movement in people with spinal cord injuries. The technology enhances rehabilitation and enables activities like cycling and walking outdoors. Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:57:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312145730.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141656.htm A decade of studies from labs around the world provide a growing evidence base that increasing the power of the brain's gamma rhythms could help fight Alzheimer's, and perhaps other, neurological diseases. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:16:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141656.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250205131425.htm Boosting communication between the spinal nerves and the muscles using the spinal cord stimulation reverses spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) progression and could be applied to other motoneuron diseases, including ALS. Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:14:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250205131425.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124440.htm Various diseases can be treated by stimulating the vagus nerve in the ear with electrical signals. However, this technique does not always work. A study has now shown: The electrical signals must be synchronized with the body's natural rhythms -- heartbeat and breathing. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:44:40 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124440.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250124151350.htm According to a recent study, the tendency to experience positive affectivity contributed to people being physically active or even increasing their activity during the COVID-19 restrictions. In contrast, depressive feelings were linked to lower physical activity. The results suggest that mental well-being can help maintain a physically active lifestyle. Mental well-being and physical activity may thus form a positive cycle. Fri, 24 Jan 2025 15:13:50 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250124151350.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250108143613.htm A collaborative effort has shed valuable light on how monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and now histamine help regulate brain physiology and behavior through chemical bonding of these monoamines to histone proteins, the core DNA-packaging proteins of our cells. Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:36:13 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250108143613.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241220132846.htm When you are feeling hungry, the brain takes the necessary steps toward consuming a meal. Many of these steps are not well known, but a new study reveals brain circuits and chemical messengers that contribute to the regulation of meal initiation and food intake. The findings have implications for the development of improved therapies to manage obesity, a worldwide epidemic. Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:28:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241220132846.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218131300.htm A new study shows that an app can help parents who are mourning the loss of a child. Parents who used the app for three months reported reduced symptoms of prolonged grief and post-traumatic stress, and also had fewer negative thoughts. Some parents thought the app should be offered early in the mourning process. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 13:13:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218131300.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211190058.htm In animal studies, boosting serotonin in the cells that line the gut reduced anxious and depressive-like behaviors without causing cognitive or gastrointestinal side effects. Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:00:58 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241211190058.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184442.htm Researchers have found a new receptor for nerve growth factor that plays an important role in pain signaling, even though it does not signal on its own, according to a new study. The findings hold promise for finding new treatments for arthritis and other forms of inflammatory and cancer pain, without the side effects that led recent therapies to fail in clinical trials. Thu, 05 Dec 2024 18:44:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241205184442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154345.htm Theta burst stimulation (TBS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique known for modifying human behavior and treating neurological diseases. A group of scientists conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to determine the effective TBS protocols for addressing schizophrenia symptoms and cognitive impairment. Their findings suggest that intermittent TBS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex may offer a promising alternative to antipsychotic drug-based treatment. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:43:45 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241203154345.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241127165716.htm People who have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) who have a family history of mental illness may have a higher risk of aggression in middle age, according to a new study. Wed, 27 Nov 2024 16:57:16 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241127165716.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241127140025.htm A study reveals that the effectiveness of brain stimulation on motor skills is determined by an individual's learning ability rather than age, highlighting the need for a more personalized approach to neurorehabilitation. Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:00:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241127140025.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125145754.htm Research shows that reward-based learning requires the two neuromodulators to balance one another's influence -- like the accelerator and brakes on a car Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:57:54 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241125145754.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241120144759.htm A new study shows stimulating the vagus nerve in mice with colitis reduced stress-driven symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease by regulating SUMOylation, an immune response that triggers gut inflammation. Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:47:59 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/11/241120144759.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241028131902.htm A type of therapy that involves applying a magnetic field to both sides of the brain has been shown to be effective at rapidly treating depression in patients for whom standard treatments have been ineffective. The treatment -- known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) -- involves placing an electromagnetic coil against the scalp to relay a high-frequency magnetic field to the brain. Mon, 28 Oct 2024 13:19:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241028131902.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241025122547.htm One of the characteristics of depression is a tendency to perceive sensory stimuli and everyday situations in an excessively negative way. But the mechanisms underpinning this 'negativity bias,' which can fuel the development of depressive symptoms, had previously remained largely unknown. To shed light on the question, scientists decided to explore the amygdala and observe how it functions during depressive episodes. Their findings suggest that a depressive state alters certain specific neural circuits, leading to a reduction in the activity of neurons involved in pleasant perceptions of positive stimuli and an overactivation of those responsible for the perception of negative stimuli. Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:25:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241025122547.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011141239.htm Novel magnetic nanodiscs could provide a much less invasive way of stimulating parts of the brain, paving the way for stimulation therapies without implants or genetic modification, researchers report. Fri, 11 Oct 2024 14:12:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011141239.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010124706.htm A new study has shed light on why some children and adolescents develop mental health disorders like PTSD, anxiety, or depression after experiencing a traumatic event. Thu, 10 Oct 2024 12:47:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010124706.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009122310.htm Just as a musician can train to more sharply distinguish subtle differences in pitch, mammals can improve their ability to interpret hearing, vision, and other senses with practice. This process, which is called perceptual learning, may be enhanced by activating a major nerve that connects the brain to nearly every organ in the body, a new study in mice shows. Wed, 09 Oct 2024 12:23:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009122310.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001115019.htm Deep brain stimulation may provide immediate improvement in arm and hand strength and function weakened by traumatic brain injury or stroke. Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:50:19 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001115019.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925143945.htm Wrist-based activity sensors worn by individuals with depression and those without over the course of two weeks provided evidence for the relationship between daily sunlight exposure and physical activity, according to a new study. Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:39:45 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925143945.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919174759.htm Researchers report significant strides in enhancing early diagnosis of bipolar disorder in adolescents. They demonstrate the efficacy of integrating multimodal MRI with behavioral assessments for greater diagnostic precision. Bipolar disorder is a severe neuropsychiatric condition that often emerges during adolescence and is characterized by extreme mood swings. Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:47:59 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919174759.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916115512.htm When surgeons perform brain surgery on people with brain tumors or epilepsy, they need to remove the tumor or abnormal tissue while preserving parts of the brain that control language and movement. A new study may better inform doctors' decisions about which brain areas to preserve, thereby improving patients' language function after brain surgery. The study expands the understanding of how language is encoded in the brain and identifies key features of critical sites in the cerebral cortex that work together to produce language. Mon, 16 Sep 2024 11:55:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916115512.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141720.htm Serotonin in depression is highly relevant in diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. To better study this area, a team has now developed a fluorescent probe for imaging processes that is highly sensitive and selective toward serotonin. Fri, 06 Sep 2024 14:17:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141720.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904130913.htm Scientists have identified a molecular intermediate of a serotonin receptor that is involved in diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. The study points to a potentially new target for therapeutics. Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:09:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904130913.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821124334.htm In awake mice, researchers found that even low deep brain stimulation currents in the central thalamus could sometimes still cause electrographic seizures. Wed, 21 Aug 2024 12:43:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821124334.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819130520.htm Two new studies are pointing the way toward round-the-clock personalized care for people with Parkinson's disease through an implanted device that can treat movement problems during the day and insomnia at night. Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:05:20 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819130520.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240809135936.htm Scientists report that gamma frequency light and sound stimulation preserves myelination in mouse models and reveal molecular mechanisms that may underlie the benefit. Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:59:36 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240809135936.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240731141215.htm Researchers have discovered tumor-neuron interactions that regulate the growth of ependymoma brain tumors. Wed, 31 Jul 2024 14:12:15 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240731141215.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240722155127.htm In a large Singapore cohort study involving over 13,000 participants spanning close to 20 years, higher consumption of fruits during midlife was found to be associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms at late-life. Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:51:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240722155127.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240722155002.htm Bipolar disorder and alcohol problems seem to go hand-in-hand, leading to a widespread belief that drinking acts as a kind of 'self medication' to ease bipolar's life-altering symptoms of mania, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances and more. But a new study suggests a much more complex interaction between the two. Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:50:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240722155002.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240712222143.htm A recent study has identified a specific neural activity pattern as a novel biomarker to accurately predict and monitor the clinical status of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who have undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS), a rapidly emerging therapeutic approach for severe psychiatric disorders. Fri, 12 Jul 2024 22:21:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240712222143.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240710130850.htm A potential new treatment for bipolar disorder (BP) that significantly shortens treatment time has emerged, following a randomized clinical trial using accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aiTBS). While current theta burst stimulation (TBS) treatments can take between four and six weeks to administer, this new technique reduces treatment to five days. Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:08:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240710130850.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240704122222.htm New findings challenge the idea that academically selective schools are necessary for clever pupils to achieve good outcomes. Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:22:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240704122222.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125556.htm Not all patients with depression respond to medication. Two recently published studies provide additional information on how an alternative treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), could be further enhanced. Researchers developed more precise methods that could, in the future, help to develop individually tailored magnetic stimulation therapies for depression. Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:55:56 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125556.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612192847.htm Momentary shifts in mood, even those lasting just a matter of seconds, profoundly alter the brain's response to pleasurable experiences in people with bipolar disorder, finds a new study. Wed, 12 Jun 2024 19:28:47 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612192847.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611171454.htm Scientists show that specifying the timing pattern of neurostimulation -- impulses used to activate the brain's own electrical signaling mechanisms -- can rebalance the strength of synaptic connections between nerve cells, selectively up- or down-regulating those connections. Tue, 11 Jun 2024 17:14:54 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611171454.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611130411.htm The researchers concluded that depression and memory were closely interrelated, with both seeming to affect each other. Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:04:11 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611130411.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240605162707.htm Researchers have established a new framework for understanding how classic antidepressants work in treating major depressive disorder (MDD), reemphasizing their importance and aiming to reframe clinical conversation around their role in treatment. Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:27:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240605162707.htm