Behind the Headlines

Mental health

'Depression blood test' still at lab stage

19 Apr 2012
depressed woman Today the Metro has boldly claimed that a “blood test diagnoses depressed teenagers”, while the Daily Mail says that a new blood test “is first to diagnose depression in teenagers”.
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Walking 'may ease depression'

17 Apr 2012
3 people walking “Going for a brisk stroll could play an important role in fighting depression,” BBC News has reported.
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Electric shock depression therapy unravelled

21 Mar 2012
depressed woman Scientists have discovered how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) works in people with severe depression, The Independent today reported. During ECT patients are anaesthetised and given a controlled electric current through the brain. But although used to treat severe depression for decades, nobody has been able to pinpoint exactly how or why this works.
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Depression and stroke link unclear

15 Aug 2011
stack of newspapers “Depressed women have increased risk of stroke,” BBC News has today reported, saying that depression increases risk of stroke by 29% in women. The Daily Mail also presents this figure...
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Music therapy for depression

01 Aug 2011
stack of newspapers BBC News has reported that “music therapy can be used to improve treatment of depression, at least in the short term”. This story was based on a trial in which people being treated for depression...
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Bad sleep 'may impair memory'

26 Jul 2011
woman yawning “A continuous night's uninterrupted sleep may be the essential requirement for a good memory,” The Independent has reported. The newspaper added that it isn’t just the amount of sleep that is important for...
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Suicide increase after financial crash

08 Jul 2011
pile of coins “Suicide rates have risen sharply across Europe since the banking crisis,” The Independent today reported. The newspaper says a study has found that Britain has been affected particularly hard...
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Work-related burnout studied

29 Jun 2011
tired woman The risk of feeling run-down and “burnt out” is increased when you work more than 40 hours a week, reports the Daily Mail. The Daily Telegraph adds that simply “having a boring job can leave you just as vulnerable...
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City living, stress and mental health

23 Jun 2011
people walking on bridge People who live in the country are happier, according to the Daily Mail. The article said: “city dwellers think differently from people who live in the country – and are more likely to suffer mental illness as a result.” The news is...
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Genetic link for depression found

16 May 2011
DNA strand “Scientists have for the first time established a genetic cause for depression narrowing it down to a specific chromosome,” reports The Independent. It said that the study has found “clear evidence” that a region on chromosome 3...
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