A review article which is published in the current issue of the European Journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics analyzes the relationship between depression and bone metabolism.

This study reveals that the association between psychiatric illness, in particular depression, and osteoporosis has been the subject of a growing body of research yielding various findings, although most identify some effect on bone. In addition to medication-related processes and/or modifiable lifestyle factors associated with mood disturbances, endocrine and immune alteration secondary to depression may play a pathogenetic role in bone metabolism. [continue reading…]

Why be miserable? OK, so it’s January and you’re feeling fat and broke after the excesses of the holiday season, but there’s really no need. Misery is inconvenient, unpleasant, and in a society where personal happiness is prized above all else, there is little tolerance for wallowing in despair. Especially now we’ve got drugs for it. Jessica Marshall questions whether sadness is a crucial part of being human and whether we should embrace our miserable side.
Link to read this article
Source: New Scientist

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A new universal test to predict the risk of someone succumbing to major depression has been developed by UCL (University College London) researchers. The online tool, predictD, could eventually be used by family doctors and local clinics to identify those at risk of depression for whom prevention might be most useful.
Link to the predictD website. The questions on this website have been developed as a tool for predicting risk of depression in the future. Risk estimates of this type have been developed in medicine to predict risk of major medical disorders such as heart attacks and strokes. This is the first tool of its type to predict onset of depression.
Source: University College of London