Depression News & Features

Living with major depressive disorder can be a challenge. Three people share how they manage.

Learn how apps, virtual therapy sessions, and online support groups can help you manage your condition.

November 15, 2024 — Transcranial direct current stimulation devices allow patients to connect electrodes to their head in order to treat depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Figuring out the right treatment for your depression can take time and patience. Learn more about how to find an antidepressant or other treatment that works for you.

October 24, 2024 — Thousands of bottles of the medicine duloxetine are being recalled because they may contain a potentially cancer-causing agent.

October 22, 2024 — A headset that can be worn at home to stimulate the brain and treat depression has passed an important research milestone.

August 14, 2024 — Some people diagnosed with bipolar depression are seeking alternative ways to treat the condition. While prescription medication is the traditional route, some of them may improve a lot if they use more holistic approaches. Here’s what to know.

July 2, 2024 — More than 1 in 10 people in the U.S. take antidepressant medications, although many stop due to side effects, including weight gain. But recently, some antidepressants have been linked to a higher chance of weight gain than others. Here's what to know.

WebMD identifies 6 behaviors that can worsen depression. Get tips for avoiding these traps.

April 22, 2024 — The spouses of people who have strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure are more likely to experience depression than people whose spouses didn’t have those health problems.

An expert shares new depression treatments that are making him hopeful about the future of depression therapy.

An advocate shares how she came back from a suicide attempt, managed major depression, and helped others recover too.

February 15, 2024 — Many common forms of exercise are as strong as therapy in treating depression, a new study says. In the study presented in The BMJ, researchers reported that walking, yoga, jogging, and strength training were the most effective exercises, especially if they were performed intensely.

February 14, 2024 — People with depression who get stuck in negative thought cycles could potentially use their sense of smell to help manage their symptoms, according to a new study that prompted people to smell a dozen scents, ranging from coffee to ketchup.

The power of someone else's healing words opened me up to accept the help I needed.

The most important news, trends, and treatments that affect people with major depression.

September 29, 2023 — The drug, Exxua, will stand out on the market because studies show it does not cause side effects like sexual dysfunction or weight gain.

July 11, 2023 — Just 20 minutes of moderate activity a day for five days a week can significantly lower symptoms of depression in older adults with ailments like diabetes, heart disease, and chronic pain, says the study published this week in JAMA Network Open.

May 30, 2023 — The desensitizing drug ketamine helped more people overcome treatment-resistant depression symptoms, compared to electroconvulsive therapy, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

May 17, 2023 — In a survey, 29% of adults said they had been diagnosed with depression during their lifetime, and 18% said they currently have depression or are being treated for it. Those rates are up from the baseline 2015 rates of 20% of people ever having depression, and 11% of people with a current diagnosis.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) at work: tips, strategies, who to tell, what to do, and asking for accommodations.

Managing major depressive disorder (MDD) can be “one step forward, two steps back.” A therapist offers long-term strategies for handling setbacks.

April 25, 2023 — People who frequently eat fried food, particularly potatoes like french fries, have a higher risk of anxiety or depression, according to a new study.

April 4, 2023 — Depressed adults who were given a self-directed workbook focusing on mindfulness practices plus cognitive therapy saw greater improvement in their depression (at less cost) than peers who were given a self-help book focusing solely on cognitive therapy in a large study from the United Kingdom.

February 13, 2023 — Researchers from Harvard and Emory Universities have found a link between long-term exposure to air pollution and being diagnosed with depression after age 64.

An expert in treatment-resistant depression shares successful treatment strategies doctors can try to help with TRD.

Find out how to start the conversation about depression with kids.

Some antidepressants are more likely to make you gain weight than others, but the pros may outweigh the cons.

Learn from a mental health advocate how the stigma of depression is changing and how acceptance is the first step to managing major depressive disorder.

It can be hard to be open with others about major depressive disorder. Here’s how one person with the condition talks about it.

Depression affects both you and those around you. An expert who lives with the condition shares ways you can help others to help you.

Treatment for major depressive disorder has made rapid advances, with new therapies that fit each person. An expert talks about the latest research.

Major depressive disorder can ebb and flow. Here’s how someone with the condition manages the down times.

See how one person manages the ups and downs of major depressive disorder -- and how her depression inspired her career as a therapist.

Treatment for depression isn't just about all the old antidepressants you've already heard of. The new generation of drugs may work faster, and nondrug treatments also are effective.

Depression is a chronic health condition. Learn how you can help someone in your life that is battling depression.

Getting diagnosed with depression brings up different emotions for different people. After your doctor or mental health provider gives you the news, it’s a good idea to reach out for support from family, friends, or others in your community.

Figuring out the right treatment for your depression can take time and patience. Learn more about how to find an antidepressant or other treatment that works for you.

Is ketamine a treatment for depression? What are the risks? Learn about the uses, benefits, and side effects of ketamine.

Learn more about how stress and depression are connected and what you can do to develop an active coping strategy.

Some life events can trigger depression, but you can take action to soften the blow.

Striking a balance to manage treatment-resistant depression can take a toll. Learn from one patient's journey and see how research and community can help.

Managing treatment-resistant depression requires the right medicine in the right dosage and taking it the right way. Learn about medication strategies.

Patience and persistence are key with treatment-resistant depression. Learn how long to stick with a medication, and options for managing this condition.

Depression treatment isn’t always easy. Find out about the side effects of antidepressants and depression treatment. Learn what you can do about them.

You’ve been diagnosed with depression -- now what? Find out more about treatment, support, and life with this common mental disorder.

You probably got your antidepressants from your primary care doctor. But how should follow-up care work?

Antidepressants are a common way to treat depression. But they work a little differently for everyone.

Is it normal to feel lonely after college? Find out why post-college depression happens to many graduates and what you can do about it.