While insomnia can be a symptom of psychiatric disorders, sleep problems can also contribute to the onset and worsening of problems such as depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation.
New research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center shows equine therapy can jump-start the healing process for veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“You can see this connection [to depression] in the general population, how strong it was, and that it builds up with each additional medication a person uses,” said Dr. Mark Olfson.
"Some medications can cause undesirable side effects such as emotional dulling," says Dr. David Hellerstein. "Switching or augmenting with more activating medications can address that issue."
There are a number of factors — temperament, personality traits, self-esteem, genes, and family history, to name a few — involved in the etiology of clinical depression, says Dr. Myrna Weissman.
Dr. Mark Olfson found that people who take the more than 200 common medications sold in the U.S. that include depression as a potential side effect are, in fact, more likely to be depressed.
Dr. David Hellerstein discusses his 3 posters that he presented At the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting regarding antidepressants and depression.
Dr. Anne Marie Albano says some of her patients assume their problems were specific to high school. However, “if anxiety was there,” she says, “nothing changes with a high school diploma.”
Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new guidelines for depression screening for teens, suggesting that all teenagers be screened at least once a year for depression.