Health - Depression latest news

In spite of the range of medications now available, major depression remains a challenging disease to treat. Only about half of adult patients respond to the first antidepressant they try, with only one-third achieving remission, reports the August 2008 issue of the Harvard Mental health Letter. Most adults will try two or more medications before finding one that alleviates their depression.

Unique biochemical crosstalk that enables a fetus to get nutrition and oxygen from its mother's blood just may cause common postpartum blues, researchers say. That crosstalk allows the mother's blood to flow out of the uterine artery and get just a single cell layer away from the fetus' blood, says Dr. Puttur D. Prasad, biochemist in the Medical College of Georgia School of medicine.

Although we harp on this at least once every few months, it bears repeating: Psychotherapy with medication is usually the best possible treatment option for depression for nearly everyone.

Treating depression doesn't always involve heavy meds and hours of therapy. Some natural treatments work! See which ones are best.