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Time Magazine reports in its online January 4, 2011 edition that Dutch scientists have completed a 4 and 1/2 year study testing the effect of bright light therapy to treat patients diagnosed with major depression.   Researchers theorize that bright lights reduce the presence of cortisol, a hormone known to cause stress in humans.

The Dutch scientists conducted their experiment on patients those who have little regular exposure to sunlight and patients with medical conditions that prevent the eyes from absorbing and processing light.

The results: a statistically significant number of patients who had been exposed to bright light therapy reported a significant reduction of symptoms.  In these cases, bright light proved just as effective as prescription medication in reducing symptoms of severe depression.  Bright light therapy had previously been used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but now it appears that this same type of non-invasive, non-medication therapy can play a role in the treatment of chronic depression.

More recently, an unrelated study by Finnish scientists suggests that bright light need not be absorbed by the eyes to effectively treat depression.  In this study, researchers used earbuds to introduce bright light into the brain through the ear canals.  As little as eight to twelve minutes of light therapy through the ears was enough to moderate symptoms.

Both the Dutch and the Finnish studies offer hope to patients who do not get satisfactory results from anti-depressant medications.  At the same time, these studies have not been conducted on a large scale and more experimentation is necessary.  Still, it does seem that BLT may someday offer depression patients a drug free and complication free treatment option.

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Many people can attest to the fact that when they are feeling upset, angry, or even worried they can pick up the telephone and call a close friend or relative to talk about things.  In fact, most of us are encouraged to reach out to someone that we trust when we feel down.  It seems to ease our minds when we have the opportunity to discuss those circumstances that cause ugly emotions to surface.  A new study is giving credence to this belief, showing that talking on the telephone can actually ease the signs and symptoms of depression.

Researchers from Brigham Young University conducted the study with thirty participants who had been diagnosed with severe depression.  According to Better Health Research, these individuals usually attended therapy sessions at a clinic.  These sessions could range from a couple of times a week, over the span of a month, or when needed.  During the study, the participants received their therapy over the telephone with the therapist rather than going into the office.  What’s more is that during the study and throughout the telephone therapy sessions, the participants did not take antidepressants.

The researchers found at the conclusion of the study that forty-two of the study’s participants showed no signs of depression.  This is compared with the fifty percent of patients who recover from their depression during in office therapy sessions.  One of the co-authors of the study, Dr. Diane Spangler noted that “offering a phone or webcam option for psychotherapy does appear warranted from an efficacy point of view.”  She also stated in Behavioral Therapy where the study has been published that telephone therapy is “more user-friendly with no commutes, more flexible use of time and place, and with no side effects.”

If this type of remote therapy actually works it could revolutionize the way that depression treatment is conducted.  People could simply call their therapist to discuss any problems or concerns.  This would allow them to remain in the comfort of their homes while receiving treatment which could hasten recovery.  Depression can be such a disabling condition that some individuals cannot work or even engage in everyday activities.  Knowing that a therapist is just a phone call away may ease some of the severe effects of depression and lead to a faster recovery.

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Who doesn’t love chocolate? Sure, it may not be the healthiest thing to eat, but most people can agree that having some chocolate from time to time is worth it.  Well, it turns out that new research is suggesting that there may be some association between chocolate consumption and depression. Say it is not so!

We have previously discussed a possible link between consuming sugary drinks and the development of depression. What researchers in the current study wanted to understand was whether there was a specific association between chocolate and depression, and whether the link extended to people on antidepressants. The researchers from the University of California San Diego questioned 931 men and women who were not taking antidepressants, according to Health Day. They found that those diagnosed with depression consumed approximately 8.4 servings of chocolate each month, while those not suffering with depression only ate 5.4 servings. Interestingly, those who had the most severe forms of depression also consumed the most chocolate at approximately 11.8 servings per month. There was no difference between the chocolate intake and gender. Further, there was not a difference between the chocolate consumption and those taking medication versus those who were not medicated.

The researchers even examined the participants’ consumption of other food, but found no significant differences. The only outstanding percentage was related to chocolate. The researchers could not determine, however, whether the individuals were using the chocolate to self medicate themselves or if the chocolate itself was actually contributing to the depression. Many people may gravitate to chocolate because they are emotional eaters and seek the comfort that the sugar in chocolate provides. Additionally, chocolate is inexpensive, easily purchased, and a generally accepted vice when compared to others like alcoholism, smoking, and marijuana use.

Although not determined in this study, it appears impossible that chocolate would lead to depression. People have enjoyed chocolate for thousands of years and if it caused depression, many more people would suffer from the condition. People with depression probably feel some type of euphoria when they eat the chocolate, which is likely attributed to the flavinoids.

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The Perils of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace When it Comes to Pursuing a Depression Disability Case

The news is full of stories about job applicants and even job holders who are suddenly undone by something they posted on a social media site. The same holds true for anyone getting ready to take part in a Social Security Disability claim hearing. And it’s especially true for depression disability claimants.

Depression disability claimants, in order to win SSDI benefits, must successfully show that their depression is so severe that it renders them unable to work. As we mentioned in the last post, you need a diagnosis and good medical records to back up your allegations of disability, but in addition, you need to be a credible and believable witness as well.

So, with that said, how do you think you would be affected if somehow your social media profile – which shows pictures of you at the amusement park or at the beach – got into the hands of a SSA Judge prior to the hearing??

Any information posted on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or other social medial websites that contradicts the basics of your SSDI claim can today be easily viewed, printed and used to damage your credibility in a Social Security hearing. Even if you have a very restrictive personal policy when it comes to followers and friends on these sites, your contacts may include a co-worker who is no longer looking out for your best interests or possibly even someone at the SSA who is snooping on you. The truth is, you never know who is looking at your information online, as long as it’s easy to view your privacy settings aren’t set up right.

So remember, as you prepare to make your case for disability based on debilitating depression, do not share on Facebook that you have signed up for a martial arts class or that you spent all day Sunday at an amusement park. Ahead of the hearing, be sure to review your followers and friends as well as verify and tweak your individual privacy settings (if necessary). Just some words of caution – you can never be too careful in this digital age where the line between personal privacy and public domain are often blurred.

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When it comes to filing for a Social Security Disability claim based on depression, many people understand that a depression disability claim is normally not approved based on self-reported symptoms. They are also aware that a disability claimant must have medical evidence to substantiate the claim – medical reports, test results, etc.

But what kind of medical evidence is needed specifically in a depression disability claim? In my experience, it seems that some people are under the impression that there aren’t any kinds of tests available to evaluate depression. They feel that they have no other choice than to settle for self-supported symptoms of depression. And let me tell you, if you think you are going to win a depression disability claim based on self-reported symptoms, think again!

The notion that there are no good tests for depression is far from the truth; there are plenty of good methods used to evaluate people for depression. Any licensed psychologist should be able to provide testing and other means of establishing whether you duffer from depression. As a matter of fact, psychologists are often capable of determining the intensity of one’s depression and even just how disabling it may be.

So if you are pursuing a depression disability case, you will have to seek the support of at least one therapist or psychologist to assist you in winning your depression disability case. You may also find it helpful to get your psychologist or psychiatrist to fill out what we call a Mental Residual Functional Capacity form, which is a checklist of sorts which will allow your treatment source to comment on the specific limitations which arise from your depression.

Also: Keep in mind, SSA expects to see continuous medical treatment and reports that are consistent with your medical complaints. So mental health records from 4 years ago may not cut it; instead, keep in mind that it may be a good idea to participate in ongoing counseling or therapy while in pursuit of a depression disability claim.

But wait, there is good news for those who lack the means to pay for such treatment or counseling: With a mental health complaint like depression, the Social Security Administration will normally schedule a psychological exam if you lack any kind of previous psych records. While this can be a good thing, please be advised: often, these kinds of exams don’t turn out to be as helpful as longstanding psych records. Plus, having just that one record probably won’t be quite enough. So in conclusion, if you are a depression disability claimant, seek mental health treatment and do your best to get your treating source to help substantiate your claim in either the office notes, on a form, or via a brief letter describing your disability.

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could have a treatment option for depression that you could take a couple of times and begin the healing process immediately?  What if you never had to worry about taking medications again or experiencing any of the difficult, sometimes severe side effects?  It sounds a little like one of those prescription drug commercials doesn’t it?  Well, many people who do not respond well to depression medications or who do not have a favorable outcome from psychotherapy may actually benefit from a new form of depression treatment called magnetic therapy.

Most individuals living with depression see some benefit from medication and/or therapy, but for those who don’t, this magnetic therapy may be something worth looking into.  ABC News reports that transcranial magnetic stimulation involves a MRI type magnet that is able to deliver a magnetic field to the part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex.  This magnetic stimulation activates an electrical current in the brain that in turn releases neurochemicals that stave off and decrease the effects of depression.  Doctors note that it is quite effective, especially for those individuals who have not had success with traditional drug therapy or other conventional depression treatment.  Further, if an individual responds well to the drugs, but has difficulty dealing with the side effects of the medication, this therapy may be a welcome surprise.

ABC News reports that to be successful, a person may have to undergo at least thirty sessions, each lasting about forty-five minutes.  It is non-invasive, however, so you do not have to be put under anesthesia, you do not have to be cut open, and you can pick up right where you left off at school, work, or at home once you are done.  During the session, you are simply fitted with a magnetic device and you are sent the pulses to your brain.  Sometimes people report headaches, but most of the time they simply continue with their day.  Once the treatment is complete, approximately sixty percent of the patients feel relief from depression for at least a year or longer.

This new therapy provides some hope that depression actually is something that can be effectively treated.  What’s more is that the more treatment options that individuals have to choose from, the more likely it is that they will find something that works specifically for their needs.  It is exciting to think that you can treat your depression and go to school, work, and daily activities will little to no side effects.  If you have not had success with other depression treatments, you should ask your doctor about trying magnetic therapy.

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A new study has found that individuals who suffer from depression are more likely to smoke.  Although this association has been known for a number of years, additional details (like the extent to which they smoke and how the wide gap is between non-smokers and smokers with depression) have not. This study on depression and smoking brings such details to light.

The study was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, and information was gleaned from the 2005 to 2008 records of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.  What they found was staggering.  They discovered that forty-three percent of adults, ages twenty and older and diagnosed with depression, smoked.  This was compared with twenty-two percent of individuals of the same age, without depression, who smoked.  Also, those who were depressed and smoked did so more often than those without depression who smoked.  Even more surprising is that the researchers discovered that people who exhibited some signs of depression, but did not qualify for an official, clinical diagnosis of depression were also more likely to smoke.  Finally, the depressed smokers were less likely to quit than their non-depressed counterparts.  In a nutshell, the researchers found that individuals who were diagnosed with depression were twice as likely to smoke as those without the condition.

Although the study did not examine why the connection between smoking and depression exists, the researchers have a theory on the subject.  They believe, according to Business Week, that depressed individuals are using smoking as a form of self-medication.  Smoking cigarettes may have a relaxing effect on these individuals, making them less apt to focus on their depression.

According to the team, however, any positive effects resulting from smoking are offset by the overall effect; smoking likely compounds the disability and creates new health problems. After all, smoking can prevent your body and mind from functioning properly, and perhaps can even make your depression disability worse.

If you are suffering from depression and have a pending disability claim, you should expect the judge hearing your claim to ask you if you smoke.   If you are not yet able to testify that you have quit, it can help to report that you are enrolled in a stop-smoking program.  Judges like to see claimants who are trying to help themselves.  If you smoke and show no interest in quitting you can expect a less than sympathetic response from your judge.

If you are depressed and smoke, discuss methods of quitting with your doctor.  In the long run, refraining from smoking will help you to better manage your illness – heck, it may even help you win your depression disability claim.

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Most of us have been told to not be a worry about circumstances in our lives.  In fact, we have even been told that worrying leads to stress, which can be detrimental to our health.  There are so many sayings about how not to worry, I have lost count!  Now, however, a new study is telling us that worrying or anxiety may actually improve the symptoms of depression.  Worrying as a form of depression therapy?  What is this all about?

The study, published in Cognitive Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience and summarized by Science Daily, examined depression, anxious arousal or panic, and anxious apprehension or worry.  The researchers hailed from various Universities across the United States and wanted to see exactly how the participants’ brains responded in different situations.  They used MRIs to gauge the brain activity in the participants, who they separated into groups: depressed, but not anxious; anxious, but not depressed, and; depressed with some form of anxiety, either panic or worry.  The researchers worked from the premise that both of these conditions occur together and over three fourths of individuals who suffer from depression also suffer from a form of anxiety.  They noted, however, that this study was different because they were categorizing anxiety into two separate groups: worry and panic.

To test the brain activity, the researchers had the participants engage in an exercise in which they named the colors of words that had positive, negative, and neutral meaning, while their brains were being scanned.  The researchers were looking for which brain regions responded to various words.  What the researchers found was quite surprising.  They discovered that participants who were panic worriers increased the activity in the brain’s right frontal lobe, which also increases depression.  This increase only occurred, however, when a participant’s worry anxiety was low.  Overall, those who had worry anxiety did better on the word tasks than the other two groups, despite their anxiety or depression.  They were focused and could take the emotional aspect out of the exercise, dealing only with the content.

The researchers concluded from this study that panic anxiety may increase the brain activity that is linked to depression, while worry anxiety may actually fight against it, reducing the instances of panic and depression.  Of course, more studies will need to be conducted to see exactly how these mental states interact with each other.  But, for now, it seems that worry every now and then may actually combat the effects of depression – or at least the study seems to suggest this.

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