New Atlas

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Neural network can detect depression in everyday conversation

James Holloway September 6, 2018

In a new paper, researchers at MIT have detailed a neural network capable of detecting depression. Unlike previous methods using machine learning, MIT's neural net doesn't require the subject to answer specific questions – it can make an assessment based on everyday conversation, or even text.

The neural network can detect depression in both text and speech

Medical

Ketamine's opioid-like qualities raise addiction fears for experimental depression treatments

Nick Lavars August 29, 2018

Ketamine has become the subject of intense research in recent years, as scientists hunt for new and improved treatments for depression. A new study has highlighted some worrying parallels between ketamine and opioids, raising red flags about the potentially addictive qualities of the drug.

In treating depression with ketamine, might we be giving rise to a new breed of opioid ...

Science

The neuroscience of pessimism: Why some people always focus on the negative

Rich Haridy August 9, 2018

Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of person? Some people inherently focus on the negative when faced with a decision-making situation and new research from a team of MIT neuroscientists has identified exactly what region of the brain may be inducing these pessimistic decisions.

New research may have homed in on the precise brain region that causes pessimistic decision making

Medical

First study of ketamine for treating adolescent depression yields successful results

Rich Haridy August 1, 2018

Over the last 15 years, ketamine has undergone a resurgence in medicine for its remarkable effects treating major depression. Now a team of researchers has completed the first study of the drug in adolescents, revealing strong remission rates for those subjects with treatment-resistant depression.

While plenty of studies have been conducted on using ketamine to treat depression in adults, there ...

Health & Wellbeing

Nutritional supplement may succeed where antidepressants fail

Ben Coxworth July 31, 2018

Depression can be a frustrating illness, as sufferers often have to try numerous types of medication before finding one that works – if any work for them at all, that is. There could be new hope, however, in the form of an existing off-the-shelf product.

A new study indicates that clinically depressed people have lower blood levels of a chemical known ...

Health & Wellbeing

Researchers discover novel brain mechanism connecting depression with bad sleep

Rich Haridy July 25, 2018

Major depression and sleep problems are fundamentally interlinked. A new study from a team of international researchers has now found a unique neurological mechanism that underlies this association offering new insights into how we can understand and hopefully treat major depression.

Increased activity between three different brain regions is suspected as the neural mechanism behind bad sleep ...

Health & Wellbeing

Research suggests mother's depression during pregnancy can alter a baby's biology

Rich Haridy July 18, 2018

A compelling new study from King’s College London has found that when a pregnant mother suffers depression it can result in notable biological changes in her baby. This is the first study to suggest that depression in pregnancy can result in long-term biological implications for the child.

A new study is the first to find a possible link between depression during pregnancy and ...

Medical

Breakthrough study finds new mechanism explaining ketamine's antidepressant effects

Rich Haridy June 21, 2018

A new study has uncovered a new mechanism that helps explain the rapid, and long-lasting, antidepressant effects of controversial drug ketamine. The research reveals the drug operates in a way similar to that of conventional SSRI antidepressants except is it significantly more effective.

The same mechanism explaining how SSRI antidepressants function has been found in the activity of ketamine

Medical

Exciting insight into role gut bacteria play in obesity-related depression and anxiety

Rich Haridy June 17, 2018

A compelling new study has shed more light on the mysterious connection between our diet, gut bacteria and mood. The study found that mice given a high-fat diet displayed greater depressive behaviors until microbiome-altering antibiotics returned their behavior back to normal.

A new study has found gut bacteria may play a part in anxiety and depression seen ...

Health & Wellbeing

The bacteria that could lead to a probiotic-based immunization for stress, anxiety and depression

Rich Haridy June 6, 2018

Intriguing new research suggests that a particular bacteria may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects on the brain. Early studies in rodent models found that through injections of the bacteria the animals can be "immunized" against displaying anxious responses to stressful situations.

Ambitious new research suggests a probiotic-based vaccine could be developed that protects against stress, anxiety and ...