We rarely read about good news in the world of depression. But new studies signal hope on the horizon. Furthermore, a depression trigger — divorce — appears to be taking a downward turn. Although not considered contagious, depression appears to be a family affair.
When one looks at marriage, divorce and infidelity, as well as the birth of a child, it is interesting to see that with both sad events and happy ones depression plays a role. While we know that depression in marriage can signal divorce and infidelity, the exact numbers are elusive.
Since depression is often centered around family disintegration, here is some potentially good news. The divorce rate per 1,000 married women sank to 16.4 in 2009 from 16.9 the year before and a far cry from 22.6 in 1980, according to an analysis of the data from National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia.
However, in the world of marriage and childbirth, a new report contained surprising information. It is not just mothers who suffer from post-partum depression, but fathers as well. More than a third of mothers and about a fifth of new fathers will be affected within the first year. The study is slated for November publication in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, indicates that among new parents 7.53 per 100 mothers per year and 2.69 per 100 new fathers will experience depression.
Until recently, depression was considered an adult illness. About 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Now researchers are taking a closer look at teens and even toddlers. Some reports are calling depression in children a serious un-diagnosed illness.
One of the challenges facing the medical profession is with medication, which in addition to therapy can effectively treat many forms of depression. With the promising ketamine studies at Yale, it may be that researchers are onto the magic bullet.
Ketamine traditionally has been used as a general anesthetic for children, but a decade ago researchers at the Connecticut Mental Health Center found that, in lower doses, the drug seemed to give patients relief from depression.