What is Perinatal Depression (formerly Postpartum)?

Peripartum depression is a serious, but treatable medical illness involving feelings of extreme sadness, indifference and/or anxiety, as well as changes in energy, sleep, and appetite. It carries risks for the mother and child.

A Few Phone Calls From Trained Volunteers Can Make a Difference for People with Depression

• Depression, Older adults, Patients and Families

New research finds that volunteers who make a few empathetic phone calls can significantly improve others’ loneliness and depressive symptoms among adults. This type of program could help address the significant shortage of mental health professionals and improve mental healthcare, the study authors suggest.

Media Advisory: With Fewer Daylight Hours, Time Change and Colder Weather Coming, New APA Polling; Experts Available on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression also known as SAD, seasonal depression or winter depression. The symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring.

Computer-Assisted Treatment and Mobile Apps for Depression

• Depression, Patients and Families

Technology is increasingly assisting us in many aspects of our lives, and mental health treatment is no exception. Research continues to show the benefits of computer-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CCBT) for treating depression and the potential of mental health mobile apps to help.

What Is Depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable.

June Issues of APA Journals Feature New Research on Treatment for Depression and Psychosis and More

The latest issues of two American Psychiatric Association journals (The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services) are now available online.

October Issues of American Psychiatric Association Journals Look at Factors Influencing Depression and PTSD, Guidance on Handling Drugs Laced with Fentanyl, and More

The latest issues of three of the American Psychiatric Association’s journals, The American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services and The American Journal of Psychotherapy are now available online. The October issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry is focused on research devoted to understanding factors influencing depression, PTSD, and suicidal behavior.

Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Care for Spanish-Speakers

• Diverse populations, Patients and Families, Public awareness

An estimated 14% of the U.S. population speaks Spanish at home, and 16 million Spanish speakers have limited English proficiency(1). In addition to the potential barrier of lack of language services, recent research has identified other factors contributing to inequities in access and outcomes for Spanish-speaking patients, including perceived discrimination, and mistrust and privacy concerns.(2)

May Issues of APA Journals Feature Research on Better Depression Care, Improving Mental Health in Disaster-Affected Communities, School-Based Prevention Efforts, and More

The latest issues of three American Psychiatric Association journals (The American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Services and Focus) are now available online.

Women’s History Month: The Rise of Reproductive Psychiatry

• Depression, Patients and Families, Women

During Women’s History Month, we invite you to reflect on the history of women’s mental health and the rapid advancement of the field of reproductive psychiatry over the past several decades. While our understanding of women’s mental health has thankfully progressed from Hippocrates’ attribution of psychological distress to a “wandering uterus,” much of this development has been surprisingly recent.

October Issues of American Psychiatric Association Journals Cover Diabetes and Depression Connection; Schizophrenia Treatment; Mental Health of Community College Students and more

The October issues of two of the American Psychiatric Association journals, The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services are available online. The American Journal of Psychiatry is the most widely read psychiatric journal in the world. The October issue presents findings that extend and validate salient results from previous studies relevant to clinical psychiatry. Among the research featured:

September Issues of APA Journals Cover Depression Risk Factors and Treatments, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation Treatments and the Evidence for School-Based Services

The latest issues of two American Psychiatric Association journals, The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services, are now available online. The September issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry brings together research on depression, both therapeutic insights and contributing risk factors, and an overview and look at the promise of noninvasive brain stimulation.