Psychotherapy more effective for treating mild depression
While severe depression always warrants an antidepressant treatment, people afflicted by mild depression react better to psychotherapy or personal counseling with a psychotherapist, suggest the findings of a new study.
The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, are based on an assessment of 800 patients. The researchers clearly established that an active antidepressant treatment helps combat depression only in people with severe depression.
On the other hand, patients with mild depression who were administered antidepressants ‘do just as well or just about as well with a placebo’, Robert DeRubeis, primary author of the analysis and a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania remarked.
“Our data should give some pause to doctors who are considering prescribing antidepressants. They should give some consideration to other alternatives,” said Robert DeRubeis added.
According to the estimates of the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 14.8 million American adults aged 18 and above are affected by depression annually.
Sexsomnia – causes and treatment
Sleep walking, sleep talking, grinding your teeth and snoring are common sleep disorders we’ve all heard of. 
Now a team of researchers from the Sleep Research Lab at the University Health Network in Toronto have found a novel sleeping disorder, initiating sex while asleep.
‘Sexsomnia’ or sleep sex is a sleep disorder characterized as a non-rapid-eye-movement (N-REM) parasomnia. A parasomnia is a condition characterized by partial arousals during sleep or during transitions between wake and sleep.
Sexsomnia causes the afflicted to initiate sexual acts during sleep. The acts range from masturbation, fondling, sexual intercourse to psychologically and physically devastating sexual assaults and rape while they are asleep.
Upon engaging in sexsomnia, such people have no memory of their actions once they wake up.
People showing symptoms of other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking, sleep talking are more likely to exhibit sexsomnia episodes. Moreover, the phenomenon is nearly three times more prevalent in men (11 percent) than women (4 percent).
While the exact cause of the disorder is not known, researchers believe a genetic component plays a crucial role. Also, a genuine sleep disorder combined with other emotional problems spells havoc.
Alcohol, sleep deprivation, sleep apnea and other sleep disruptions allegedly increase episodes of Sexsomnia. In some cases, sleep sex episodes can be triggered by the contact with bed partner.
Treatment for sexsomnia may combine medication, therapy and lifestyle changes like abstaining alcohol, reducing stress and anxiety.
Protect yourself from sunburn
People who enjoy themselves outdoors need to be wary of sunburn for it can become downright life-threatening if it results in skin cancer. Read more
Mild depression may not warrant an antidepressant
January 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under Better Living, D
January 7: Patients with severe depression are the ones who actually profit from treatment with antidepressant medications; suggest the findings of a new study. On the other hand, people afflicted by mild depression may react better to some other form of treatment. Read more
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition which occurs when a person’s body temperature falls and the body cannot produce heat as fast as it is lost. Read more
Hypothyroidism
The Thyroid gland controls most body functions. It affects heart rate, cholesterol level, body weight, energy level, muscle strength, skin condition, vision, menstrual regularity, mental state and a many other things. Read more
Understanding Asthma
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. Read more
Anxiety and panic attacks
Families are aware when someone they are living with are suffering from the disorders of Anxiety and Panic. What they do not often understand is why, and the anger or irritation or blaming that exists when they are unable to control the attacks for that family member. Read more
Malanoma
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, affects the skin cells called melanocytes, cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color. Read more
Mumps
Mumps, a viral infection, is characterized by the infection of the parotid salivary glands, the largest of the salivary glands. Read more