( Psychology Today ) Potera, Carol; 05-15-1996

It’s the one nagging drawback to the low-cholesterol bandwagon (besides having to give up cheese omelets, of course). For all the benefits that cutting cholesterol bestows on the heart, researchers have linked such diets to higher rates of depression and suicide.

A few studies, though, find no connection between cholesterol and mood. And the explanation may lie in the type of polyunsaturated fat we eat, rather than cholesterol itself. Read more…

Medical Post
David Hodges
05-16-2000

Combining yoga, meditation, body scans and dharma talks as treatment shows success TORONTO - Evidence is being gathered to suggest that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)-a form of insight meditation-may reduce psoriasis.

Research presented at the meeting here suggested that MBSR intervention enhanced rates of skin-clearing in patients with psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA).

MBSR is a program which consists of a combination of meditation, yoga, body scan (a type of relaxation training protocol) and dharma talks (lectures that encourage a sense of peace and feelings of love). Read more…

By Michael Leidig
VIENNA (Reuters Health) Nov 27 2002 - A compact disc of people laughing, produced by the Austrian society for depression-related illnesses (OeGDE), has gone on the market in Europe in a serious bid to help patients “see the brighter side of life.”

The CD is a 20-minute compilation of what the makers describe as “infectious laughter and motivation-boosting statements by celebrities.” Read more…

Evening Telegraph
Catherine Turner
12-04-2000

THE House of Lords has called for the booming complementary health industry to be brought under full regulation after a 15-month inquiry uncovered an alarming lack of regulation and poor scientific research. Feature writer CATHERINE TURNER asked therapists at a natural remedies clinic in Coventry for their reaction.

HOMEOPATH Kathy Stranks believes legislation to protect the public from quack complementary practitioners is long overdue. Read more…

Wednesday, October 21, 1998
(This is an unedited, uncorrected transcript.)

From ABC’s 20/20

SAM DONALDSON: Tonight, we bring you word of an amazing medical discovery. It’s not a bio-engineered drug or a dazzling piece of high-tech equipment. This is a breakthrough treatment for depression and anxiety that is so simple, even the Harvard doctor who came up with the idea couldn’t believe it would work. Our own DR TIMOTHY JOHNSON: turns the spotlight on this cutting-edge therapy-a pair of goggles and some tape, giving some patients a dramatically different view of the world.
Read more…

AOL News
Oct. 21, 2002 — It may sound fishy, but researchers say taking a daily fish-oil supplement may boost the effectiveness — or even replace — antidepressants for treating depression in some people.

In a new study, people who added a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids to their regular antidepressant treatment had significant improvement in symptoms, including anxiety, sleeping problems, sadness, decreased sexual desire, and suicidal tendencies. Read more…

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56:407-412

A Preliminary Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Andrew L. Stoll, MD; W. Emanuel Severus, MD, PhD; Marlene P. Freeman, MD; Stephanie Rueter; Holly A. Zboyan; Eli Diamond; Kimberly K. Cress, MD; Lauren B. Marangell, MD

Background: 3 Fatty acids may inhibit neuronal signal transduction pathways in a manner similar to that of lithium carbonate and valproate, 2 effective treatments for bipolar disorder. The present study was performed to examine whether 3 fatty acids also exhibit mood-stabilizing properties in bipolar disorder. Read more…

May 13
Reuters

The fatty oil found in salmon, cod and other fish, already touted for its effectiveness in combating heart disease and arthritis, may also alleviate the symptoms of manic depressives, researchers said on Thursday. In what experts described as a limited but landmark study of how a naturally occurring dietary ingredient can affect the brain, researchers found that patients suffering from manic depression given capsules containing fish oil experienced a marked improvement over a four-month period. Read more…

Saturday Evening Post
Cory SerVaas, Patrick Perry
03-01-1999

New scientific studies suggest that by increasing our consumption of certain “good” fats found in fish, flaxseed oil, and walnuts, we may improve the symptoms of a number of psychiatric illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. For years, investigators have been exploring the link between depression and diet, especially the association between the incidence of depression and fish consumption. Fish and some land-based foods are rich in omega-3-a nutritional building block critical for the healthy development and functioning of the brain and nervous system. Read more…

Techniques to help reduce the effects of trauma, make lifestyle changes to positively affect emotional well-being, and build strong relationships are a few of the issues addressed in a series of new self -help guides developed to help people with psychiatric disabilities. The booklets were released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“The self-care skills and strategies outlined in the guides can be used to complement other mental health care treatment,” said SAMHSA Administrator Charles G. Curie. The guides offers practical steps that people need to keep in mind as they work on their own recovery. Read more…