Latest news with #depression
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Man Utd title winner didn't want to leave house after being mocked for his looks and got apology from Gary Lineker
LUKE CHADWICK has revealed he was left battling depression and anxiety after being mocked for his appearance. The former Manchester United midfielder was on the books at Old Trafford between 1997 and 2004. 3 3 3 Chadwick came through the United youth system, winning the Premier League in 2001. He would go to play for West Ham, Stoke and MK Dons in a near two-decade career. Ahead of releasing his autobiography Not Just a Pretty Face, the 44-year-old has opened up about abuse he suffered as a young pro. Chadwick admits cruel comments about his appearance made him want to hide away in his house in the early stages of his career. He told BBC Sport: "As a 19, 20-year-old it should have been the best time of my life but for a period of time. "I didn't want to go to the shops, I didn't want to go out with my friends. "I would just want to stay at home because I was so scared that people would talk about the way that I looked. "I wasn't able to speak about it to anyone – not even my family, my friends – it was something that I kept so deep inside. "I probably felt helpless, in a way, because I just didn't know how to deal with it. And I just wanted it to stop, really." Chadwick's anxiety improved after moving away from Old Trafford to join the Hammers in 2004. Ex-Man Utd player Luke Chadwick claims his 'stomach twisted' whenever he appeared on TV as he battled depression He continued: "It wasn't until I came away from Manchester United, and the spotlight's not on you as much. "I was able to rebuild my confidence and live a really happy life. "Football was always the place I felt free - the place where I didn't think about anything else." Chadwick also received an apology from Gary Lineker for comments made on the BBC show They Think It's All Over. Lineker was a team captain on the panel show, which regularly poked fun at Chadwick over his looks. The England legend wrote on X in 2020: "I was part of that show, therefore, I too would like to apologise to Luke Chadwick for any hurt caused." Depression... the signs to look for and what to do Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123, jo@ CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@ or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Fast Five Quiz: Multiple Sclerosis and Depression
Depression is among the most common comorbidities of multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to psychological quality-of-life issues that can further exacerbate a patient's functional capacity. The significant burden of depression in patients with MS is typically associated with neuroinflammatory processes which are directly correlated to depression severity. Understanding the relationship between depression and MS is crucial for healthcare providers, to develop effective treatment strategies that address both the neurologic and psychological aspects of the disease. What do you know about the interplay of MS and depression? Check your knowledge with this quick quiz. The prevalence of depression in the general population is approximately 13%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Other data indicate that it falls between 25% and 54% in patients with MS. Depression, along with other disorders such as anxiety and fatigue, are among the most common comorbidities of MS. These comorbidities further degrade quality of life in patients who are already affected by the functional disabilities caused by the diseases. A multidisciplinary approach can help to holistically manage MS to ensure that quality of life is optimized across specific healthcare needs. Learn more about guidelines for MS. A recent systematic review reported that depression symptoms do not significantly improve after smoking cessation in patients with MS, although these patients do see improvements in anxiety. The same review noted that depression is associated with a 1.3- to 2.3-fold increased prevalence in patients with MS who also smoke tobacco. Although smoking cessation is known to cause short-term mood changes, a recent cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES study found that longer duration of cessation is associated with lower risk for depression. However, the persistence of depression in former smokers with MS might be due to depression's strong association with MS, and clinicians should not assume that depression symptoms will improve when a patient quits smoking. Learn more about tobacco product use and depression. Though depression and anxiety can occur in any subtype of MS, an extensive review and meta-analysis found that both were more prevalent in progressive MS (defined by the researchers as PPMS and SPMS) compared with RRMS. In contrast, the same meta-analysis reported that patients with MS and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of less than 3 had higher rates of depression compared with patients with an EDSS score of greater than 3, while the prevalence of anxiety was higher in patients with an EDSS score greater than 3 compared with an EDSS score below 3. Proinflammatory cytokines in MS have been shown to disrupt the monoaminergic system, which is a component of the pathogenesis of depression. As such, treatments that enhance monoamine neurotransmission (such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and dopaminergic psychostimulants) are indicated for use in depression and MS-associated depression. Learn more about the pathophysiology of MS. Although comorbid depression in MS often presents similarly to fatigue, several characteristics can help clinicians distinguish between the two and guide appropriate treatment. According to a recent review, patients with depression typically have better functioning in the evening while those with fatigue typically have better functioning in the morning. Other characteristics of depression tend to include hypersomnia and hopelessness; patients with fatigue usually experience insomnia and strong hopefulness for recovery. Learn more about symptom management of depression and fatigue in MS. According to a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing exercise best practices for depression in MS, programs implementing ergometer training protocols had the largest effect size. The data reviewed indicated immediate improvements in depression scores with exercise, and depression symptoms were found to improve regardless of exercise frequency, duration, or activity. This is consistent with another review that cited a range of nonpharmacologic interventions for improving depression in MS, including exercise as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy, yoga, dietary habits, and sleep hygiene. Further, data on Hatha yoga, circuit training at moderate intensity, and resistance training with active rest periods in patients with MS and depression are limited. Learn more about exercise for depression. Editor's Note: This article was created using several editorial tools, including generative AI models, as part of the process. Human review and editing of this content were performed prior to publication.
The Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Common condition plaguing 1 in 6 Brits ‘increases the risk of deadly dementia'
FROM diabetes to high blood pressure, several health conditions have been linked to dementia over the years. And now there's new evidence for another one to be added to the list - as scientists have found depression increases the risk of the mind-robbing disease in both mid and later life. 1 Previous studies have shown that people with depression are more likely to develop dementia later in life. But there's been a lot of debate about when depression matters most, whether it's depression that starts in midlife - in your 40s or 50s, or depression that appears later in life - in your 60s or beyond. The new research, led by Jacob Brain and Maha Alshahrani from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, University of Adelaide and the Dementia Centre of Excellence at Curtin University in Australia, brings together all the existing evidence and adds new analysis to examine this timing in more detail. Mr Brain said: "Our study shows that depression is linked to an increased risk of dementia in both midlife and late life. "This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health. "Public health efforts need to place greater emphasis on preventative brain health, including scaling up access to effective mental health care." The research team gathered and reviewed all the best available data from systematic reviews with meta-analyses (a statistical method that combines results from multiple studies to provide a more reliable overall estimate), that had already looked at the link between depression and dementia. They then went a step further by extracting and re-analysing data from the individual studies within those reviews, plus they added in newer studies that were missed in the earlier work. Mr Brain added: 'We specifically focused on the timing of when depression was measured, whether it was measured in midlife or in later life, and calculated how much it increased the risk of developing dementia. "This essentially allowed us to provide a more accurate and up-to-date picture of how depression at different life stages is linked to dementia risk.' There are many treatments available on the NHS to help with low mood and depression The potential links between depression and dementia are complex and may include chronic inflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, vascular changes, alterations to neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter imbalances. Shared genetic and behavioural related changes may also increase the risks. In Autumn 2022 it was found about 16 per cent of adults (around one in six) in Great Britain experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Depression can also be a symptom of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease, which can cause mood changes. The challenges of living with dementia, such as memory loss and difficulty with daily tasks, can also contribute to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Dementia affects over 57 million people globally. There's currently no cure, so identifying and treating the factors to reduce the risk, such as depression, should be an important public health priority, stress the researchers. Depression can manifest in many ways. We all feel a bit low from time to time. But depression is persistent and can make a person feel helpless and unable to see a way through. They may also struggle to about daily life. Mind says these are some common signs of depression that you may experience: How you might feel Down, upset or tearful Restless, agitated or irritable Guilty, worthless and down on yourself Empty and numb Isolated and unable to relate to other people Finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy Angry or frustrated over minor things A sense of unreality No self-confidence or self-esteem Hopeless and despairing Feeling tired all the time How you might act Avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy Self-harming or suicidal behaviour Difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions Losing interest in sex Difficulty remembering or concentrating on things Using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual Difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much No appetite and losing weight, or eating more than usual and gaining weight Physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause Moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated If you feel this way, visit your GP who can help you. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support. The following are free to contact and confidential: Samaritans, 116 123, jo@ CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) 0800 585 858 Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) 0800 068 41 41 Shout (for support of all mental health) text 85258 to start a conversation Mind, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Email info@ or call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary). YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too. Rethink Mental Illness, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Medscape
2 days ago
- Business
- Medscape
Can Mindfulness Therapy Ease Resistant Depression?
In patients with depression resistant to National Health Service (NHS) Talking Therapies, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual was more effective in alleviating symptoms than treatment as usual alone, a new trial found. Additionally, MBCT plus treatment as usual had a 99% probability of being cost-effective. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a parallel, randomized, controlled, superiority trial across three sites in the United Kingdom (2021-2023). The study included 234 patients with major depressive disorder (mean age, 42.5 years; 71% women; 86% White) who couldn't achieve remission after ≥ 12 sessions of NHS Talking Therapies. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either treatment as usual alone (n = 116) or MBCT plus treatment as usual (n = 118), with minimization on the basis of depression severity, antidepressant use, and recruitment site. The primary outcome was depression symptoms, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 at 34 weeks. Cost-effectiveness was assessed using the Adult Service Use Schedule. TAKEAWAY: Participants who received MBCT plus treatment as usual had significantly reduced depression symptoms than those who received treatment as usual alone ( P = .0006). = .0006). MBCT plus treatment as usual resulted in lower costs and higher utility scores than treatment as usual alone during the study period. Analysis revealed a 99% probability that MBCT plus treatment as usual was cost-effective at the £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year threshold. No serious adverse events related to the trial or treatment were observed. IN PRACTICE: "Our findings show that psychological further-line treatment for depression can bring clinical benefit at an affordable price, potentially helping to reduce the long-term disability burden and economic costs associated with difficult-to-treat depression," the authors wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Thorsten Barnhofer, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, England. It was published online in the June 2025 issue of The Lancet Psychiatry . LIMITATIONS: The study was limited by a short follow-up period of 6 months. The representativeness of the findings was limited by a predominance of female and White participants. The trial was not powered for subgroup analyses, preventing gender-specific analyses. Additionally, limited information was available on the type and quality of psychologic treatment patients received as treatment as usual. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research. One author reported writing a book on MBCT. Several authors reported having financial or professional ties with various organizations. Details are provided in the original article.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dementia risk soars if you're hit by mid-life problem that affects 10million Britons, researchers find
People who suffer with depression in mid-life are more likely to develop dementia, according to a new study. In a major study of 2.5million people, British experts discovered that lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness in your 40s and 50s increases the risk of the disease by as much as 56 per cent. The researchers also identified a significant link between late life depression, where symptoms develop at around 65 years of age or older, and dementia. Lead author Professor Jacob Brain, from the Institute of Mental Health and School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham said the findings suggested that depression could be a 'warning sign' of upcoming cognitive decline. 'This highlights the importance of recognising and treating depression across the life course, not just for mental health, but also as part of a broader strategy to protect brain health,' he said. The team said the potential links between depression and dementia are complex, but highlighted chronic inflammation and changes in blood flow to the brain as potential causes for the comorbidity. It is thought that depression may accelerate the cognitive collapse that is associated with dementia—for instance memory loss, language difficulties and problems with thinking and reasoning. However, the authors stated that the link between depression and dementia in later life may be because the memory-robbing disease can cause mood problems in its early stages. Writing in the EClinicalMedicine journal, Prof Brain said: 'Depression in late life may represent an early manifestation of dementia.' The researchers concluded that early detection and treatment for depression could minimise the risk of dementia onset—and this should be a focus for future research. They added that further research is needed to confirm whether interventions that promote physical activity and other lifestyle changes to support mental health earlier in life can reduce dementia risk. However, researchers noted the prevelance of depression among participants may have been overestimated—as not all depressed volunteers were diagnosed by a medical professional. Around 982,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, according to Alzheimer's Association. Dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases—the most common of which is Alzheimer's—that affect memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily activities. The condition gets worse over time, as the disease attacks nerve cells in the brain, typically leading to the deterioration of cognitive function. Dementia cases are expected to sky-rocket to 1.4million people by 2040, making early prevention treatments vital to get to grips with the challenge. The disease cost the UK around £42billion in 2024 alone. The cost of dementia in the UK is forecast to be £90 billion in the next 15 years. The latest findings come as Spanish scientists recently discovered that upping your exercise quota around middle age could help stave off Alzheimer's disease in later life. They found that those who increased their activity levels to around two and a half hours a week were less prone to toxic protein amyloid spreading in the brain. Significant clumps of this protein, along with another, tau, can form plaques and tangles in the brain—which is thought to be behind dementia symptoms. Experts have warned for years that leading a sedentary lifestyle raises the risk of numerous health problems including weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even an early grave. It has been estimated that 13 per cent of all Alzheimer's cases could be linked to physical inactivity. It comes as a landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors. To reduce dementia risk throughout life, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and governments. These include making hearing aids available for all those who need it, reducing harmful noise exposure, and increased detection and treatment access for high cholesterol among the over-40s. Experts claimed the study, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented.
