Posts by Mark Henderson

MEDIA RELEASE – VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR GENETIC DEPRESSION RISK RESEARCH – APRIL 27, 2018

The biggest study of its kind has allowed researchers to identify genetic risk factors associated with major depression, providing new insights for prevention and treatment. Australian researchers, including Professor Naomi Wray from The University of Queensland and Professor Nick Martin from QIMR Berghofer, are now seeking volunteers who have been diagnosed with clinical depression to…

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New data reveals common brain abnormalities in people with clinical depression & social anxiety

People living with major depressive disorder (MDD) (or clinical depression), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) share common, specific structural brain abnormalities that can be identified by imaging scans, according to new data presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America in Chicago this week Chinese researchers compared high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging…

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Discovery of genes that cause clinical depression could help ease GP medication concerns

The discovery of the genes that cause clinical depression could help GPs and other healthcare professionals to more accurately prescribe medication as a result of individual genetic profiling. The use of antidepressants to treat clinical depression tends to be a complex process riddled with guesswork. Our own interim data from the Australian Genetics of Depression…

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Media’s unrealistic portrayal of parenthood driving increase in anxiety & depression among perinatal mums

Media images of the “perfect family” are driving an increase in new mums seeking professional help for anxiety and perinatal depression, Australian experts have warned. According to research commissioned by PANDA, the Australian perinatal depression helpline, the number of calls to their national helpline has increased by 38 per cent from July 2017 following additional…

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Reid brothers complete herculean global ride in sister’s honour to raise funds for mental illness

Queensland brothers, Dylan and Lawson Reid have completed a 938 day-long, 100,000 kilometre global motorbike trek today (October 10, 2017), finishing at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane. The sole purpose of their extraordinary ride was to raise much-needed funds to support further research into clinical depression – an insidious illness to which they lost…

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Tailoring medicines through DNA sequencing

It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but scientists and health researchers believe genetic testing should lead to the personalisation of medicine to an individual’s DNA – a practice that will be the norm within 15 years. Breakthroughs in DNA sequencing have already led to the development of cancer vaccines for melanoma skin cancer,…

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Mel, 43 – Single mother-of-four, business owner & Reiki practitioner who lived with clinical depression, IPSWICH

At 16 years of age, Mel, now 43, a single mother-of-four and business owner from Ipswich, experienced an extremely traumatic year. Off the back of several major, life-impacting events, Mel was diagnosed with clinical depression, and spent the ensuing 26 years battling the devastating mental illness.   Throughout her protracted battle with clinical depression, Mel…

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Megan, 29 – Registered nurse, midwife & science fiction fan living with clinical depression, BRISBANE

After completing university and commencing full-time work as a registered nurse in 2008, Megan, then aged 20, Brisbane was finding it hard to cope with her professional career.    After seeking advice from her GP, Megan was diagnosed with clinical depression, and prescribed antidepressant medication. Over time, Megan, who has a strong family history of…

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