Treating Depression With Pills, Shock & Talk
Regional News Stories: Friday, January 8, 2010
It’s snowy and cold outside and the sky is gray. Undoubtedly more than a few of us have settled into those winter blahs. Some might even say they’re depressed, but true medically defined depression is much worse. It’s a long-term mood disorder that can leave people feeling numb, leave them unable to sleep or concentrate, easily annoyed, hopeless, even suicidal. One in 10 adults suffers from a mood disorder such as depression at some point in their lifetime – and, according to two new studies, most don’t get adequate treatment. Many will take an anti-depressant drugs. But drugs don’t always work – so what then? With me this morning is ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda, whose reports on depression will be featured on morning edition and WVIZ PBS all next week – and the Plain Dealer will have special coverage of depression next Tuesday.

Facing Depression and Finding Treatment
The Sound of Ideas: Monday, January 11, 2010
Depression affects as many as 18 million Americans every year, not to mention their friends and family members. Psychiatric drugs along with psychotherapy can perform minor miracles, but controversial new research suggests for some facing depression, medication may be no more effective than doing nothing. As ideastream - in collaboration with the Plain Dealer - begin a week of comprehensive coverage of depression, we'll spend the hour Monday morning explaining the differences between clinical depression and just "feeling blue," we'll delve into how medication and talk therapies work, and consider other treatment options.

What Doctors Don’t know About Anti-Depressants
Regional News Stories: Monday, January 11, 2010
Just over 50 years ago, patients had only one medical option to treat their depression - talking to their therapist. Then anti-depressant drugs came into play, revolutionizing the treatment of depression. But as ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda explains, medications have their drawbacks too and there's still a lot we don't know about how and why they work.

What’s Behind the Gender Gap in Depression
Regional News Stories: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Women are far more likely to suffer from major depression than men. No one knows exactly why but researchers do have some theories. As part of ideastream's multimedia examination of depression all this week, ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda prepared this report on the gender gap in rates of depression.

Tuesday Health Checkup With The Plain Dealer: Understanding Postpartum Depression
Regional News Stories: Tuesday, January 12, 2010
ideastream®'s Eric Wellman speaks with Angela Townsend of the Plain Dealer about what scientsts are learning about postpartum depression -- its causes and treatment.

What to Look for in Teen Depression
Regional News Stories: Thursday, January 14, 2010
This week ideastream is presenting special multi-media coverage on depression. About one in five teenagers will experience symptoms but it can be difficult to differentiate between what is considered normal changes in teen behavior and what is actual clinical depression. ideastream's Kathryn Baker reports.

Deep Brain Stimulation: One Patient’s Story
Regional News Stories: Thursday, January 14, 2010
ideastream health reporter Gretchen Cuda interviews a woman who has undergone deep brain stimulation to treat her depression

Kay Redfield Jamison: Living with Bipolar
The Sound of Ideas: Friday, January 15, 2010
Imagine being bipolar since the age of 17 but avoiding treatment for years despite a nearly successful suicide attempt and relationships shattered beyond repair. Then imagine becoming a professor of psychiatry, an author of best sellers and co-author of the standard medical textbook on bipolar disorder. That's the story of clinical psychologist Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison. She describes her own profound mood swings and how her marriage survived them in a new memoir, Nothing Was the Same. She writes: "At times he was enraged...at others bewildered or cooly distant." Jamison joins host David Molpus Friday 9AM to discuss how her late husband handled her illness and what others touched by bipolar disorder can learn from their experience.