Tag Archive for: depression

Quantifying the Benefits of Nature

/in /by

When this type of study is published, we can think of it as touchy-feely; in other words, it’s about how we feel more than hard numbers. That may be true on the surface, but let’s take a look at the effect on society from just one benefit of spending time in nature.

The study showed that if people spent just 30 minutes per week in a park, the rate of depression in cities could be reduced by 7%. While they didn’t test it, I would say that’s true for just about anybody who spends time . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Research on Nature and Health

/in /by

I’m back on the deck to write today’s message about the benefits of spending time with nature (1). Researchers tested over 1,500 subjects who live in urban settings; they wanted to quantify visits to parks in cities with physical measures such as depression, blood pressure, social interactions, and physical activity (2). If you’re a long-time reader, you know I prefer studies with solid measurements such as body weight or cholesterol levels. Surveys and questionnaires are subject to how a person feels at any given moment, but these researchers used the best instruments available.

They found . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Does Nature Improve Health?

/in /by

One of my favorite places during the summer is on our deck. I just love sitting out there in the cool of the morning. On a calm day with little humidity, it’s great even when the temperature hits the mid-80s; the shade sail helps. Working or relaxing, it’s my favorite place. The flowers. The trees. The birds, especially the frequent visits by hummingbirds. This patch of nature didn’t happen by accident. Over the 15 years we’ve been here, Paula has created a space that soothes the mind, helps creativity, and lifts the soul. That’s . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Why I Believe SAD Is Real

/in /by

Let’s take a closer look at the study on seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The questions this study raises are two-fold:

  •  Were the research methods used appropriate to answer the question?
  •  Were the conclusions the researchers made warranted?

Without getting too technical, there are several problems. First, all the researchers could do is see if each of the events were correlated—the Depression Survey, the weather and latitude, and the season of the year. That’s all. Correlation does not mean cause and effect. It’s puzzling that experienced researchers would say there . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

How SAD Was Measured

/in /by

Let’s take a look at the study that concluded SAD was folklore. The researchers used data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questionnaire (BRFSS 2006). This is a telephone survey conducted every year in the US. In 2006, over 34,000 people responded to the phone survey. The survey varies from 199 questions for the short version and up to 373 questions for the full survey. The phone numbers are generated at random and reflect the population distribution of the US.

Because the survey is given throughout the year, all areas in the U.S. will be . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Real?

/in /by

Not according to a recently published study. At least, that’s what the headlines about the study suggested. While not exactly using these words, a group of psychologists said, “We’ve proven that SAD is just a big scam so that pharmaceutical companies can sell more drugs. It has no place in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It’s folklore and should be removed!”

There is a whole lot in those statements, and I’ll break down this study this week to see if what they said is real or not. To me, SAD is real based . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Question Time: Professional Help

/in /by

Wrapping up this week on recently asked questions, I saved the most serious question for today. I talked to a number of people who were concerned about themselves, friends, or family members. The simplest way of explaining the questions is to say they or people they knew had medical issues related to nutrition and diet, and the inability to resolve health and eating issues may have contributed to a state of depression and anxiety.

Note that I said “may have.” This is not my area of expertise. I wouldn’t presume that I know enough to be able to say . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Depression: The Next Step

/in /by

In today’s message, I’m going to wrap up this week on depression. After Thursday’s message, I thought that the first question would be “What is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)? I’m going to give you the definition according to the National Alliance for Mental Illness:

“Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By exploring patterns of thinking that lead to self-destructive actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with mental illness can modify their patterns of thinking . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Depression: Never Too Late

/in /by

Not all depression can be handled the same way the person in Tuesday’s message did. Sometimes depression is a lot more severe. For some, it may require long-term medication; Paula expects to take an antidepressant for the rest of her life. But there are still ways to work with the medication to make it more effective.

Here is the second person’s story:

“I’m 70 and for the first time in 54 years I have just completed a year that has been really depression-free. I’ve suffered from depression since I . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.

Depression: Your Stories

/in /by

The comments from readers and listeners on my special message last week on depression were very positive. What I did not anticipate was how some of you opened your hearts and shared your battles with depression. Today and Thursday, I’m going to share two of those stories, with the permission of the individuals and keeping their identity confidential; I’ve already shared Paula’s story and my mother-in-law’s story. I’m hoping they will inspire you to know you’re not alone and to take the next step in finding out whether you may be suffering . . .

We're sorry, but this content is available to Members and Insiders only.

If you're already a DrChet.com Member or Insider, click on the Membership Login link on the top menu. Members may upgrade to Insider by going to the Store and clicking Membership; your membership fee will be prorated automatically.