Mental Health

A review of peripheral biomarkers in major depression: The potential of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers.
This review provides a summary on the potential of peripheral biomarkers in major depression with a specific emphasis on those related to inflammatory/immune and oxidative stress/antioxidant defences. The complexities associated with biomarker assessment are reviewed specifically around their collection, analysis and interpretation. Focus is placed on the potential of peripheral biomarkers to aid diagnosis, predict treatment response, enhance treatment-matching, and prevent the onset or relapse of major depression. Lopresti AL, Maker GL, Hood SD, Drummond PD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2013 Oct 5;48C:102-111. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24104186

Never too young to talk about death?
Talking to children about death is a difficult and delicate task, but it is sometimes also necessary. While many adults shy away from discussing the loss of a friend or relative with children, some health professionals argue that we should be more proactive. Here, Hannah Newton, a social historian and research associate at St John's College, Cambridge, explains why this is one area where the past may offer valuable lessons for our own time. MedicalXpress

In animal study, 'cold turkey' withdrawal from drugs triggers mental decline
In the study published in the November issue of Brain, Behavior and Immunity and presented at Neuroscience 2013, Mocchetti and his research colleagues treated the animals with morphine, or allowed them to undergo withdrawal by stopping the treatment. Then, they measured pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can promote damage and cell death, and the protein CCL5, which has various protective effects in the brain. Eurekalert!