Truth about biological effects of depression - new research presented at conference
APRIL 04, 2007
Dr Carmine Pariante, a psychiatrist researching into effects of stress and depression and Dr Veronica O'Keane, a perinatal psychiatrist, spoke about the biological effects of depression during a major depression conference organised by the Institute of Psychiatry this week.
Pariante talked about new research being discussed at conference which included hormones and the immune system which are thought to provide the link between depression and heart disease. Addressing a press briefing out of the conference he said: "The longer you've been depressed and the more episodes you have and the more severe they are, the worse are the biological impacts."
Dr O'Keane talked about the crucial role that stress hormones play in the development of an unborn baby, but that these same hormones shoot up in pregnant women who are depressed. She also sought to disprove a common myth that depression does not happen during pregnancy and stressed the need for better talking therapies to be developed as well as good literature which is currently very scarce.
Listen to the conference podcast