depression

the depression of the 20s

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For decades, psychology and economics have accepted a “universal truth” about our life satisfaction: happiness is U-shaped. According to this theory, we are happy in youth, we hit rock bottom in middle age (which is the famous midlife crisis) and we regain joy in old age. But this just broke completely. The study. A study published in PLOS ONE has come to blow up the consensus that existed. After analyzing data from more than a million people in 44 different countries, the conclusion is clear: the unhappiness curve has disappeared. Goodbye midlife crisis. What has been found is a major structural change in how we experience life in our life cycle. This marks the end of the hump shape, where if we made a graph of unhappiness the maximum peak was located at 40-50 years. Now, the graph is a line that goes down. The data points in the United States to a pretty serious situation. In 1993, only 2.9% of young people under 25 years of age claimed to suffer from a situation of ‘despair’, which is defined as having a whole month of poor mental health. In 2023 this figure shot up to 8%, surpassing the middle-aged groups that historically led the statistics. The gender gap. Although deterioration is widespread in youth, Blanchflower’s study focuses on an alarming gap. In the United Kingdom, UKHLS data collected between 2009 and 2023 show that the percentage of young women with serious mental health problems rose from 4.4% to 12.7%. In this case we are not talking about temporary sadness, but rather clinical metrics of anxiety and depression, which are extremely serious mental illnesses. In this way, the study suggests that the so-called “quarter-life crisis” has completely displaced the mid-life crisis. The reasons. It’s tempting in this case blame COVID-19 of all this phenomenon and how it affected mental health, but the data suggests that the pandemic was only an accelerator that enhanced something that was on the table. There are many important points to take into account to understand what is happening in the mentality of young people, such as economic precariousness, job uncertainty or even difficult access to housing. A perfect breeding ground for young people to begin to present major mental problems when they see that they cannot reach their goals such as having a stable job and a home. The impact of technology. We must not forget that generation Z was practically born with a cell phone under their arm, but it has also caused them to be one of the most isolated generations. In the case of Spain, the studies They point out that 69% of young people have felt alone at some point, regardless of the number of followers they have on social networks or the number of social interactions. Among the factors that cause this is the difficulty of emancipating oneself but also the difficulty of creating quality bonds with other people. All of this due to the instability of not always being in the same job or having to change location to develop specific studies. A great challenge. We are facing a global paradigm shift, and this leads to great strain on public health systems. This quarter-age crisis also coincides with a increase in suicides among young Spaniardsso mental health services must be strengthened to address this epidemic of unhappiness that is being perceived among the younger population. In short, we are experiencing a global paradigm shift and this also conditions changes in happiness levels in different age ranges. Images | Mathias Reding Anthony Tran In Xataka | If the question is “where is the secret to happiness,” an expert believes it is hidden in these 15 statements

The popular hair drug hides a big problem behind depression

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Finasteride has long been a popular solution for the treatment of androgenic baldnesswhich has long been a very popular solution to stop hair loss. However, behind its apparent cosmetic success hides an alarming reality that has taken more than twenty years to receive greater attention: a significant association with depressionanxiety and suicide. The analysis. Published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by Professor Mayer of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, systematically reviews the accumulated evidence and exposes what he describes as “a systemic failure of pharmacovigilance.” The study concludes that both the drug’s manufacturer, Merck, and regulatory bodies, such as the US FDA, failed to take relevant action despite growing danger signals about serious health problems. The evidence. Although concerns about depression associated with finasteride arose as early as 2002, it was not until the last decade that the evidence became overwhelming following studies done after the product was marketed. Brezis’ analysis is based on eight large independent studies published between 2017 and 2023, which used two main methods: disproportionality analysis in adverse event reporting systems and analysis of massive health registry databases. The results. The study carried out in countries such as Sweden, Canada and Israel points to very consistent results: the use of finasteride is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing depression, anxiety and suicidal behavior. All of this with a good statistical significance that shows that it is not due to chance. The human cost of this two-decade delay is devastating. The report estimates that, globally, “hundreds of thousands of people may have suffered from depression, and hundreds, or even thousands, may have died by suicide.” The data. One of the main reasons why it took so long to react was the massive under-reporting of cases. In 2010, the FDA was already discussing internally the possibility of including depression as a side effect, but noted that reported suicides were lower than expected in such a large user population. Brezis’ analysis puts figures on this discrepancy: For 2011, with a base of 4.6 million users worldwide, between 6,440 and 12,880 suicides were expected over a period of 10 to 20 years. However, only 18 cases had been reported to the FDA system (FAERS). By 2024, reported suicides amounted to 320, compared to the 19,320 that would be expected over a 30-year period. FDA inaction. The report is especially critical of the manufacturer and the regulator. Despite suspicions, none of the eight studies analyzed were conducted by Merck or requested by the FDA. This is striking, since Merck itself had validated in 2006 the usefulness of the pharmacovigilance tools used in these investigations, concluding that they had “sufficient sensitivity and specificity.” For its part, the FDA was disconcertingly slow. In 2011 it recognized depression as an adverse effect and in 2022 it added suicidal ideation, but not as a formal warning on the label. It took the agency five years to respond to a citizen petition requesting the drug be removed from the market. Internal FDA documents from 2010 show entire sections redacted as “confidential,” hiding key data about the drug’s safety. The case in Europe. In addition to the report issued by the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also launched an alert following its research on this same medication and suicidal tendencies. This is something that the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) has collected on its website, pointing out that from now on the packages of finasteride 1 mg will include a patient information card with the aim of reinforcing these warnings. In France they wanted be much more critical with the recommendations made by the EMA to confront this serious problem. Specifically, they have pointed out that the introduction of this alert card or the dissemination of a letter to professionals is not enough. Especially considering that the latest recommendations made by the regulator have not reduced the incidence of suicidal ideation in treated patients. Because. The relationship between finasteride and mood disorders is not a simple correlation, but has a plausible biological basis. The drug inhibits the enzyme 5α-reductase, reducing the conversion of testosterone. This process also decreases the synthesis of brain neurosteroids, such as allopregnanolone, which are crucial for mood regulation. For some users, the effects do not go away when they stop treatment. The so-called “post-finasteride syndrome” describes severe neuropsychiatric symptoms that persist for months or years after stopping the drug. Call to action. Brezis emphasizes that, as it is a medicine for a cosmetic indication, the balance between benefit and risk is radically different. “It wasn’t about a life-or-death medical need. It was about the hair,” he emphasizes. Images | Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 In Xataka | A natural, safe and already approved sweetener for consumption: the new and unexpected solution against baldness

Spain, at the head in Europe in workers with stress or depression and we have the culprit: work

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In recent years, Spain has established itself as one of the European countries where they relate more workers Mental health problems with employmentstanding among the five countries With higher stress ratesdepression and anxiety linked to the work context, according to the latest survey OSH click 2025 that elaborates the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The data places Spain among countries with worse indicators In psychological well -being work related, only surpassed by Greece, Finland, Cyprus and Poland. In Spain, work with too much stress. The survey reveals that 40% of Spanish employees interviewed by the European Agency for Labor Safety and Health, pointed to their job as main reason for stressanxiety or depression. This percentage of stressed employees leaves Spain only behind Greece (49%), Finland (45%), Cyprus and Poland (both with 41%) and well above the European average located at 29%. In addition to stress, employees point out Other symptoms and pathologies which also frequently relate to the workplace. 45% indicate generalized fatigue related to work, 42% report headaches or tired view and 37% identify muscle pains or bones caused by their work activity, figures equally higher than the average recorded by the EU. Companies look the other way. The European report links this increase in work stress to the low implementation of preventive measures by Spanish companies. While 44% of employees in the European Union claim to be exposed to time or Work overloadin Spain this figure amounts to 49%. In addition, Spain is one of the countries where you least consult the templates on psychosocial risks, standing at 34% of employees who affirm that the companies where they work take into account their indications on mental illnesses, compared to 45% of the European average, and far from countries with best practices such as Germany, where 65% of respondents affirm that in their companies they have been consulted. In Spain we are not very psychologist. An important point that highlights the survey is that, in Spain, the culture of Mental health assistance to social level, much less at work level. A good barometer of this is that the psychological advice in the work environment is still very limited in Spain, where only 28% of the people surveyed say they have this resource in their company, compared to 40% on average in the European Union. Finland is headed in this regard, reaching 78% of companies that offer mental health advice and assistance for their employees. This deficit in access to psychological support from the company itself contributes to enching the impact of mental health problems on the templates, as the report points out ‘WHO guidelines on mental health at work ‘ Posted by the World Health Organization (WHO). An obstacle to professional careers. As a consequence of the lack of culture of psychological well -being in Spain that the European report indicated, the belief that reveal a mental health problem It will involve a social and professional stigma that will negatively affect the development of the professional career. However, that feeling, although on different scale, is common to all EU countries. That fear of stigma makes 48% of European employees say that revealing that they suffer a mentally affecting a problem of their professional career. In Spain, this percentage rises to 54%. The study indicates that this fear is especially high among younger employees or those who occupy precarious jobs, still increasing their vulnerability in the labor market. More stress, lower medical. According to the AXA 2025 Mental Health Studythe disabilities related to mental health problems have climbed into among the diseases with greater affectation since 2016 in the Spanish work environment. Taa and as stood out The countryPandemia marked a turning point In temporal disabilities due to psychological and psychiatric problems, with a 72% increase in casualties. This has put on the table the need for Review prevention strategies and support for mental health within companies, an aspect where Spain still shows important deficiencies regarding the European environment. In Xataka | Only one in four Spaniards has rested on vacation. The culprits: job anxiety and inability to disconnect Image | UNSAPLASH (Vasilis caravitis)

We have a new clue about depression and we have found it in an unsuspected place: body temperature

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Depression is something that goes beyond our brains. Like many other diseases, this psychological ailment is manifested in other aspects of our physiognomy. For example, in our body temperature. Temperature and depression. A study has identified A relationship between body temperature and depression. The team responsible for the analysis observed a positive relationship between the variables, that is, that the appearance of depressive symptoms was linked to a higher body temperature among the participants. The relationship was proportional. The severity of the symptoms, the greater the body temperatures were also. They also observed an apparent relationship between the variability of temperatures and depressive symptoms, but this did not show being statistically significant, so conclusions cannot be extracted in that aspect. Beyond the statistical incidence is little What is known of this relationship. For example, the equipment indicated that it is still an enigma if this increase in body temperature could be due to a loss of control capacity, an increase in temperature generation through metabolic processes, or if it was a combination of factors. More than 20,000 participants. To carry out the study, the team compiled information from 20,880 participants from 106 countries. During the study, which lasted for seven months in 2020, the participants carried a thermometer device to measure their body temperature and daily reported temperature and symptoms of depression. “Let us know, this is the biggest study to examine the association between body temperature (measured both self -assess and through portable sensors) and depressive symptoms in a geographically wide sample,” explained in a press release Psychiatrist Ashley Mason, co -author of work. The study It was published in the magazine Scientific Reports. An old suspicion. Although it is probably the most massive, this is not the first analysis that indicates this relationship. A study published in 2003 He pointed to the existence of this relationship and its possible link with the 5-HTT protein, the “serotonin transporter”. Another important indication has to do with the drugs usually used in the treatment of depression, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). In recent years, various studies have proven that these compounds reduce thermal tolerance of those who consume them. The main studies in this regard were analyzed In a literature review published in 2022. Correlation and cause. The present study finds a link between temperature and depression but does not indicate the possible form of the causal direction, if there were. It is impossible to determine, through known data if depression causes an increase in body temperature or if a high body temperature can increase our risk of appearing depression. Nor is it possible to rule out that there is an underlying cause of both that the analysis does not see: inflammatory stress or processes could independently cause both depressive symptomatology and an increase in body temperature. Cold or heat as therapy? Understanding what is happening can help us better understand depression and, therefore, bring us closer to the tools we are looking for to fight it. Until now the heat had been used to improve the patient status. These types of therapies could make sense through a “rebound effect”, helping the body to recover its capacity for thermal self -regulation, Add the equipment. In Xataka | The great mystery of our body temperature: it does not stop lowering globally and we still do not know why Image | Tankilevitch polyina *An earlier version of this article was published in June 2024

Years ago the main “drug” against depression was sold massively in supermarkets: 7up

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It is a more or less known fact that The origin of the Coca-Cola is in the development of Medicinal tonic by the American pharmacist John Pemberton. However, this drink is not the only soda in having an origin linked to the world of pharmacy. Nor are we talking about the tonic, but of 7up. The history of this drink is prior to its name and its current formula and begins in 1929. The soda began to be marketed with the name of BIB-LABEL LITHIATED LEMON-LIME SODAbefore being renamed as 7 UP LITIED LEMON SODAand, finally, 7up. However, it is not the change of name of the soda what most usually attracts the attention of its history, but the change in its formula. And, as these names already pointed out, the original formula of this soda contained no less than lithium (Li), The third element of the periodic table. Before the alarms jump, it should be clarified that it was not elementary lithium (remember that this is a very reactive alkaline metal), but Lithium citratean organic compound, salt of lithium and citric acid. To understand the reason, we must know what is the use of this compound. For decades, lithium citrate has been used as Drug in psychiatric treatments. It is a compound considered a mood stabilizer and is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression and mania. The soda would have been marketed in origin not as a drug against these problems but as a kind of tonic, a remedy for hangover To settle your stomach. It is unknown what is the origin of the name 7 UP but, among the various theories, one points out that It is a reference to lithium. The reason is that, although the atomic number of this element is the three, its atomic mass is approximately seven (6.94 to be more precise). As we indicated at the beginning of the article, this It is not the only soda whose history has a close link with the pharmacy. Coca-Cola also has An origin as a reconstituent tonic. In this case it is also an ingredient already disappeared from its formula (cocaine) the one that most usually calls attention to the history of the soda. The contemporary tonic still counts in its formula with the “active substance” that made it a treatment, the quinineused among other uses for Malaria treatment. Of course, the current content we can find in this soda It is very scarceso again we cannot talk about therapeutic properties in the soda we find today in supermarkets. In Xataka | Monster has conquered a generation. And along the way it has become one of the most profitable brands in the world Image | Mike Mozart, CC by 2.0

The war between the Azores anticyclone and Iceland depression will have a clear winner in the coming weeks: Spain

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If there is any field in which what was said by the famous physicist Niels Bohr that “it is difficult to make predictions, especially of the future“That is meteorology. Although it is not always the case. There are times that, with all the uncertainties we want, “we see them come long before normal.” And that is what just happened: the main prediction models in the world They say we are going to a negative nao stage. Something that, in the face of spring, can be excellent news. What is NAO? ‘Nao’ are the acronym in English of ‘North Atlantic oscillation‘And basically refers to the’ dance ‘between the Azores anticyclone and the loss of Iceland, the two great atmospheric phenomena that govern the meteorology of the North Atlantic. When the index we use to “measure who is winning” is negative, the anticyclone of the Azores is weaker than normal and, therefore, cannot block the deep storms of the Atlantic. The direct consequence is that, they circulate further than normal: in our latitudes. Kristian Strommen et als. (2021) The news is that, indeed, it seems that we are going to Noa negative. Both the NOAA American and the European ECMWF They coincide in which “we are at the gates of a Nao phase in descent.” And what consequences would this have? The combination of a negative nao and a large mass of stagnant polar air in the continent would cause the circulation of deep storms to pass us over and, therefore, the weather conditions are stirred. A summary of the situation. In the short term, we are in the midst of that cyclogenesis festival that we have already talked about, but when the stability will be installed again. That means that nocturnal temperatures will lower, the frost will return and the fog will return. From then on, if the NOA phase change is confirmed, the situation becomes difficult to predict. The good part of this type of diagnoses is that it is very solid (that is, it is quite likely to pass); The bad is that the details become more complex: it can be triggered from a sudden stratospheric warming that froze everything that caught its path to almost nothing. It is reasonable to wait for rain in one way (deep storms) or another (retrograde danas), however the prognosis is in the air. Image | Tropical tidbits In Xataka | In the next few days, Spain will be in the middle of a hall of Atlantic storms. It is good news, but not for everyone

50 years of research on depression psychotherapy leave a surprising fact: we have not improved anything

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Since the 70s, hundreds of studies have examined the effects of psychotherapies against the depression. They have done it with many different experimental approaches and designs. They have done it insistently and, as if that were not enough, in an increasing number. That has allowed us to know two things: the first is that psychotherapies They are effective. The second is that this effectiveness has not moved an apex in 50 years. How can we know? To begin with, thanks to Pim Cuijpers, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at Amsterdam University. He and a team of researchers They gathered 562 randomized controlled trials that had been published in the last 50 years. These essays are the highest methodological quality that are currently (although, as the authors point out, average Caldiad is not as high as it should). In total, the researchers gathered information of 66,361 patients. Most American adults, but with a significant number of people from other countries. From there, they only had to weigh the interventions, the results and see what happened. What did they find? To begin with, they found that psychotherapies work. In fact, his conclusions were that, as the years go by (and studies), the “evidence that psychotherapies are effective is solid and grows over the years.” The surprise was not that, of course. The surprise was that, for many studies that have been added over the years, “they found no sign that the effects of therapies (psychological against depression) have improved.” None. The effectiveness of these treatments has remained surprisingly stable throughout all these years. And how does all this leave psychotherapy? In a strange situation. In a context in which the consumption of benzodiazepines does not stop growing (and, remember, Spain is World Ansiolithic Consumption Leader With more than 91 daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants), psychotherapies appear as an effective solution; But we are not improving. That is, we have a tool, but we cannot climb it. If the problem continues to grow (and is doing it), we will need more and more resources. Resources that, from the financial crisis and despite the concern of recent years, do not seem to be arriving. The question is no longer “What are we failing“,” Why we can’t improve more “,” where is what limits us to go further “, which also: the question is how we do it better. And it is urgent to find an answer. Image | Cuijpers et Atls | Nik Shuliahin In Xataka | Work stress as germ of depression: work pressure enhances mental disorders

FDA approves Johnson & Johnson nasal spray for depression

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new form of treatment for treatment-resistant depressionwhich could represent a key alternative for many patients who do not respond to conventional treatments. This is Spravato, a nasal spray developed by Johnson & Johnson, which can be used independently, without the need to be accompanied by an oral antidepressant. This advance promises to transform the lives of the millions of people who suffer from major depressive disorders and who cannot improve with standard treatments. Spravato was initially approved in 2019 as an adjunct to oral antidepressants, but with this new approval, it can now be used as a single therapy for those patients with treatment-resistant depression. This condition affects one-third of the approximately 21 million adults in the United States who suffer from major depression, who show no improvement despite trying at least two different antidepressant treatments. Bill Martin, head of global neuroscience at Johnson & Johnson, highlighted the importance of this medication, highlighting that untreated depression can be fatal, especially when patients experience suicidal thoughts. According to estimates, Major depression can include symptoms such as persistent sadness, fatigue, sleep disorders, and self-destructive thoughts. which puts patients at high risk of harm or death if not treated appropriately. Spravato, whose active ingredient is ketamine, has been shown to be effective in inducing relief from depressive symptoms in the short term. In clinical studies, patients began to experience improvements in their emotional state just 24 hours after treatment, and the beneficial effects continued for at least a month. This speed is a fundamental difference compared to traditional antidepressants, which can take weeks or even months to take effect. The spray should be administered under medical supervision The nasal spray is administered in a clinical setting under close medical supervision due to the risks of serious side effects such as sedation, dissociation, respiratory depression, and suicidal thoughts. Therefore, patients should remain under observation for at least two hours after administration.. This restrictive and supervised approach is essential to ensure patient safety while reaping the benefits of the medication. Although the rollout of Spravato was slow, especially due to complications from the pandemic, doctors and mental health facilities have begun to embrace the use of the medication more frequently. FDA approval as a stand-alone therapeutic option reinforces confidence in its effectiveness and safety. Results from a phase four trial confirmed that the drug has a safety profile consistent with previous data and provides both rapid and long-lasting relief. Dr. Gregory Mattingly, president of the Midwest Research Group, who participated in the clinical trials, noted that patients now have the option of choosing whether to take Spravato along with an oral antidepressant or on its own. allowing them to avoid the undesirable side effects of oral medications, such as weight gain or sexual problems. The ability to personalize treatment is one of the great advantages of this approach. In terms of economic impact, Spravato has been a success for Johnson & Johnson. During the first nine months of 2024, the drug generated sales of $780 million, and the company expects revenue to increase even further in the future, reaching between $1 billion and $5 billion annually. Keep reading:

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