Researchers at the University of Sydney have identified a new depression subtype linked to the body clock. Known as circadian depression, it was found in about a quarter of more than 10,000 Australians in a recent study. Lead researcher Ian Hickie said the finding could help people whose depression had not responded to traditional treatments. Treatments may involve monitoring and regulating sleep-wake cycles. A major trial of melatonin as a possible treatment is also under way, with results expected in a few years.
A new Australian study suggests about one in four people with severe, recurrent or persistent depression may have circadian depression, a proposed subtype linked to the body's internal clock. Researchers say people with it often describe themselves as night owls or wake up very tired. Lead researcher Emiliana Tonini said the findings could help give people earlier access to the treatments most likely to work for them. The study found these patients reported more severe symptoms and may have a different genetic profile. Experts say more research is needed before it could be used in clinical practice.
Australian researchers have identified a new subtype of depression, called circadian depression, linked to disruptions in the body's internal clock. The study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found it affected about 23 per cent of 11,380 participants, mostly with severe and recurrent depression. Those with the subtype were less responsive to common antidepressants, so the researchers suggest treatments such as melatonin and light therapy may help. Lead author Dr Emiliana Tonini said the subtype appears to have a distinct biology, not simply poor sleep. Some outside experts described the findings as interesting but preliminary.
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Comedian and actress Mary Coustas says her GP suggested antidepressants when she described her symptoms in her late 50s. She later realised she was experiencing menopause. Coustas has co-founded Unpause, a telehealth platform with doctors who focus on menopause and midlife health. She urges women to push their doctors and to find another if needed. She also argues that the issue matters for employers and the workforce.
Eating one extra serve of fruit a day is linked to a 13 per cent lower risk of depression symptoms in teenagers, a University of Sydney study has found. The same extra serve was linked to a seven per cent lower risk of anxiety symptoms. Higher intake of sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, cordials and sports drinks, was linked to a higher risk of both conditions, with a stronger link in male teenagers, particularly for anxiety. The study followed 6537 adolescents from 71 secondary schools across NSW, Queensland and Western Australia from Year 7 to Year 10.
Melbourne woman Sharissa Wooldridge says a walking challenge helped her through depression after years of infertility and a miscarriage. She joined the Black Dog Institute's One Foot Forward challenge with colleagues, walking each October during Mental Health Month. Wooldridge says the challenge helped her connect with others and explore her neighbourhood. She now advocates for seeking support early. She is pregnant and is taking part in the challenge again this October.
Prince Harry has said he slipped into a two-week depression after moving to Canada with Meghan Markle. Speaking on MasterClass, the Duke of Sussex said leaving the high-pressure royal environment triggered an adrenaline crash. He said he felt unable to function without stress and struggled with basic tasks at home. Reports say the family is now staying in a friend's Cotswolds mansion while searching for a permanent British home. Meghan is reportedly seeking a nine-bedroom estate, and Harry wants privacy, though no deal has been finalised.
Prince Harry has revealed he experienced depression for two weeks after relocating to Canada with his wife Meghan in 2019. The Duke of Sussex also spoke about feeling emotionally numb following his mother Princess Diana's death in 1997. Harry served in the British Armed Forces for a decade, including two deployments to Afghanistan. He and Meghan have faced security issues since returning to Britain with their children in August. Harry has previously blamed the press for his mother's death and compares their treatment of Meghan to what Diana endured.
