An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from depression every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It’s a disorder with lots of unanswered questions. Recent news from The University of Manchester’s School of Psychological Sciences is showing progress in learning about brain activity and understanding why some people are more prone to depression than others.

Depression

Dr Roland Zahn, neuroscientist at the university explains: “During everyday life we constantly evaluate social behaviour and this largely affects how we feel about ourselves and other people. But the way we store and use information about our own and other people’s social behaviour are not well understood.”

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of 29 healthy individuals, the research team found that social behaviour not conforming to an individual’s values evoked feelings of anger when carried out by another person or feelings of guilt when the behaviour stemmed from the individuals themselves.

Understanding how healthy individuals’ brains respond to feelings of guilt, the research team will research people suffering from severe depression, with whom previous studies have identified feelings of guilt have been abnormally active. Translating this insight into clinical research, they now have the tools to discover the key anatomical characteristics of the brain that may lie behind depressive disorders.

Here are some of my top picks of sites that provide trustworthy information and latest news about depression.

1. Depression.com

A site created by GlaxoSmithKline dedicated to understanding, treating and living with depression, this site provides and excellent insight to the condition. I particularly like their “Look, Listen and Learn” section in which you can answer questionnaires, create your personal treatment plan read what patients have to say.

Depression.com

2. RightHealth

Our partner site, RightHealth has a very logical and nicely presented section on depression, starting with basic facts and providing easy access in tab browsing to advanced reading, patient types and its community. I’m particularly impressed with the advanced reading section that features journals, research, case studies and clinical guides on depression.

RightHealth.com

3. QualityHealth

Also a partner site, QualityHealth’s section on depression really impressed me. It’s packed full of facts, recent news, videos, support groups and a glossary – all easily accessible on the depression homepage. The facts are quite astounding, it’s worth your time rolling the mouse over the numbers:

QualityHealth.com

Merchants offer 1344 depression products through HealthPricer.