Q: What have been the most significant advances in the field of depression research lately?

Much progress has been made in the management of mood disorders and effective drugs are now available.  Remission can be seen as a complete change in the humour of the patient, a lack of suicidal thoughts and a change in behaviour. Remission can be aided by the combined use of psychiatric and psychotherapy, including exercise and arts therapies. Exercise, for example, produces endorphins that have been shown to be useful in the management of depression.

In Dr Junior’s opinion, the most significant advance in the field of depression is the acceptance of depression as a disease by society in general. People need to care more.