#Depression

A newly published research review is spotlighting an often overlooked—and intensely difficult—symptom at the heart of depression: anhedonia, the loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyable activities. This critical symptom, psychiatrists say, not only makes depression harder to treat but also increases the risk of chronic suffering. Recent scientific efforts unravel the complex roots and persistence of anhedonia, suggesting new ways forward for both patients and health professionals, including targeted therapies and hope for personalised interventions (WebMD).

A growing body of research reveals why many people aged 65 and older experience depressive symptoms after retirement. In Thailand’s rapidly aging society, these findings highlight social, emotional, and structural factors shaping elder well-being. Retirement is often framed as leisure, but studies show it can bring emotional challenges, especially for those with limited daily structure or smaller support networks.

Retirement transforms daily life, identity, and social ties. Some retirees feel liberated from work pressures, while others sense a loss of purpose, routine, and self-worth. The emotional weight of leaving the workforce can be amplified by regrets and awareness of life’s limits. These themes are frequently observed during Thai community health outreach and hospital visits.

A growing body of psychological research is illuminating why many people over 65 experience depression after retirement, raising questions about the social, emotional, and structural factors affecting Thailand’s rapidly aging population. While the end of a career is often portrayed as a joyous transition into leisure, recent findings suggest that the journey into retirement can be fraught with unexpected emotional challenges—particularly for those with fewer support networks or limited daily structure.

The persistent inability to experience pleasure—a symptom known as anhedonia—is emerging as a significant and stubborn challenge in the treatment of depression, according to recent research that is sparking hope for new therapeutic approaches (WebMD). While most people associate depression with low mood, anhedonia is recognized by psychiatrists worldwide as a key, yet often overlooked, impediment to recovery. Its impact is widespread, contributing to longer and more severe episodes of depression, and placing affected individuals at higher risk for suicide.

Anhedonia—the persistent inability to feel pleasure—poses a significant hurdle in treating depression. New research argues it is a distinct brain process that may require therapies beyond traditional antidepressants. For Thai patients and families, this insight clarifies care paths and helps reduce stigma around mental health.

In Thailand, depression is often misunderstood, and anhedonia can be mistaken for laziness or lack of effort. Clinicians emphasize that anhedonia is a neurobiological symptom, not a character flaw. Recognizing this distinction supports compassionate, evidence-based treatment plans for patients, families, and healthcare teams.

A global review of 64 over-the-counter and natural remedies for depression finds only a few with solid evidence of benefit. Published in 2025, the study urges caution against aggressive marketing of supplements and provides guidance for Thai consumers and healthcare professionals seeking safe, accessible options.

Depression affects people worldwide, including Thailand, where symptoms surged after the COVID-19 era and amid ongoing economic pressures. In Thai communities, mental health stigma still leads many to try herbs or traditional medicines instead of seeking professional care. Data from international research underscore the need for reliable information on effective treatments.

A sweeping new scientific review analyzing 64 commonly used natural and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies for depression has revealed that just a few have real evidence backing their effectiveness, raising important questions for both Thai consumers and healthcare professionals seeking safe, accessible options for managing mental health. The findings, published in 2025 and featured on Science Daily, challenge widespread assumptions about the power of widely sold supplements and herbs, highlighting which products may truly help—and which may offer nothing more than hope in a bottle.

A groundbreaking study from Denmark, recently published in The Lancet Psychiatry, offers new understanding of family patterns in mental health disorders. The research confirms that relatives of individuals with mental illness face a higher risk themselves—yet, surprisingly, most cases still occur among people with no prior family history. This finding is poised to reshape mental health awareness and prevention strategies not just globally but also in Thailand, where mental health remains a growing public health priority.

A major Danish study published in The Lancet Psychiatry reveals how mental disorders cluster in families, while also showing that most cases occur without a known family history. The findings carry important implications for mental health awareness and prevention in Thailand, where well-being has become a national priority.

Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, addiction, schizophrenia, and personality disorders affect millions worldwide and are increasingly part of Thailand’s public health dialogue. Led by researchers at Aarhus University’s National Centre for Register-Based Research, the study is among the largest of its kind. Over fifty years, scientists tracked more than 3 million people, linking registry data to map patterns within families. This extensive approach yields robust statistics that can inform policy and practice in Thailand and beyond.

New research suggests a subtle but meaningful link between daily body heat and depressive moods. In a large, multi-year study, researchers analyzed seven months of data from more than 20,000 volunteers across 106 countries. Participants wore rings that tracked core and skin temperatures, revealing that higher depression scores tended to align with slightly warmer bodies—even when the rise was less than a degree. The pattern held across climates, ages, and seasons, indicating a robust association worth further exploration.

A groundbreaking new study has uncovered a surprising biological link between body temperature and depression, suggesting that even slight rises in daily body heat may march hand-in-hand with emotional lows. The research, conducted by an international team led by investigators at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and published in Scientific Reports, has far-reaching implications for the early detection and potential treatment of depression—an issue of deep and growing concern for Thais and others worldwide grappling with mental health challenges (Earth.com).

A well-known British comedian recently described a life-changing moment: after decades of severe depression, joy returned within seconds once he learned he has adult ADHD. He called the experience transformative, even magical. The personal story aligns with a growing body of research showing many adults carry undiagnosed ADHD and how it intersects with chronic depression.

In Thailand, mental health is increasingly prioritized, with rising rates of depression and anxiety especially in Bangkok’s urban environment. Many adults experience low mood and motivation that are often misread as personal fault. Global research indicates a notable portion of adults treated for depression may actually have undiagnosed ADHD, a condition once considered only a childhood issue but now recognized as a lifelong challenge.

In a striking recent interview, a well-known British comedian revealed that after nearly three decades living under the shadow of severe depression, his mood and capacity for joy improved within seconds of learning he had adult ADHD—a moment he described as transformative and almost magical. While this story (reported by The Guardian) is deeply personal, it highlights a growing body of research underscoring the hidden prevalence of undiagnosed ADHD among adults, and its strong association with chronic depression. For many, especially in societies where mental health remains stigmatized, this account may offer new hope—and vital information about alternative pathways to recovery.

The objects and habits that fill our homes may reveal more about our psychological wellbeing than we realise, recent research shows. An article published by YourTango on July 20, 2025, highlights 11 household items and behaviours frequently found in the homes of deeply unhappy individuals—items that most others would never choose to acquire. With the quality of our living space increasingly recognised as a key driver of mental health, psychologists and medical professionals are urging a closer look at our environments and what we keep within them.

A growing body of research suggests our living spaces reveal more about mental health than we may realize. A recent feature highlights 11 common household patterns that correlate with unhappiness, urging a closer look at how environments influence mood, stress, and daily functioning.

Data from a leading environmental health journal supports links between cluttered, unhealthy environments and lower mood. In Thailand, rapid urbanisation, digital lifestyles, and consumerism are reshaping homes and routines. With many people living in high-density housing or working from home, concerns mount about the quiet mental health effects of these trends.

A recently published study has uncovered a troubling association between so-called “honor cultures” and higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation, raising important questions for societies across Asia and the world, including Thailand. The research, first reported by PsyPost, reveals that environments where family reputation, social standing, and personal honor are emphasized may also be environments where mental health challenges are more acute and more stigmatized.

This study matters for Thai readers, as many elements of Thai society—from family life to community expectations—are influenced by honor-based values, though their form and impact can vary. Understanding how these cultural factors may increase vulnerability to depression or even suicidal thoughts is crucial given ongoing national efforts to address mental health and improve prevention services.

A new international study links honor-focused cultures with higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts. The research suggests that pressures around reputation and face can amplify stress and deter people from seeking help. For Thai readers, this underscores why culturally informed mental health support matters in Thailand’s communities and schools.

Thai society values respect, hierarchy, and communal harmony. These strengths can also make talking about distress difficult. Understanding how cultural expectations affect mental health is essential as Thailand scales up prevention services and youth-focused interventions.

A new review of over-the-counter mood supplements helps clarify what might help for mild to moderate depression—and where evidence remains limited. The analysis examined 209 studies and was led by researchers from Southern Cross University, offering a clearer view for Thai consumers navigating a busy market of vitamins, herbs, and dietary products.

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, including Thailand. Many people turn to mood boosters such as omega-3 capsules or herbal teas due to stigma around treatment, cost barriers, or hesitation about prescription medicines. In Thailand, rising health awareness and a thriving herbal-supplement scene linked to traditional medicine mirror global trends highlighted by the review.

A new review of over-the-counter supplements popular among people with depression has found that while some may offer benefits—particularly for those with mild to moderate symptoms—the evidence supporting most supermarket remedies remains limited and nuanced. The findings, drawing from an assessment of 209 studies and reviewed by prominent researchers at Southern Cross University, further clarify the role of widely available vitamins, herbal products, and dietary supplements in mental health care as Thai consumers face a similarly surging marketplace for such treatments.

A recent UK review identifies four dietary supplements with the strongest evidence for easing depressive symptoms: St. John’s wort, probiotics, vitamin D, and saffron. The analysis examined hundreds of trials across 64 over-the-counter products, reflecting growing global interest in self-care for mental wellbeing amid persistent stigma around psychiatric treatment. In Thailand, mental health data highlight the demand for affordable, accessible options. The Department of Mental Health estimates that more than 1.5 million residents experience depressive disorders, with many undiagnosed due to stigma or barriers to care. The global supplements market has surged to roughly 152 billion dollars, driven in part by social media promotion of mood-boosting products, though robust evidence for many supplements remains elusive.

A new review from researchers in the United Kingdom has highlighted four dietary supplements—St. John’s wort, probiotics, vitamin D, and saffron—that present the strongest evidence for easing depressive symptoms, according to an analysis published this week in Health.com (health.com). The study, which assessed hundreds of clinical trials covering 64 different over-the-counter supplements, arrives as Thailand and the world see surging interest in self-care for mental wellbeing amid persistent stigma around psychiatric treatment.

Groundbreaking research into psychedelic compounds is shedding new light on how these substances might revolutionize the treatment of mental health disorders, promising innovative alternatives for people in Thailand and across the globe. A suite of recent studies explores the biological and psychological mechanisms by which psychedelics—including psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ayahuasca, and MDMA—modulate brain circuits, emotions, and cognition with potentially enduring therapeutic benefits. These advances herald a growing shift from anecdotal and early-phase examinations of psychedelics toward a more rigorous, mechanistic understanding crucial for clinical application.

A newly published review in JAMA Psychiatry has sparked controversy among mental health experts, raising concerns that it significantly underestimates the risks faced by long-term users of antidepressants when they attempt to discontinue their medication. The debate centers on the review’s focus on short-term, industry-funded studies and has important implications for millions worldwide, including a growing cohort of patients in Thailand who rely on antidepressant therapy.

Antidepressant withdrawal — the range of physical and psychological symptoms experienced when stopping or reducing dosage — has come under increased scrutiny as more people use these medications for extended periods. While previous medical guidelines, such as those from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), described withdrawal as “brief and mild,” recent scrutiny has revealed a more complex picture, particularly for long-term users. The new JAMA Psychiatry review, authored in part by academics with ties to pharmaceutical companies, concludes that withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants are generally not clinically significant for most users, especially those on the medication for only eight to twelve weeks. Its analysis, based on eleven trials — the vast majority of which involved short-term use — found slightly more withdrawal symptoms in those stopping antidepressants than in placebo groups, but the authors attribute much of this to the “nocebo effect” (the power of negative expectations to trigger adverse symptoms) rather than to withdrawal itself.

A wave of new research is exploring psychedelic compounds as potential tools for mental health care. Studies look at substances such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and MDMA to understand their effects on brain circuits, emotions, and cognition, with the aim of delivering lasting therapeutic benefits. Researchers stress the importance of rigorous science to guide clinical use and ensure patient safety.

Thailand faces a rising burden of mental health issues, a concern amplified by the social and economic strains of the COVID-19 era. While attitudes toward psychedelics remain conservative in Thai communities, international findings offer potential pathways to diversify and strengthen existing therapies. Public health officials emphasize the need for culturally sensitive approaches that align with local values and clinical standards.