loader image
Friday, March 29, 2024
64 F
McAllen
We Welcome your Press Release
- Advertisement -

New finding offers promise in researching depression together with obesity

Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages!

Researching depression together with obesity promises new hope for many. Image for illustration purposes.

Mega Doctor News

- Advertisement -

By University of Illinois Chicago

Newswise — Is problem-solving therapy effective in treating individuals who have both depression and obesity? Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified an important step toward discovering how and why therapies and treatments work. 

Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that problem-solving therapy led to short-term changes in the amygdala — the gateway to emotion regulation in the brain.  Dr. Jun Ma, Beth and George Vitoux Professor of Medicine at the UIC department of medicine, is a senior author of the study: “Problem-solving therapy–induced amygdala engagement mediates lifestyle behavior change in obesity with comorbid depression: a randomized proof-of-mechanism trial.” 

- Advertisement -

“The goal of the study is to explore whether an intervention for comorbid obesity and depression has an effect on brain function as a causal mechanism that leads to behavior change and symptom improvement,” Ma said. 

In previous research, depression has been characterized by heightened amygdala activity along with a loss of amygdala regulation. Changes in amygdala activity correlate with responses to cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression and antidepressants. The new study is the first to investigate these neural targets in response to depression treatment for weight loss and behavior change among patients with both obesity and depression using a randomized clinical trial. 

For the current study, adults with both obesity and depression received problem-solving therapy for depression for the first two months in a yearlong, integrated behavioral treatment for both conditions. They underwent functional MRI brain imaging at the beginning of the study, then after two months. Their body mass index (BMI), physical activity and diet were measured at the study’s beginning, as well as after 12 months. Neural target changes were measured and compared with the control group, which received no problem-solving therapy. 

The research found amygdala changes associated with physical activity levels as well as energy expenditure. The neural target changes at two months predicted the improved behavioral outcomes after 12 months, which is important to demonstrate potential causal mechanisms, Ma said. 

- Advertisement -

“The goal is to study the causal mechanisms and understand how and why behavioral treatments such as problem-solving therapy work so that we can more precisely target the mechanism in order to improve treatment efficacy for patients,” Ma said. “These findings give us a promising direction for future research to hopefully confirm this causal pathway.” 

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

More Articles

A Message from Dr. Zaafran’s, Texas Medical Board President

In an inspiring gesture of gratitude and recognition, Dr. Sherif Zaafran, President of the Texas Medical Board, extends a heartfelt thank you to physicians nationwide ahead of the upcoming National Doctor's Day on March 30th.

Publisher’s Word: Dr. Andrew W. Phillips and the Pioneering ECMO Program at DHR Health

Over the past year, the Rio Grande Valley has witnessed groundbreaking medical advancements, with DHR Health's Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program leading the charge.

Dr. Andrew W. Phillips and the Pioneering ECMO Program at DHR Health

In a year marked by significant medical advancements within the Rio Grande Valley, DHR Health's celebration of the first anniversary of its Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program stands out as state-of-the-art innovation and hope.

DHR Health Physicians, First in Texas to Offer Innovative Patient-Centric Treatment for Urge Urinary Incontinence

UUI, also known as urgent bladder leaks, is a common and often embarrassing problem.
- Advertisement -
×