Major depression is an illness that can be treated. It stands as one of the most common psychiatric disorders, and affects about one in eight people. The World Health Organization ranks depression as one of the top causes of suffering and disability world wide, yet effective treatment is available.

Our research program is focused on improving treatments for depression. Many of our projects examine how depression affects brain function, how brain activity changes when a person is being treated, and how this information might be used to provide more effective care for people with depression.

Our clinical research projects are currently open for enrollment. Please click here to read more online and call us at 310-825-3351 for more information about participating.

 

Do I have Clinical Depression?

You may wish to test yourself with the questions on the PHQ-9, the 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire.

Some people choose to print out their answers and share them with their own doctor, as a way to start the discussion of how to feel well again; for their own safety, people with thoughts of harming themselves should proceed to the nearest emergency room, with the help of others if needed.

More about preventing suicide and self-destructive behaviors from the American Psychiatric Association
Copyright © 2005-08 Ian A Cook MD, the UCLA Unipolar Depression Research Program, and
UCLA Laboratory of Brain, Behavior, and Pharmacology, All Rights Reserved