explanation Much research into psychological and biological aspects of depression has been done in selected samples. The results are usually not representative of ‘real world’ depressive patients. Some recent naturalistic studies like the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (nesda), provide a more complete picture of psychological and biological aspects of mood and anxiety disorders and their naturalistic treatment.
In this symposium we will discuss new nesda data on the use of symptom dimensions as predictors of the course of mood and anxiety disorders, on the effects of antidepressants on measures of the autonomic nervous, and on the effects of antidepressants on the stress system. We will also discuss the results of an independent large randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of n-3 fatty acids for the prevention of depression.
aim After this symposium the participant will have insight in the type and relevance of data that can be gathered with large naturalistic studies on depression and anxiety, and will be able to discuss the use of n-3 fatty acids in the prevention of depression.