| Contact: Dacia Morris NY State Psychiatric Institute (212) 543-5421 morrisd@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu |
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MEDIA ADVISORY: DEATH OF SPALDING GRAY PUTS DEPRESSION IN MEDIA SPOTLIGHT WHO: Dr. Jonathan Stewart/Dr. Patrick McGrath, Depression Evaluation Service
WHAT: Depression & Suicide Depression is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder affecting approximately 19million American adults, and accounts for about 60% of the 30,000 suicides in the US each year. It is not a disease that discriminates and as the apparent suicide of Spalding Gray shows, even the famous and the wealthy are not immune to the destructive power it wields. Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in the US and the third leading cause of death in young people. Studies have shown that over 90% of suicides have at their root a psychiatric disorder, most often untreated depression. Dr. John Mann is the Chief of Neuroscience at Psychiatric Institute and President of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. His main area of research is the biological aspects of suicide. While studies have established that not all people who suffer from major depression go on to commit suicide, Dr. Mann is actively investigating the clinical and biological factors that predispose individuals to react to major depression by suicide. Drs. Jonathan Stewart and Patrick McGrath are researchers and psychiatrists who have investigated various treatments for depression. Dr. McGrath is currently carrying out PET studies, which indicate that certain areas of the brain of people with depression are less active. It is indisputable that the brains of people with depression look different from those of non-depressed people even when they’re sad. As understanding of the illness grows so does the effectiveness of treatment. More than 80% of people with depressive disorders improve when treated. Unfortunately, the availability of effective treatment did not spare the life of Spalding Gray. 3/2004
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