Key Points
US researchers have developed a novel problem-solving therapy that boosts brain functions to relieve symptoms of depression, giving hope to millions worldwide...
The study led by a team from Stanford Medicine applied problem-solving therapya form of cognitive therapyon adults with both depression and obesity..
While 59 adults underwent a year-long programme of problem-solving therapy in addition to their usual care, such as medications and visits to a primary care physician, 49 only received usual care...
Among the problem-solving group, 32 per cent of participants responded to the therapytheir symptom severity halved, revealed the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine...
Brain scans showed that in the group receiving only usual care, a cognitive control circuit that became less active throughout the study correlated with worsening problem-solving ability...
