Social media linked to increased depression risk, Effexor need

Finding common factors that lead to depression can help doctors prescribe the right medications, such as Effexor, and come up with plans to remove triggers from patients' lives. Researchers recently investigated one of the major ways people now interact with one another in order to see if this tool, social media, is serving as an antidepressant or adding to negative feelings.

A study conducted by scientists at Humboldt University in Berlin and the Technical University of Darmstadt looked at how people felt when using Facebook, a site that allows millions of people to keep up with friends and family. Though some may feel more connected thanks to this resource, scientists found that about one-third of all people who make use of Facebook on a regular basis are likely to experience feelings of sadness, boredom, loneliness and isolation. Overall, the impact of social media use on these individuals could be leading to more depressive symptoms, the study concluded.

Changing the way people think and feel
Social networks provide more fluid communication, but researchers at the University of Kansas discovered that they may also be negatively impacting the overall quality of relationships. Romances also take a downward turn based on changes made on Facebook and Twitter, the source found, since misleading data, frequent alterations to personal statuses or lack of consistent face-to-face interactions can build tension between individuals and form opinions using information that may not be accurate.

"With more and more of our lives being lived both in the physical and virtual worlds, it's important to understand the kinds of impressions we give off to others through the traces we leave behind in our environments," said University of Texas study contributor Lindsay Graham.

These kinds of emotional elements could be adding to the depression and sadness of some users, making it dangerous for some people to view these sites, as it could excite relapses or intensify existing symptoms, reported the study.

The majority of online interactions now occur on sites like Facebook and Twitter, as more consumers are driven to this resource for advertising, business networking and social interaction, according to site traffic statistics. Many people may take advantage of online pharmacies to fill prescriptions in a more affordable manner, but based on research regarding the depressive effects of online communication, those taking Effexor may want to use these drug stores and then log off to keep their minds at ease.