DEPRESSION DIET HOPE

Geelong leads world in quest to beat blues

AWORLD-first trial in Geelong may establish whether a healthy diet can improve the lives of those with depression.

Deakin University Associate Professor Felice Jacka said the study could significantly benefit the close to 60,000 people in our region who are likely to suffer from depression at some point in their lives.

‘‘The hope is that, if the trial is successful and improving diets works to help people feel better, then this is a treatment strategy that can be rolled out to doctors and psychiatrists around the country,’’ Prof Jacka said said.

Fellow researcher Dr Adrienne O’Neil said the randomised control trial would be the first to recruit people with depression and intervene in their eating habits, building on what was only observational evidence of the benefits of healthy e a t i n g for people with depression.

‘ ‘ A lifestyle intervention for depression is likely to lead to better outcomes for those affected by the disorder and reduce the public health burden of psychiatric illness in Australia,’’ Dr O’Neil said.

The Deakin researchers, working with Barwon Health, are calling for 100 adults with depression to take part in the trial.

Prof Jacka said her previous research had demonstrated that healthy eating reduced the risk of depression.

‘‘A number of studies have shown pretty conclusively that if you eat a healthier diet then it reduces your risk for depression, and if you eat lots of junk then that increases your risk,’’ Prof Jacka said.

She said foods such as chips, pies, hamburgers and pizza had a detrimental impact on mental health, while fish, l ean red meat, wholegrains, fruit and vegetables were beneficial.

Prof Jacka said there were several possibilities that could explain these links, but that further research was required to establish a definitive answer.

Dr O’Neil said the new trial aimed to conclusively answer a question often asked by mental health patients: ‘‘If I improve my diet, will I feel less depressed?’’

She said the results of the trial could help those who were not responding to medication and counselling.

‘‘ This approach is likely to be costeffective, highly acceptable to consumers, and be widely applicable at a population level,’’ Dr O’Neil said.

Barwon headspace manager Toni van Hamond said that, while a ‘‘ holistic approach’’ was needed to treat depression, the trial’s analysis of eating choices was ‘‘brilliant’’.

To join the trial, you must be over 18 and suffering from major depressive disorder.

Register your interest with the researchers on 5246 8170 (in Geelong) or 03 8415 0944 ( in Melbourne).