Contacts:
Sarah Goodwin
Kathi Ovnic
Holly Korschun

June 1, 1999

'RELEVANCE OF THYROID IN DEPRESSION' DISCUSSED BY EMORY PSYCHIATRIST AT JUNE 15 LECTURE

Emory University psychiatrist Philip Ninan, M.D., will discuss at a public lecture the importance of understanding thyroid gland function in treating major depression.

The Relevance of Thyroid in Depression lecture is planned for Tuesday, June 15 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the fourth floor conference room of Wesley Woods Health Center, 1841 Clifton Rd., N.E. The lecture is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the mood and anxiety disorders program of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Both underactive (hypothyroidism) and overactive (hyperthyroidism) thyroid are related to a variety of mood and anxiety syndromes, and thyroid dysfunction can reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants. Dr. Ninan is one of the researchers in a National Institute of Mental Health study evaluating whether thyroid hormone supplementation increases benefit from antidepressants in persons with depression.

Dr. Ninan also will provide an overview of new antidepressants including those currently under investigation at Emory and elsewhere.

For information, call 404/ 727-8968 or visit the program's website at: www.emory.edu/WHSC/MED/PSYCHIATRY/MOODANXIETY.

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