Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (807 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Depressive states usually of moderate intensity in contrast with major depressive disorder present in neurotic and psychotic disorders.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Depressive Symptoms; Depressive Symptom; Symptom, Depressive; Emotional Depression; Depression, Emotional.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Behavioral Symptoms; Emotions
- See also
- Antidepressive Agents
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 187,728 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Depression” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 68,458 of them (36.5%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 68,458 records.
Reviews account for 19,734 records (10.5%) and meta-analyses for 4,933. Randomized controlled trials number 11,105 (5.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 27,545 |
| 2000-2009 | 26,364 |
| 2010-2019 | 65,361 |
| 2020 onward | 68,458 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 19,734 | 10.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 4,933 | 2.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 11,105 | 5.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Depression"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in psychiatry and psychology
Research on mental health and behaviour relies on questionnaires, interviews and rating scales rather than physical measurements, so how a condition was defined and measured shapes every result. Many studies are observational or small, placebo responses can be large, and findings in one group or culture may not carry over to another. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; anyone worried about their mental health should talk to a qualified clinician. Check how outcomes were measured, who took part and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identifying online racism: Longitudinal pathways to depression symptomology among Black adolescents | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42934907 · DOI · PMC13710791 |
| Incorporating Data From Text Messages and Email Into Psychotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42896155 · DOI · PMC13679906 |
| Dual Sensory Impairment and Depressive Symptoms: Association and Pathways in Three Cohorts and a Meta-Analysis | 2026 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42819014 · DOI · PMC13624546 |
Identifying online racism: Longitudinal pathways to depression symptomology among Black adolescents [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Online racism is increasingly becoming a public health concern, with the short-term psychological consequences of online racism on Black adolescents well documented.
- Closing excerpt
- Overall, these findings highlight the need to consider how changes in Black adolescents' exposure to online racism over time may shape their psychological well-being and underscore the importance of addressing both direct and indirect forms of online racism as salient developmental stressors for Black adolescents.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (198 words)
Online racism is increasingly becoming a public health concern, with the short-term psychological consequences of online racism on Black adolescents well documented. Although previous investigations have focused on the unidimensional and cross-sectional effects of online racism related to depressive symptoms, our understanding of the multidimensional aspects and longitudinal effects of online racism on depressive symptoms among Black adolescents remains limited. Thus, the current investigation contributes to the growing body of literature on online racism exposure among Black adolescents by exploring the longitudinal changes in the identification of online racism exposure and how it is related to later depressive symptoms. Using a sample of 135 self-identified Black adolescents ranging from 11 to 19 years old (Mage = 14 years; SD = 2.44), the results indicated that an increased positive change in individual ORD exposure and vicarious ORD, but not traumatic events online (TEO), was associated with an increase in depression symptoms at wave 2. Overall, these findings highlight the need to consider how changes in Black adolescents' exposure to online racism over time may shape their psychological well-being and underscore the importance of addressing both direct and indirect forms of online racism as salient developmental stressors for Black adolescents.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42934907 · DOI · PMC13710791
Incorporating Data From Text Messages and Email Into Psychotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundAs digital communication becomes central to daily life, psychotherapy increasingly has access to patients' electronic media data.
- Closing excerpt
- However, access to greater amounts of collateral information, including electronic media, influenced clinical decision-making, suggesting nuanced and context-dependent effects.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (315 words)
BackgroundAs digital communication becomes central to daily life, psychotherapy increasingly has access to patients' electronic media data. Although digital phenotyping has been widely studied, less is known about whether incorporating personal communication data, such as text messages, improves clinical outcomes in psychotherapy.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine whether integrating personalized text message data into psychotherapy improves depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, and therapeutic alliance and to examine whether increased access to collateral information influences clinical decision-making.MethodsThe Electronic Media and its Impact on Psychotherapy (EMAP) study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in adult and geriatric outpatient and partial hospitalization settings at an academic psychiatric hospital. Participants receiving psychotherapy for primary depression or anxiety (n=101) were randomized to electronic media-enhanced therapy (EME; n=52) or treatment as usual (TAU; n=49). In EME, research staff reviewed participants' text messages prior to sessions using personalized mood-related key terms and presented aggregated findings on a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant clinician dashboard. TAU participants received standard care without message review. Outcomes included change scores for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and the Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR). Linear regression and nonparametric tests compared groups. Moderation analyses assessed whether the frequency of information access influenced treatment changes.ResultsNo statistically significant between-group differences were observed in anxiety or working alliance. Among participants with SF-36 follow-up data (n=65), EME participants demonstrated greater improvement in the pain subscale. Greater frequency of information access was associated with increased treatment-related changes in the EME group. Access to additional collateral information was associated with more clinical actions but not with improved distal outcomes.ConclusionsIntegrating personalized text message data into short-term psychotherapy did not significantly improve depression or anxiety, and it neither improved nor worsened therapeutic alliance. However, access to greater amounts of collateral information, including electronic media, influenced clinical decision-making, suggesting nuanced and context-dependent effects.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42896155 · DOI · PMC13679906
Dual Sensory Impairment and Depressive Symptoms: Association and Pathways in Three Cohorts and a Meta-Analysis [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundThe overall impact of dual sensory impairment (DSI) on depressive symptoms and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear, particularly across different culture contexts.
- Closing excerpt
- The mediation effects are largely robust, with instability observed only in one sensitivity analysis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (294 words)
BackgroundThe overall impact of dual sensory impairment (DSI) on depressive symptoms and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear, particularly across different culture contexts. This study aimed to examine the association between DSI and depressive symptoms in three distinct populations while exploring the mediating roles of social engagement and cognitive function.MethodsParticipants were recruited from three aging cohorts: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Harmonized survey wave data (2011/2012, 2015/2016, and 2018) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and DSI was defined based on self-reported hearing and vision impairments. To address potential confounding, logistic regression models were adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and health factors. Mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS Macro (model 4) to examine the roles of social engagement and cognitive function. Furthermore, a meta-analysis was performed by integrating the results of the present study with those from previous cohort studies.ResultsThe study included 19,310 participants from the three cohorts. Separate analyses showed that DSI was significantly associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms across these cohorts (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.33 in CHARLS; OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.78-2.31 in HRS; OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.79-3.00 in ELSA). A meta-analysis confirmed this association (OR = 1.73 and HR = 1.30). This relationship was partially mediated by reduced social engagement (2.31%-6.35%) and cognitive decline (5.72%-14.00%).ConclusionsDSI is consistently associated with depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults across China, the United States, and England. Both reduced social engagement and cognitive decline significantly mediated this association, with comparable effect sizes. The mediation effects are largely robust, with instability observed only in one sensitivity analysis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42819014 · DOI · PMC13624546
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Effect of Anti-Inflammatory Treatment on Depressive Symptom Severity and Anhedonia in Depressed Individuals With Elevated Inflammation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials [4]
- Research article Uptake, Adherence, and Attrition in Clinical Trials of Depression and Anxiety Apps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article Effectiveness of just-in-time adaptive interventions for improving mental health and psychological well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Effect of exercise interventions on depression, anxiety, and self-esteem in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Correlations between social media addiction and anxiety, depression, FoMO, loneliness and self-esteem among students: A systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Vestibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [9]
Full-text reviews on EvidenceLib
Open-access review articles about this topic, reproduced in full with authors, licence and references.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and coexisting depression, anxiety and/or stress in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Sue Shea, Christos Lionis, Chris Kite et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024 · CC BY 4.0
Maternal Fiber Intake and Perinatal Depression and Anxiety
Neda Ebrahimi, Tiffany Turner, Faith Gallant et al. · Nutrients 2024 · CC BY 4.0
Exploring Heterogeneity in perinatal depression: a comprehensive review
Ahmed Waqas, Mahnoor Nadeem, Atif Rahman · BMC Psychiatry 2023 · CC BY 4.0
Prevalence and correlates of perinatal depression
Khalood Al-abri, Dawn Edge, Christopher J Armitage · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2023 · CC BY 4.0
Neuroinflammation as an etiological trigger for depression comorbid with inflammatory bowel disease
Colin F. Craig, Rhiannon T. Filippone, Rhian Stavely et al. · Journal of Neuroinflammation 2022 · CC BY 4.0
References
- Gibson SM, Knox J, Lozada FT, Tynes BM. Identifying online racism: Longitudinal pathways to depression symptomology among Black adolescents. . 2026. PMID 42934907 · DOI · PMC13710791
- Vahia IV, Kimball J, Ren B, Cray H, Dickinson R, Kim H, et al.. Incorporating Data From Text Messages and Email Into Psychotherapy: Randomized Controlled Trial. . 2026. PMID 42896155 · DOI · PMC13679906
- Ni P, Liu L, Zeng L, Ge M, Wang F, Hu X. Dual Sensory Impairment and Depressive Symptoms: Association and Pathways in Three Cohorts and a Meta-Analysis. . 2026. PMID 42819014 · DOI · PMC13624546
- Mac Giollabhui N, Madison AA, Lydston M, Lenoel Quang E, Miller AH, Liu RT. Effect of Anti-Inflammatory Treatment on Depressive Symptom Severity and Anhedonia in Depressed Individuals With Elevated Inflammation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Psychiatry. 2026. PMID 41366844 · DOI · PMC12910469
- Liu C, Torous J, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Messer M, Anderson C, Soliman OM, et al.. Uptake, Adherence, and Attrition in Clinical Trials of Depression and Anxiety Apps: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2026. PMID 41259035 · DOI
- von Lützow U, Neuendorf NL, Scherr S. Effectiveness of just-in-time adaptive interventions for improving mental health and psychological well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Ment Health. 2025. PMID 41027677 · DOI · PMC12481328
- Zhou S, Xu Y, Yang Y, Song H, Wang X, Yu Y. Effect of exercise interventions on depression, anxiety, and self-esteem in children and adolescents: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2025. PMID 41174613 · DOI · PMC12577281
- Jing Z, Yang W, Lei Z, Junmei W, Hui L, Tianmin Z. Correlations between social media addiction and anxiety, depression, FoMO, loneliness and self-esteem among students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2025. PMID 40991552 · DOI · PMC12459768
- Kim CH, McCray LR, Nguyen SA, Staab JP, Jafri S, Rizk H. Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Vestibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Laryngoscope. 2026. PMID 40815545 · DOI · PMC12793953
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.