Overview
Major depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest. It can significantly impair daily functioning and is a common mental health condition.Diagnosis
Management
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Positive Psychotherapy (PPT) show efficacy in reducing depression symptoms compared to control conditions, with a small favorable effect 2.
MBCT and ACT may be superior to inactive or treatment-as-usual controls, while PPT may be comparable to active controls after acute therapy 2.
Dietary interventions may improve depression, though the internal validity of supporting randomized clinical trials (RCTs) was low 1.
Adherence to certain dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, is associated with fewer self-reported depressive symptoms 1.Special Populations
Key Recommendations
Consider MBCT, ACT, or PPT for the treatment of major depression, as these therapies have demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptoms 2. (Evidence: Moderate)
Dietary interventions may be considered as an adjunctive approach for depression management, although evidence strength is variable and quality of supporting RCTs is low 1. (Evidence: Weak)
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may be associated with a reduction in self-reported depressive symptoms 1. (Evidence: Moderate)References
1 Molero P, De Lorenzi F, Gędek A, Strater C, Popescu E, Ortuño F et al.. Diet quality and depression risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Journal of affective disorders 2025. link
2 Seshadri A, Orth SS, Adaji A, Singh B, Clark MM, Frye MA et al.. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Positive Psychotherapy for Major Depression. American journal of psychotherapy 2021. link