19 Jan , 17:11
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Frequent yawning may signal depression treatment – an unexpected discovery by scientists. A new study has revealed a connection between increased yawning and antidepressant use in patients with major depressive disorder.
As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the Journal of Psychiatric Research, a group of scientists conducted a large-scale prospective observation of 150 patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the first time. After a month of therapy, 110 participants completed the study, showing notable improvement – significantly reduced severity of depressive symptoms and sleep problems.
However, specialists discovered an intriguing detail: the frequency and intensity of yawning in patients increased significantly. Before therapy, excessive yawning was noted in only 5.4% of participants, but after a month of treatment, this indicator jumped to 15.4%. Further analysis revealed a direct correlation between yawning intensity, severity of depressive condition, and sleep disturbances – both before the start of treatment and after its implementation.
Interestingly, in patients with a good response to treatment, yawning gradually decreased. However, for those who benefited less from therapy, this symptom only intensified. Researchers suggest that yawning may not just be a side effect of SSRIs, but also an important indicator of the effectiveness of the treatment being provided.
Despite the fact that additional research is required for practical application of these observations, the scientists' work emphasizes the need for careful attention even to seemingly minor symptoms when monitoring the condition of patients with depression.
