U-M Depression Center is the First of Its Kind in the U.S.

The nation’s first comprehensive center devoted to depression treatment, research and education, has been established at the University of Michigan Health System.

John Greden Photo: Marcia Ledford

The new Depression Center will expand and unite the U-M’s extensive clinical and laboratory research programs; patient, family and community education programs; and training programs for health care professionals and students with the wide range of coordinated patient care services available at the U-M Health System. Its broad scope will allow the U-M to advance the field of depression on all fronts.

“The time is right to focus all our resources on understanding and defeating this illness, and the social stigma it carries, so we can help the 18 million Americans who suffer from depression every year,” says John Greden, M.D., the Center’s executive director. Greden is chair of the Department of Psychiatry and the Rachel Upjohn Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences at the U-M Medical School.

According to Greden, the new Center will address depression in people of all ages, as well as the postpartum, bipolar and treatment-resistant forms. A network of more than 100 physicians, scientists, psychologists, social workers, nurses and staff will care for patients, conduct research and provide education.

“We hope to lead the way in accelerating the pace of neuroscience research in depression, bringing the products of that research to patients, and reaching out to those who are coping with depression, those who care for them and those who make decisions about their care,” says Greden.

—Kara Gavin

Read more about the Depression Center, at:
www.med.umich.edu/depression
www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/depctr.htm

See John Greden’s Web page at:
www.med.umich.edu/psych/faculty/greden/greden.htm

For patient information on depression, visit:
www.med.umich.edu/1libr/mental/depres03.htm