Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a procedure that conducts electrical pulses, which are directed to stimulate certain lobes of the brain. Areas affected by this treatment increase mood-enhancing compound levels, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin.

Over the course of three weeks, a total of 301 patients with mood disorders received the electrical waves five days each week, once every day. These individuals remained awake during TMS, and didn't need anesthesia or sedation medication.

The participants reported that they had an improved outlook on life, were less depressed and capable of leading a more normal lifestyle.

Murali S. Rao, lead author of the research, stated that "the electrical pulses target the nerve cells in the region of the brain called the left prefrrontial cortex, the region of the brain that regulars our moods." He added that "the pulses are mild and painless and patients are able to immediately return to normal activities."

Another natural alternative to treating mood disorders is practicing tai chi, a low-impact for of martial arts, according to a study conducted at the Tufts University School of Medicine.

Recently, a team of researchers analyzed the results of 24 different trials, and of the studies, 21 included participants who reported positive results when taking the supplements. Furthermore, these individuals didn't experience any serious side effects.

The investigators concluded that the capsules that were most effective against these health problems contained passion flower or kava extract as well as L-lysine and L-arginine, which are both amino acids. While the supplements alleviated some anxiety symptoms, the team suggests that further studies will be needed to determine the proper daily dosage, and the most effective amount against each disorder.

"Our review and summary of the literature on herbal remedies and dietary supplements for anxiety should aid mental health practitioners in advising their patients and provide insight for future research in this field," Shaheen Lakhan, co-author of the research.

In 2006, an estimated 11.3 percent of people in the U.S. were diagnosed with anxiety disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For the study, a total of 69 men who ranged in age from older teenagers to adults in their 60s underwent a series of psychiatric tests. The team then surveyed each individual about their childhood, and found that 19 men suffered from moderate to severe neglect or abuse as an adolescent.

The questionnaire was followed by a social stress test participants had their vital signs monitored and gave blood samples.

As a result, blood samples taken from men who were mistreated as boys had high levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory marker that is associated with depression. The researchers concluded that larger study groups will be needed to determine if a stressful childhood will increase one's risk of developing a mood disorder.

Linda Carpenter, lead author of the research, stated that "we're not yet at a point, where we can say to help people 'Go get your stress test done.'" She added that "but what's clear is that a life of excess stress-induced inflammatory chemicals in your bloodstream is unlikely to be a good thing."

Currently, one in 10 adults in the U.S. suffers from depression, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. 

Individuals who have developed this mood disorder are commonly treated with medications. However, the use of these drugs can result in a variety of side effects, including drowsiness, nausea and weight gain.

In an effort to alleviate depression symptoms without suffering from medication side effects, researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles observed the use of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) over the course of eight weeks. During the therapy, two wires are attached to the forehead and measure electrical currents sent into the trigeminal nerve, which was observed each night of the study for eight hours.

The results of the study showed that individuals who were treated with TNS were 70 percent less likely to suffer depression-related symptoms. Also, TNS patients were 80 percent more likely to experienced remission of the mood disorder.

In the U.S., approximately 10 percent of the nation's population aged 18 years and older suffers from depressive symptoms, according to DepressionStatistics.org.

For example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has announced it will be enhancing its Hearts and Minds initiative by offering videos of guided meditation as well as information on other natural and alternative therapies – including yoga and creative arts – that can help affected individuals sustain their recovery process.

Hearts and Minds is designed to promote the idea successful and healthy life depends on the well-being of both the mind and the body.

"Medication and therapy are crucial to recovery, but everyone’s experience is different," said the grassroot organization’s executive director Michael Fitzpatrick, stressing the importance of exploring different holistic therapies to see what works for each person.

"Outlets for self-awareness exist in every state and local community," he added.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some 26 percent of adult Americans suffer from a mental condition — such as mood, anxiety or eating disorder — in a given year.

Researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada analyzed questionnaires from women who participated in a 10-week session of Iyengar yoga before and after the regimen was completed.

They discovered that a staggering 94 percent of the patients reported improvements in their quality of life, 88 percent felt better physically, and overwhelming majorities saw an increase in happiness and lower levels of fatigue.

The women also tended to have a better body image, and lower levels of stress and depression.

The study was recently detailed in the journal Cancer Nursing, and the researchers say they plan to use upcoming Iyengar yoga sessions to examine how the practice affects recovering cancer patients’ joint range of motion, upper body strength as well as balance.

In an effort to determine the effects of the mental illnesses on heart health, two groups of researchers observed two groups of people who had been diagnosed with at least one form of anxiety disorder.

During the first trial, investigators examined information collected from the medical records of approximately 250,000 people over a 20-year span. The team discovered that people who had developed anxiety during the time span were 26 percent more likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease and had a 48 percent higher risk of dying due to cardiovascular complications.

The investigators who conducted the second study observed 50,000 men aged 18 to 20 years who had served in the military and found that individuals who were diagnosed with anxiety were twice as likely to suffer from coronary blockages or heart attacks, the website reported.

Both teams of researchers concluded that while psychological disorders can have stressful effects on the heart, further research is necessary in order to determine ways to alleviate the damage that can lead to cardiovascular complications.

In 2006, approximately 11.3 percent of the United States population was diagnosed with anxiety-related disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In an effort to determine how anxiety may affect people with heart problems, investigators examined more than 1,000 patients who had been diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The team conducted a series of tests on the participants, took both blood and urine samples, and interviewed each individual.

Following approximately six years of follow-ups, 371 of the patients suffered some form of cardiovascular complications. Of the people who developed the health problems, 9.6 percent had anxiety disorders, while 6.6 percent were free of these psychological problems.

Also, the team discovered that patients with the disorders were 74 percent more likely to suffer a stroke, heart attack, heart failure and death.

The authors of the study concluded that "generalized anxiety disorder may be considered a prognostic factor in patients with coronary heart disease and could be used in risk stratification." They added that "evaluation and treatment of anxiety may also be considered as part of the comprehensive management of patients with coronary heart disease."

In addition to monitoring anxiety disorders, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that coronary heart disease patients lower both their cholesterol and blood pressure levels in order to avoid further cardiovascular complications.