{
  "id": 9579147,
  "title": "Fighting depression with humor: Laughter can bring relief, but not every moment is right",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/fighting-depression-with-humor-laughter-can-bring-relief-but-not",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-24T16:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-depression-humor-laughter-relief-moment.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Robin Williams once remarked that comedy can help lift people out of depression, but does laughter truly provide relief? A researcher from SWPS University delved into the potential of humor as a treatment for depressive states. She discovered that humor can act as a natural stress buffer, yet it generally does more harm than good during the acute phase of depression. While humor can enhance mood and bolster resilience against daily concerns, it is essential to recognize that depression is a serious condition that demands professional treatment. Over 280 million individuals worldwide have been diagnosed with depression, a disorder characterized by severe suffering and impaired daily functioning. Despite advancements in depression treatments, their overall effectiveness and long-term benefits remain limited. Some experts argue that a key reason for this is the focus on symptom reduction with insufficient emphasis on positive functioning and well-being. This has led to a call for a more holistic approach to depression treatment. In this context, humor emerges as a promising tool capable of countering the primary factors contributing to depression, such as rumination and diminished positive emotions. Neuroimaging studies support the positive impact of humor on mental health, indicating that it affects brain regions associated with depression development, including prefrontal cortex and limbic system neural circuits. Clinical psychologist Anna Braniecka, Ph.D., from SWPS University's Faculty of Psychology in Warsaw, conducted a study published in Clinical Psychology Review, examining existing clinical psychology research on humor's use in depression. She analyzed benefits like emotional advantages, responses to humorous content, and intervention outcomes, as well as risks such as potential side effects from being the recipient of jokes. Based on this analysis, Braniecka formulated general recommendations for professionals on humor's use in depression treatment. The study revealed that humor's effectiveness varies based on factors like the depression phase, context of the joke, and humor type. Humor-based interventions prove ineffective during the acute phase of the illness, while they yield the best results for individuals in remission and those with mild symptoms, as they promote psychological resilience and help achieve full mental well-being. The safest approach is to use humorous content that distracts from difficulties (e.g., telling jokes), whereas forcing laughter in depressed individuals can exacerbate negative thoughts and worsen their mood. Another crucial consideration is that depressed individuals are more prone to gelotophobia (a fear of being laughed at), which may lead them to misinterpret laughter around them as a threat. During the acute phase of the illness, attempts to cheer them up can trigger intense anxiety. Additionally, dark internet memes and other forms of humor warrant caution, as they may be more appealing and mood-boosting to depressed individuals but can reinforce pessimistic thought patterns in the long run. The researcher emphasizes the role of mental health professionals, who must exercise great care when using humor in treatment, as a person with depression might perceive ill-considered humor as a lack of empathy or dismissal of their problem. Before incorporating humor into treatment, a therapist should fully understand its effects and carefully evaluate the patient's mental state and current perspective. While humor is not a universal cure for depression and cannot replace comprehensive therapy, it can be one component of treatment, working best when fostering resilience as a preventive measure against depression relapse rather than during the most challenging moments of struggling with depressive symptoms.",
  "summary": "Comedian Robin Williams once said that every time you get depressed, comedy will be there to drag you out of it. But does humor really help? A researcher from SWPS University investigated the potential of using humor to treat depressive states. She found that while it could act as a natural stress buffer, it typically does more harm than good during the acute phase of the illness.",
  "key_points": [
    "Humor can act as natural stress buffer for depression",
    "Ineffective during acute phase of depression",
    "Requires professional guidance for safe use"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}