Higher-Dose Citalopram and the FDA Warnings: Not Much to Worry About?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
In a large study, no increased cardiac risks were associated with citalopram doses higher than 40 mg/day.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 20, 2013
Covering:
Zivin K et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013 May 3
Genetics of Claustrophobia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Can defects in a single gene account for this phobia?
By Joel Yager, MD
May 20, 2013
Covering:
El Kordi A et al., Translat Psychiatry 2013 Apr 30; 3:e254
Childhood Trauma Shortens Telomeres
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The mechanism of how childhood trauma gets "under the skin" might explain psychopathology in some individuals later in life.
Reviews of Note
TBI today, chronicity of anorexia nervosa, new methods of observing deep brain structures, sleep disturbances and stress disorder, and resilience
Acetaminophen for Disturbing Emotional States?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
In a laboratory experiment, acetaminophen modified how people responded to angst.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 6, 2013
Covering:
Randles D et al., Psychol Sci 2013 Apr 11
Does Yoga Improve Mental Health?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Possibly, according to this careful review, which highlights numerous problems with the few studies conducted.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
May 6, 2013
Covering:
Balasubramaniam M et al., Front Psychiatry 2013 Jan 25
Predicting Medication Response in Older Depressed Patients
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Duration of illness is the largest moderator of response.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Nelson JC et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013 Apr 19
Long-Term Outcomes Are Poor in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Remission rates are low and associated with initial response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Bloch MH et al., Depress Anxiety 2013 Mar 26
Antidepressants Don't Always Aggravate Bipolar Illness
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Bipolar II patients who respond acutely to fluoxetine alone may be maintained on this monotherapy.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Amsterdam JD et al., Br J Psychiatry 2013 Apr; 202:301
Thase ME., Br J Psychiatry 2013 Apr; 202:251
Disconnecting Neural Networks May Improve Psychopathology
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Three studies look at functional connectivity with and without treatment in patients with dysthymia, alcohol dependence, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 29, 2013
Covering:
Posner J et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Apr 1; 70:373
Schmaal L et al., Biol Psychiatry 2013 Apr 15; 73:789
Figee M et al., Nat Neurosci 2013 Apr; 16:386
Discontinuing SSRIs in Pregnancy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Discontinuation of these antidepressants, more common during unplanned pregnancies, is linked to higher depression and anxiety scores.
To Reduce Fear, Sleep on It — But Sleep Right
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study yields insights into how sleep helps to consolidate the memory of fear extinction.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 22, 2013
Covering:
Datta S and O'Malley MW., J Neurosci 2013 Mar 6; 33:4561
Scalp Dysesthesia: Think of Cervical Spine Disease
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Abnormal sensations above may be rooted in problems below.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
April 19, 2013
Covering:
Thornsberry LA and English JC III., JAMA Dermatol 2013 Feb; 149:200
Can Emotional Regulation Be Learned?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A training task seems to help people control their emotional reactions to provocative events.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 12, 2013
Covering:
Schweizer S et al., J Neurosci 2013 Mar 20; 33:5301
Clinical Applicability of a Genetically Based Treatment Algorithm
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A pharmacogenomics program correctly identified depression and anxiety patients with high medical utilization.
By Barbara Geller, MD
April 12, 2013
Covering:
Winner J et al., Transl Psychiatry 2013 Mar 19; 3:e242
Effects of Antenatal Depression and SSRIs on Growth Through Year 1
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Regardless of whether mothers took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or were depressed and unmedicated during pregnancy, their offspring at 12 months weighed the same as control children.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Wisner KL et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013 Mar 20
Functional Remediation for Bipolar Disorders
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a 21-week, multisite study, add-on functional remediation improved psychosocial functioning more than treatment as usual but not more than psychoeducation.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Torrent C et al., Am J Psychiatry 2013 Mar 20
Weight Loss with Lifestyle Interventions in the Seriously Mentally Ill
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An 18-month intervention using exercise and weight management shows modest promise.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 8, 2013
Covering:
Daumit GL et al., N Engl J Med 2013 Mar 21
Adding Emotion Regulation to Trauma-Focused CBT for PTSD
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Training in emotion regulation lowers dropout rates and improves clinical outcomes.
Postpartum Maternal Anxiety: A Call for Attention
Cesarean section, shorter breastfeeding duration, and unplanned healthcare use for mothers, but not infants, were significantly associated with positive anxiety screens in new mothers.
Internet-Based CBT for Panic Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An open study shows that this treatment is effective in routine psychiatric practice.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 25, 2013
Covering:
Hedman E et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2013 Feb 14
Low-Intensity Depression Interventions Work, Even for the Moderately Depressed
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis of individual patient data disproves clinical lore that only mildly ill patients respond to the initial phase of stepped care.
Is Light Therapy Underused?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study provides even more data on the neurobiology of this antidepressant treatment.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 25, 2013
Covering:
Ren C et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2013 Jan 31
The Impact of Loss of an Adult Child Through Suicide
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
These parents suffer more than parents whose child died in a motor vehicle accident.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 18, 2013
Covering:
Bolton JM et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Feb; 70:158
Perinatal Mood Episodes Common in Women with Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Women with bipolar I disorder had higher risk for episodes within 6 weeks of delivery than those with bipolar II disorder or recurrent major depression.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 18, 2013
Covering:
Di Florio A et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013 Feb; 70:168
