Does Your Neighborhood Get You Depressed?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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For older individuals, neighborhood characteristics may increase risk for depression, but the effect is modest.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 27, 2011
Covering:
Ahern J and Galea S., Am J Epidemiol 2011 Apr 28
Environmental Exposure to Parental Depression Is Linked with Childhood Depression
Significant associations between parent and child symptoms of depression were found in both genetically unrelated and genetically related parent–child pairs.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 25, 2011
Covering:
Lewis G et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2011 May; 50:451.e1
New Depression Gene with High Functional Import
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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A newly discovered gene for depression is linked to a plausible pathophysiology in studies of animals, depressed humans, and healthy human carriers.
Why Start with Two Antidepressants When One Will Do as Well?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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The take-home message: The combinations used in this study show no advantage over escitalopram as a first treatment step.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 16, 2011
Covering:
Rush AJ et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 May 2
The Eyes Have It for Cognitive Therapy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Depressed patients with little pupil dilation in response to negative words, indicating less executive control, might be good candidates for CT.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
May 16, 2011
Covering:
Siegle GJ et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Apr 15; 69:726
How Does Ketamine Improve Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In this rat study, ketamine seems to block excitatory amino acid signaling that may be involved in depression.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression in Sexually Abused Women
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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IPT was both well received and effective in socially disadvantaged women with depression and a history of childhood sexual abuse.
Do Analgesics Interfere with Efficacy of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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Results from an animal study and from reanalyzed STAR*D data suggest so, although unexamined confounders may exist.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
May 2, 2011
Covering:
Warner-Schmidt JL et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Apr 25
Antidepressants and Risks for Breast and Ovarian Cancer
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis found a modest association, but studies associated with industry ties produced different results from those without such ties.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 2, 2011
Covering:
Cosgrove L et al., PLoS ONE 2011 Apr 6; 4:e18210
Using Cortisol to Help Extinguish Fear
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Some promising results in the treatment of a phobia
By Barbara Geller, MD
May 2, 2011
Covering:
de Quervain DJ-F et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Apr 19; 108:6621
Rejection Really Hurts
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The same brain areas are involved in physical pain and romantic rejection.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
May 2, 2011
Covering:
Kross E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Apr 12; 108:6270
Does Gambling Disorder Precede Other Psychiatric Disorders?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Pathological gambling may be a gateway disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 2, 2011
Covering:
Chou K-L and Afifi TO., Am J Epidemiol 2011 Apr 5
Worldwide Importance of the Bipolar Spectrum
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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Whatever the severity of the disorder or the wealth of the country, bipolar spectrum disorders are undertreated and disabling.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 25, 2011
Covering:
Merikangas KR et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Mar; 68:241
What's Up with the Serotonin Uptake Transporter?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An update on recent theory and research regarding the genetics of negative emotionality and hypervigilance
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 25, 2011
Covering:
Pleuss M et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Mar 15; 69:520
Montag C et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Mar 15; 69:601
Homberg JR and Lesch K-P., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Mar 15; 69:513
Eyeing a Predictor of Post-Deployment PTSD and Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Gaze bias — how long one gazes at fearful or sad faces — may foretell risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in soldiers with high levels of war-zone trauma.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 25, 2011
Covering:
Beevers CG et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Mar 31
Keeping Fear Alive
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In rats, noradrenergic activity during retrieval of fear memories may increase severity and persistence of these fears.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
April 25, 2011
Covering:
DDepress Anxiety 2011 Mar; 28:186
Group Psychotherapy for Adolescent Self-Harm
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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This intervention provided no added benefit over usual mental health care.
Reviews of Note
Measuring environmental exposures; the HPA axis and depression; antidepressants and teratogenicity; treating medically ill, depressed patients; cognition in patients with bipolar disorders and in those with schizophrenia; cognition-enhancing drugs; changing the neurocircuitry in patients with addiction; and dilemmas in genetic screening studies
Remission in Depressed Mothers and Behavior of Their Children
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Results from a 1-year follow-up of mothers in the STAR*D study
By Barbara Geller, MD
April 4, 2011
Covering:
Wickramaratne P et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Mar 15
Antidepressant Use and Risk for Stroke
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Stroke risk seems to increase, especially in patients without long exposure to antidepressants.
By Joel Yager, MD
April 4, 2011
Covering:
Wu C-S et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Mar 15
More Insight into the Pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A polymorphism in some patients contributes to the well-characterized altered calcium ion signaling in bipolar disorder, which may become a new research focus.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 4, 2011
Covering:
Machado-Vieira R et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Feb 15; 69:344
Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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What's the most important target for cognitive-behavioral therapy in GAD?
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 28, 2011
Covering:
Treanor M et al., Depress Anxiety 2011 Feb; 28:127
Major Depression and Menopause
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
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Major depressive episodes become more common during and immediately after the menopausal transition.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 21, 2011
Covering:
Bromberger JT et al., Psychol Med 2011 Feb 9
Efficacy and Patients' Expectations of Drug Effects
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An imaging study shows the power of "positive thinking."
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 21, 2011
Covering:
Bingel U et al., Sci Transl Med 2011 Feb 16; 3:70ra14
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Pessimism Doesn't Help
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Two behaviorally based therapies perform better than adaptive pacing therapy, but response remains suboptimal.
