Major Depression and Menopause
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
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.
Illness Course in Women with Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Premenstrual exacerbations are associated with a more difficult course of bipolar illness.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 14, 2011
Covering:
Dias RS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Feb 15
The Harm of Nonsuicidal Self-Harm
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In depressed adolescents, nonsuicidal self-harm is the strongest predictor of later suicide attempts.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 28, 2011
Covering:
Wilkinson P et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Feb 1
Behavioral Intervention to Prevent Cardiovascular Events
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Findings from a trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy support increased attention to psychosocial factors in patients with coronary artery disease.
Why Crying Isn't Sexy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Tears of sadness decrease sexual arousal in men.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 18, 2011
Covering:
Gelstein S et al., Science 2011 Jan 14; 331:226
Nightmares and Suicidal Ideation in College Students
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Even after adjustment for psychiatric symptoms, nightmares increase the risk.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
February 14, 2011
Covering:
Nadorff MR et al., Sleep 2011 Jan 1; 34:93
Circadian Disruption: Bad for Body and Brain
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In animals, altered circadian rhythm results in changes in metabolism, brain morphology, and behavior.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 14, 2011
Covering:
Karatsoreos IN et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Jan 25; 108:1657
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Predicts Postconcussion Symptoms in Soldiers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
But why do the rates of reported traumatic brain injury increase after the return home?
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 14, 2011
Covering:
Polusny MA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Jan; 68:79
Afraid of Taking That Test? Write About It
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Expressive writing seems to decrease anxiety and improve test performance.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 14, 2011
Covering:
Ramirez G and Beilock SL., Science 2011 Jan 14; 331:211
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
CBT focused on alleviating stress and hostility and was associated with significantly fewer second events.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
February 8, 2011
Covering:
Gulliksson M et al., Arch Intern Med 2011 Jan 24; 171:134
Are You SERTain of That?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Another view, via a novel meta-analytic technique, of the serotonin-transporter gene–environment interaction
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 7, 2011
Covering:
Karg K et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Jan 3
Effects of Personality Disorder on Recovery from Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Comorbid personality disorder predicts slower remission and more rapid relapse in major depression.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 7, 2011
Covering:
Grilo CM et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Dec; 71:1629
Has the Association Between Abortion and Mental Illness Been Overstated?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
A large Danish study showed no link between first-trimester abortion and subsequent mental health problems.
Long-Term PTSD Symptoms Among 9/11 Survivors
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Among other factors, having low earnings put 9/11 survivors at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 31, 2011
Covering:
DiGrande L et al., Am J Epidemiol 2011 Feb 1; 173:271
Depression and Diabetes — A Bad Combination
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In the Nurses' Health Study, both conditions increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and the combination was worse than either condition alone.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 31, 2011
Covering:
Pan A et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Jan; 68:42
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome as a Risk Factor for Depression
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Psychological distress should be considered in all women with PCOS.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
January 27, 2011
Covering:
Dokras AS et al., Obstet Gynecol 2011 Jan; 117:145
Reviews of Note
Irritability in children; molecular depression; choosing depression treatments; good-quality psychotherapy studies; psychedelic drugs in psychiatric research; borderline personality disorder; genomic imprinting; 1000 genomes; methylation and behavior; the hippocampus in schizophrenia; antipsychotics and reasoning biases; and monitoring lithium
Preventive Effects of Mindfulness in Recurrent Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A potentially valuable approach, especially for patients with unstable remissions who wish to discontinue their medication after successful acute treatment.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
January 14, 2011
Covering:
Segal ZV et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Dec; 67:1256
How Suicidal Are Psychotic Patients?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The risk seems lower than previously reported, but it remains elevated for more than 10 years after the patient's first presentation.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 14, 2011
Covering:
Dutta R et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Dec; 67:1230
Coordinated Care of Depression and Chronic Physical Illness
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Significant improvements were realized in risk factor control, quality of life, and satisfaction with care.
Unique Cardiovascular Risks of Tricyclic Antidepressants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An epidemiologic study shows that use of this class of drugs increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Exploring a New Pathway for Treating Anxiety and Mood Disorders
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study finds that a small-molecule agonist of the TrkB receptor alters fear extinction.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 10, 2011
Covering:
Andero R et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Dec 1
Thinking About Thinking as a Therapeutic Approach
Psychiatry Year in Review
Metacognitive therapy shows promise across a range of psychiatric conditions.
