Depression Is Linked to Cardiovascular Prognosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Somatic symptoms of depression are predictors of adverse cardiovascular events.
Is Loneliness Bad for Cancer Growth?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Lonely cancer patients express more of a tumor-growth–promoting factor than patients who are less lonely.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 8, 2010
Covering:
Nausheen B et al., Psychosom Med 2010 Aug 17
Losing Sleep Doesn't Hurt — Or Does It?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Insomnia may contribute to neuronal loss.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 8, 2010
Covering:
Neylan TC et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Sep 1; 68:494
Borderline Personality Disorder, Suicidality, and PTSD: How Do They Interact?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In this small study of women with suicidality and BPD, the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder did not increase frequency, intent, or lethality of suicide attempts.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 8, 2010
Covering:
Harned MS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Oct; 167:1210
An Alternative Modality for Alleviating Core PTSD Symptoms
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation shows some effectiveness in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 8, 2010
Covering:
Boggio PS et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Aug; 71:992
Ketamine's Quick Antidepressant Actions
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The resulting protein synthesis and neuronal alterations in the medial prefrontal cortex are the opposite of those produced by chronic stress, but clinical applicability remains uncertain.
Does Spousal Deployment Affect Risk for Depression During Pregnancy or Postpartum in Military Wives?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women with spouses at all stages of deployment were at risk for depression.
Treating Depression in Patients with Heart Failure
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Disappointing findings from a trial of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor underline the complexity of the problem.
Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury
Neurology Summary and Comment
Screening for post-TBI major depressive disorder is imperative.
By Zeina Chemali, MD, MPH
October 5, 2010
Covering:
Bombardier CH et al., JAMA 2010 May 19; 303:1938
Suicidal Risk During Anticonvulsant Treatment
Neurology Summary and Comment
A case-control analysis finds increased suicidal risk in association with some antiepileptics.
By Ross J. Baldessarini, MD
September 28, 2010
Covering:
Andersohn F et al., Neurology 2010 Jul 27; 75:335
Intervention for Parents of Inhibited Preschoolers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Does an early intervention for parents of socially withdrawn children decrease later anxiety disorders?
By Barbara Geller, MD
September 27, 2010
Covering:
Rapee RM et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Sep 1
Anxiety, Genes, and the Environment in the Young: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An anxious phenotype is associated with greater hippocampal and amygdala metabolism, but only those effects in the hippocampus are genetic.
By Barbara Geller, MD
September 27, 2010
Covering:
Oler JA et al., Nature 2010 Aug 12; 466:864
Psychological Distress and HIV Treatment Failure
Among patients with virologic suppression, high levels of distress were associated with a greater likelihood of virologic rebound.
By Sonia Nagy Chimienti, MD
September 20, 2010
Covering:
Lampe FC et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010 Aug 15; 54:500
Stress, Inflammation, and the Brain
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Activation of certain brain areas may be responsible for the inflammatory response to stress.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 20, 2010
Covering:
Slavich GM et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010 Aug 17; 107:14817
Meditating on White Matter
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Body–mind training increases white-matter connectivity.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 20, 2010
Covering:
Tang Y-Y et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010 Aug 31; 107:15649
What Stress Is Good For
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
An animal study connects learning to cope with mild stress to improved spatial learning and increased hippocampal neurogenesis.
By Barbara Geller, MD
September 13, 2010
Covering:
Lyons DM et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010 Jul 30
Later Effects of Psychological Abuse During Pregnancy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Postpartum depression risk increases with psychological abuse, even without physical or sexual violence.
Rapid vs. Gradual Discontinuation of Antidepressants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Going slower is better.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 3, 2010
Covering:
Baldessarini RJ et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Aug; 167:934
Freedman R., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Aug; 167:886
Suicidality and Antiepileptic Drugs
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
They're not all the same (even if the FDA says they are).
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 3, 2010
Covering:
Andersohn F et al., Neurology 2010 Jul 27; 75:335
Mula M and Sander JW., Neurology 2010 Jul 27; 75:300
Suicide Attempt Method Predicts Later Completed Suicide
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The risk for completed suicide is highest in individuals with psychosis who previously attempted to kill themselves by hanging.
Should Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Be Considered an Anxiety Disorder?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis of imaging studies uncovers differences between OCD and other anxiety disorders.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 30, 2010
Covering:
Radua J et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Jul; 67:701
Does Injectable Contraception Contribute to Postpartum Depression?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
A retrospective cohort study of midwestern postpartum women suggests it does not.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 26, 2010
Covering:
Tsai R and Schaffir J., Contraception 2010 Aug; 82:174
More of the SAMe?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
<$EMPH_O>S<$EMPH_C>-adenosyl methionine may be an effective augmenting agent in treatment-resistant depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 23, 2010
Covering:
Papakostas GI et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Aug; 167:942
Treating PTSD Associated with Childhood Abuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Using dialectical behavior therapy in a preliminary treatment phase may enhance the value of exposure for patients with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 23, 2010
Covering:
Cloitre M et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Aug; 167:915
Childhood Adversities Increase Risk for Suicidality
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
These adversities, especially abuse, have a powerful role in the onset and persistence of suicidal ideation and behavior.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
August 23, 2010
Covering:
Bruffaerts R et al., Br J Psychiatry 2010 Jul; 197:20
