Recurrent Self-Harm: Are Omega-3 Supplements Part of the Answer?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
They seemed somewhat helpful in this small group of patients, most of whom had borderline personality disorder.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
March 12, 2007
Covering:
Hallahan B et al., Br J Psychiatry 2007 Feb; 190:118-22
How Is Bipolar Disorder Treated in Real Life?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The most effective monotherapy is not the one most frequently prescribed.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 12, 2007
Covering:
Baldessarini RJ et al., Psychiatr Serv 2007 Jan; 58:85-91
Effects of Elevated Cortisol on Memory Are Reversible
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Cushing disease can be used as a model of the effects of increased cortisol.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 5, 2007
Covering:
Hook JN et al., J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007 Jan; 13:21-9
Women with Postpartum Psychosis or Bipolar Disorder: Look to the Past?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Most women hospitalized for postpartum psychosis have histories of psychiatric hospitalization.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
February 26, 2007
Covering:
Harlow BL et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Jan; 64:42-8
Attachment Style and Response to Psychotherapy for Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Patients with avoidant attachment might find CBT more to their liking.
By M. Katherine Shear, MD
February 12, 2007
Covering:
McBride C et al., J Consult Clin Psychol 2006 Dec; 74:1041-54
Disappointing Results for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Compared with ECT
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
rTMS proves less effective than hoped for.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 12, 2007
Covering:
Eranti S et al., Am J Psychiatry 2007 Jan; 164:73-81
Long-Distance Treatment for Panic Disorder: Does It Work?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Treatment administered via the internet and telephone was beneficial to individuals with PD.
By Claudio N. Soares MD, PhD
February 8, 2007
Covering:
Carlbring P et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 163:2119-25
SSRIs and Medical Illness: The Good and the Bad
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Citalopram seems effective for depressed cardiac patients, but SSRIs may increase risk for fractures in older people.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 5, 2007
Covering:
Lespérance F et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 24/31; 297:367-79
Richards JB et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167:188-94
ECT as Continuation Therapy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
It is somewhat effective but, unless controlled studies show otherwise, not as much as we hoped.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 5, 2007
Covering:
Kellner CH et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 63:1337-44
Do Antidepressants Make Patients Suicidal?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Suicide attempts, but not suicides, may increase slightly, but the mechanism remains unclear.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 29, 2007
Covering:
Tiihonen J et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 63:1358-67
When the Bundle of Joy Brings On a Psychiatric Diagnosis
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Risk for postpartum psychiatric disorders was increased in women for several months after childbirth.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
January 25, 2007
Covering:
Munk-Olsen T et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 6; 296:2582-9
Wisner KL et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 6; 296:2616-8
SSRIs in Patients with Heart Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Although they are safe and modestly effective in treating depression, there's no evidence yet that they reduce cardiac morbidity or mortality.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
January 23, 2007
Covering:
Lespérance F et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 24/31; 297:367-79
Glassman AH and Bigger JT Jr., JAMA 2007 Jan 24/31; 297:411-2
Long-Distance CBT for Panic Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Remotely administered cognitive-behavioral therapy via internet and telephone can significantly benefit patients with panic disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 22, 2007
Covering:
Carlbring P et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 163:2119-25
Another Step Toward a Dimensional Diagnosis for Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Social functioning, substance abuse, alcoholism, psychosis, and suicide attempts were significantly familial.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 22, 2007
Covering:
Schulze TG et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 63:1368-76
Reviews of Note
Topics include quantitative EEGs, uses of antiepileptics, costs and benefits of antipsychotics, switches of antidepressants, the genetics of behavior, a gene-expression atlas, and the impact of copy number in the genome.
Acupuncture for Major Depression: No Benefit?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Both specifically tailored acupuncture and nonspecific acupuncture were associated with some improvement, indicating a placebo effect.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
January 8, 2007
Covering:
Allen JJB et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2006 Nov; 67:1665-73
By the Dawn’s Early Light — or Negative Ions — You Might Feel Less Depressed
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Artificial dawn and negative ions each help depressive symptoms in seasonal affective disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 8, 2007
Covering:
Terman M and Terman JS., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Dec; 163:2126-33
Don’t Try to Treat Fear Too Soon
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In rats, persistent behavioral extinction of fear was associated with less recent or less severe fear.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
January 8, 2007
Covering:
Maren S and Chang C-h., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 Nov 21; 103:18020-5
Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders — in Men, Too?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Motherhood, but not fatherhood, was associated with increased rates of psychiatric treatment.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
January 8, 2007
Covering:
Munk-Olsen T et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 6; 296:2582-9
Antidepressants in Pregnancy: The Ongoing Story
Psychiatry Top Story
Free
The optimal approach for pregnant women with severe or longstanding depression may be to continue antidepressant treatment, but risks to fetuses are emerging.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
December 29, 2006
Does STAR*D Make the All-Stars?
Psychiatry Top Story
Free
Researchers try to evaluate depression treatments by emulating real-world clinical decision-making.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 29, 2006
Depression and Antidepressants in Children: Scylla and Charybdis?
Psychiatry Top Story
Free
As more data arrive, steering in these turbulent waters becomes more difficult.
By Barbara Geller, MD
December 29, 2006
Hospital Admission for Mental Illness: Is a New Baby a Risk Factor?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
New mothers, but not new fathers, are at risk.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
December 26, 2006
Covering:
Munk-Olsen T et al., JAMA 2006 Dec 6; 296:2582-9
PTSD Symptoms in Hospitalized Injured Adolescents
Symptoms of PTSD are common, even 12 months after discharge.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
December 13, 2006
Covering:
Zatzick DF et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2006 Oct; 45:1188-95
The Genetics of Anxiety: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A BDNF variant, already implicated in some depression studies, might have a role in anxiety disorders.
By Barbara Geller, MD
December 11, 2006
Covering:
Chen Z-Y et al., Science 2006 Oct 6; 314:140-3
