Suicidal Ideation and Early Response to Antidepressants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Early improvement lowers the risk.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
August 16, 2010
Covering:
Seemüller F et al., J Affect Disord 2010 Jul; 124:183
Is Low Vitamin D Associated with Depression in Elders?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Perhaps, but this community-based U.K. study did not explore all possible contributors.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 9, 2010
Covering:
Stewart R and Hirani V., Psychosom Med 2010 Jul 1
Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia — Both Bad for Your Brain
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Affected brain regions are associated with executive function, other cognitive processes, and psychosis.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 9, 2010
Covering:
Rimol LM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jul 1; 68:41
Diagnosis, Use of Antiepileptic Drugs, and Risk for Suicide
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The illness may be more important than the medication in the risk for suicide.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
August 4, 2010
Covering:
Arana A et al., N Engl J Med 2010 Aug 5; 363:542
The Neurocircuitry of Courage
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Thy name is Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex.
How Do Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risk in the Young?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This animal study finds a possible answer in the locus ceruleus.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
August 2, 2010
Covering:
West CHK et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2010 Jul; 35:1653
Why Offspring Cling to Abusive Parents
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This animal study shows that painful experiences might still lead to attachment, except when stress levels are excessive.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 2, 2010
Covering:
Raineki C et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jun 15; 67:1137
Is Internship Really That Depressing?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A study of interns shows increased depressive symptoms but had multiple limitations.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 26, 2010
Covering:
Sen S et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Jun; 67:557
Kendler KS., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Jun; 67:566
What's a Stressor for a Child?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even non-extreme stressors can result in post-traumatic symptoms.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 26, 2010
Covering:
Copeland WE et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Jun 15
Identifying War Veterans at Risk for Mental Health Issues
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Anger and hostility are correlated with hyperarousal in Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 26, 2010
Covering:
Elbogen EB et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Jun 15
A New Approach to Extinguish Fear: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Direct brain infusion of brain-derived neurotropic factor extinguishes conditioned fear.
By Barbara Geller, MD
July 26, 2010
Covering:
Peters J et al., Science 2010 Jun 4; 328:1288
Reviews of Note
Smoking bans and smoking treatment; new heuristics for post-traumatic stress disorder; visualizing neurons; and the genetics of autism
Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy a Good Fit for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
CBT decreases the frequency of episodes, but more is needed to improve quality of life.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
July 19, 2010
Covering:
Goldstein LH et al., Neurology 2010 Jun 15; 74:1986
Reviews of Note
Exercise for anxiety and cognition; alternative treatments; paternal postpartum depression; Do-Not-Resuscitate orders and suicide; sleep; paraneoplastic disorders; and visualizing neurons
Depression in Women with Noncardiac Chest Pain
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Depression is common in women with noncardiac chest pain and is associated with more-frequent ED visits.
Maternal Warmth vs. Poverty and Inflammation
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Decades later, people benefit from mothers who were warm.
Molecular Basis for Sex-Related Differences in Stress Response
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The signaling pathways for corticotropin-releasing factor differ between male and female rats.
The Genetics of Resilience
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A series of animal experiments highlight the importance of a transcription factor in the nucleus accumbens for resilience to stress.
Gender Matters in the Course of Bipolar Illness
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Higher rates of both rapid cycling and anxiety disorders among bipolar women help to account for their greater rates of depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 2, 2010
Covering:
Altshuler LL et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Jun; 167:708
"SSRI Eyes"?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Newer antidepressants may increase the risk for cataracts, but research into possible confounding factors remains necessary.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 2, 2010
Covering:
Etminan M et al., Ophthalmology 2010 Jun; 117:1251
Pramipexole for Depression in Parkinson Disease
Neurology Summary and Comment
The largest study of depression in PD to date demonstrates that pramipexole is a statistically better treatment than placebo, but not by a lot.
By Joseph H. Friedman, MD
June 29, 2010
Covering:
Barone P et al., Lancet Neurol 2010 Jun; 9:573
Young Women Have Few Sequelae from Early Puberty
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
But teenage promiscuity in early maturers raises the risk for sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis.
By Barbara Geller, MD
June 21, 2010
Covering:
Copeland W et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 May 17
Another Reason Why Depression Isn't Good for Your Heart
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers look at the effects of depression and its treatment on heart rate variability.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 21, 2010
Covering:
Kemp AH et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jun 1; 67:1067
Screening for Depression and Suicide in Adolescents
Two different two-question surveys can facilitate routine screening for depression and suicidality in adolescents.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
June 16, 2010
Covering:
Richardson LP et al., Pediatrics 2010 May; 125:e1097
Wintersteen MB., Pediatrics 2010 May; 125:938
What Are the Real Suicide Rates in Minority Populations?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Some types of suicide may be underreported in black and Hispanic populations.
By Joel Yager, MD
June 14, 2010
Covering:
Rockett IRH et al., BMC Psychiatry 2010 May 19; 10:35
