Oxytocin and Attachment Style in New Mothers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Oxytocin levels are high in mothers with secure attachment styles when interacting with their infants, and reward centers are activated.
By Barbara Geller, MD
April 12, 2010
Covering:
Strathearn L et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2009 Dec; 34:2655
Rilling JK., Neuropsychopharmacology 2009 Dec; 34:2621
Don't Forget About Older Antidepressants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Patients with social phobia respond well to phenelzine, especially when combined with psychotherapy.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 5, 2010
Covering:
Blanco C et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Mar; 67:286
Depression Is an Inflammatory Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A meta-analysis shows higher levels of two cytokines in depressed patients.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 29, 2010
Covering:
Dowlati Y et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Mar 1; 67:446
Anticholinergic Treatment for Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Scopolamine seems to work for unipolar depression, but clinicians need a drug that is easier to administer.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 29, 2010
Covering:
Drevets WC and Furey ML., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Mar 1; 67:432
Are µ-Opioid Receptor Variants Associated with Response to Citalopram?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
. . . or to placebo?
By Joel Yager, MD
March 29, 2010
Covering:
Garriock HA et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Mar 1
A Gene–Environment Interaction for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Both the presence of a single-nucleotide polymorphism and the number of different types of traumatic events alter the risk for the disorder.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 22, 2010
Covering:
Kolassa I-T et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Feb 15; 67:304
Genetics and Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Identifying genetic interactions, rather than performing one-dimensional genome scans, might allow researchers to better understand the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder and eventually to identify specific treatments.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 22, 2010
Covering:
Fullerton JM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Mar 1; 67:478
Does Major Depression Generate Personality Disorder?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In this longitudinal study, personality disorders seen in patients with major depression represent true personality disorders.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 22, 2010
Covering:
Morey LC et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Feb 16
Genetic Variant Influences Extinction Learning
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A single-nucleotide polymorphism affects anxiety-related behavior in both mice and humans.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 15, 2010
Covering:
Soliman F et al., Science 2010 Feb 12; 327:863
Depression and Hippocampal Damage: Which Comes First?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Hippocampal malfunction may precede the onset of depression, and environmental factors may worsen the damage to the hippocampus.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 15, 2010
Covering:
Rao U et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Feb 15; 67:357
Acupuncture for Depression ... Only If You're Pregnant?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Although many studies have not found acupuncture to be effective for depression, it might work in pregnant women with major depression.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
March 15, 2010
Covering:
Manber R et al., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Mar; 115:511
You've Got a Friend: Befriending for the Distressed
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This intervention, pioneered in the U.K., is better than nothing — but not as helpful as psychotherapy.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
March 15, 2010
Covering:
Mead N et al., Br J Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 196:96
Quetiapine Beats Lithium and Paroxetine for Bipolar Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Two manufacturer-sponsored studies show efficacy for this antipsychotic as acute treatment, but careful clinical judgment remains necessary when prescribing to individual patients.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Young AH et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 71:150
McElroy SL et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 71:163
More on Depression and Diabetes
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even low-grade preexisting depression may increase the risk for diabetes.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Campayo A et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Feb 1
Does a Sick Cingulate Syndrome Promote Anxiety?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In generalized anxiety disorder, the pregenual anterior cingulate might inadequately regulate emotional processing by the amygdala.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Etkin A et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Feb 1
Do Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Attenuate Tamoxifen's Benefits in Breast Cancer Survivors?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Paroxetine was associated with excess mortality in breast cancer survivors who were receiving tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
March 4, 2010
Covering:
Kelly CM et al., BMJ 2010 Feb 8; 340:c693
Andersohn F and Willich SN., BMJ 2010 Feb 8; 340:c783
Intimate Relationship Problems and Depression Treatment Outcome
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Chronically depressed patients are less likely to remit in the presence of dyadic discord.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
March 1, 2010
Covering:
Denton WH et al., Psychol Med 2010 Mar; 40:415
A New Dimension of Panic Anxiety
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Studies in rats and people identify the role played by excessive activity of orexin.
Don't Forget to Use Them After Stroke
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
An antidepressant improves memory in nondepressed poststroke patients.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 22, 2010
Covering:
Jorge RE et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 67:187
Venlafaxine Doesn't Confer Excess Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Mortality among depressed patients was not associated with a particular antidepressant.
Paroxetine Use Negates Benefits of Tamoxifen in Women with Breast Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Paroxetine inhibits conversion of tamoxifen to its active metabolite.
Sudden Infant Death and Parental Psychopathology
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Hospitalization of a parent is associated with elevated risk for SIDS in this study from Sweden.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 12, 2010
Covering:
Webb RT et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Jan; 67:69
More on Polypharmacy for Psychiatric Patients
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers examine epidemiologic data on trends in prescribing multiple medications.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 8, 2010
Covering:
Mojtabai R and Olfson M., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Jan; 67:26
New Directions in Psychosurgery
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Epidural cortical stimulation of prefrontal regions and DBS focusing on the nucleus accumbens show promising, if preliminary, effects in patients with highly treatment-resistant depression.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 8, 2010
Covering:
Bewernick BH et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jan 15; 67:110
Nahas Z et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jan 15; 67:101
Depression Level and Suitability of Drug Treatment
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Antidepressants are best reserved for patients with more-severe depression — but what alternatives are accessible to patients with mild or moderate disease?
