Linezolid plus an SSRI: Potential for Serotonin Syndrome
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Other antimicrobial agents should be considered for patients taking antidepressants.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
July 21, 2006
Covering:
Lawrence KR et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Jun 1; 42:1578-83
Treatment of Depression in Postmenopausal Women: Does Testosterone Make a Difference?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Testosterone is a promising adjunct to venlafaxine for improving mood symptoms in postmenopausal women.
By Claudio N. Soares, MD, PhD
July 20, 2006
Covering:
Dias RS et al., Menopause 2006 Mar/Apr; 13:202-11
Shulman LP., Menopause 2006 Mar/Apr; 13:168-70
After Two Failed Trials for Major Nonpsychotic Depression, What’s Next?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Despite further results from Star*D, more guidance is needed.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 17, 2006
Covering:
Fava M et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jul; 163:1161-72
Menza M., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jul; 163:1123-5
Brain Activity During Depression in Parkinson Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Depression in PD involves frontal-limbic networks, and their activity changes with treatment.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
July 17, 2006
Covering:
Fregni F et al., Neurology 2006 Jun 13; 66:1629-37
Mottaghy FM., Neurology 2006 Jun 13; 66:1615
Endocrine Effects of Valproate in Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Women with bipolar disorder who take valproate might develop PCOS symptoms.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
July 17, 2006
Covering:
Joffe H et al., Biol Psychiatry 2006 Jun 1; 59:1078-86
Increasing Use of Second-Generation Antipsychotics in Children and Adolescents
Office visits by children and adolescents that included prescriptions for antipsychotics increased sixfold in the last decade.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
July 12, 2006
Covering:
Olfson M et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Jun; 63:679-85
Perimenopause and Depression: A Window of Vulnerability?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Among women with no history of depression, those who entered perimenopause had increased risks for new-onset depressive symptoms and for depressive disorders.
By Claudio N. Soares, MD, PhD
June 6, 2006
Covering:
Freeman EW et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 63:375-82
Perimenopause and Depression: More Evidence of Increased Risk
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Monitor patients carefully during the transition.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
June 6, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 63:385-90
Pediatric Treatment with Antipsychotic Drugs
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
It’s becoming more common, even though sparse data support the trend.
By Barbara Geller, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Olfson M et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Jun; 63:679-85
Predicting Avoidance Behaviors in Adolescents
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a nonclinical group, anxiety sensitivity was a precursor of avoidance behavior.
By Michael W. Otto, PhD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Wilson KA and Hayward C., Behav Res Ther 2006 Apr; 44:601-9
Are Antidepressants Anti-Inflammatory Agents?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Apparently so, but the practical implications remain unclear
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
O'Brien SM et al., Br J Psychiatry 2006 May; 188:449-52
Paroxetine for the Offensive Subtype of Taijin Kyofusho
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This treatment might help other patients with symptoms characterized by somatic delusions and social anxiety.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Nagata T et al., Depress Anxiety 2006 ; 23:168-74
A Model for Improved Treatment of Bipolar Disorder in an HMO
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A multimodal intervention improved mania outcomes at a modest cost.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Simon GE et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 May; 63:500-8
Is Neurologic Impairment a Cause or a Result of PTSD?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Subtle neurologic impairment might indicate vulnerability to the development of PTSD.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 21, 2006
Covering:
Gurvits TV et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 May; 63:571-6
Overlap Between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder? More Data
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
British researchers find a genetic link to susceptibility to affective dysregulation, regardless of diagnosis.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 7, 2006
Covering:
Williams NM et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 63:366-73
CBT for Bipolar Disorder: The Jury Is Still Out
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Cognitive-behavioral therapy seems to help only some bipolar patients.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 7, 2006
Covering:
Scott J et al., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 188:313-20
Lam D., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 188:321-2
Beware the Serotonin Syndrome with Linezolid
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A review of postmarketing adverse-event reports revealed that 29 patients on linezolid — most of them also taking one or more SSRIs — developed the serotonin syndrome.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
June 22, 2006
Covering:
Lawrence KR et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Jun 1; 42:1578-83
Maternal and Perinatal Morbidity Associated with Suicide Attempts in Pregnant Women
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Substance abuse proved to be the best indicator of risk for suicide attempts during pregnancy.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
June 13, 2006
Covering:
Gandhi SG et al., Obstet Gynecol 2006 May; 107:984-90
Depression After Acute MI
General Medicine Summary and Comment
One in five patients experiences depression after myocardial infarction, but this rate roughly doubles among women who are 60 or younger.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
June 2, 2006
Covering:
Mallik S et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Apr 24; 166:876-83
Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Kids with Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The outcomes were promising in a small study that used preparations similar to commercially available ones.
By Barbara Geller, MD
July 11, 2006
Covering:
Nemets H et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jun; 163:1098-100
Parker G et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jun; 163:969-78
How Destructive is Parental Verbal Abuse?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Emotional abuse can be just as injurious as physical or sexual abuse.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 11, 2006
Covering:
Teicher MH et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jun; 163:993-1000
Close Your Eyes to Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Eye opening predicts epileptic seizures, and eye closure indicates a psychogenic seizure.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
July 11, 2006
Covering:
Chung SS et al., Neurology 2006 Jun 13; 66:1730-1
Psychosocial Factors Not Linked with Subclinical Coronary Disease
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Four psychosocial factors showed no association with coronary calcification in a multiethnic cohort of adults without clinical cardiovascular disease.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
July 5, 2006
Covering:
Diez Roux AV et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 Jun 6; 144:822-31
SSRIs in Pediatric Depression and Anxiety Disorders: A Look at the Evidence
Cognitive behavioral therapy plus SSRIs seem most effective for depression and OCD.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 26, 2006
Covering:
Hammerness PG et al., J Pediatr 2006 Feb; 148:158-65
Post-MI Depression Is Most Common in Women Age 60 or Younger
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Post-MI screening for depression is especially important in this patient group.
By Joel M. Gore, MD
May 25, 2006
Covering:
Mallik S et al. for the PREMIER Registry Investigators., Arch Intern Med 2006 Apr 24; 166:876-83
