Gene for a Serotonin Receptor and Antidepressant Response
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Prescribing according to the patient’s genome comes a little closer.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 17, 2006
Covering:
McMahon FJ et al., Am J Hum Genet 2006 May; 78:804-14
Light Therapy or Antidepressants for Seasonal Affective Disorder?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A head-to-head trial showed equal efficacy for these therapies.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
May 9, 2006
Covering:
Lam RW et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 May; 163:805-12
Menopause: Vulnerable Time for New Onset of Depression
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even women without past depression are at substantial risk for depressive symptoms during perimenopause.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
May 9, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 63:385-90
Freeman EW et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Apr; 63:375-82
Helping Children by Helping Depressed Mothers
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A euthymic mother makes for a psychologically healthier child.
By Barbara Geller, MD
May 3, 2006
Covering:
Weissman MM et al., JAMA 2006 Mar 22; 295:1389-98
Enduring Benefits from Depression Treatment for Low-Income Minority Women
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Either CBT or medications can help.
By Michael W. Otto, PhD
May 3, 2006
Covering:
Miranda J et al., J Consult Clin Psychol 2006 Feb; 74:99-111
Anti-PTSD Effect of an Antihypertensive?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
For some patients with PTSD, prazosin reduced emotional distress after exposure to trauma-related words.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
May 3, 2006
Covering:
Taylor FB et al., Biol Psychiatry 2006 Apr 1; 59:577-81
When an SSRI Fails
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Antidepressant substitution or augmentation offers hope for some patients who fail initial SSRI treatment.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
May 2, 2006
Covering:
Rush AJ et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1231-42
Trivedi MH et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1243-52
Do Antidepressants Increase Suicidality in Younger Patients?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
How the FDA developed its warnings
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 19, 2006
Covering:
Hammad TA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Mar; 63:332-9
Baldessarini RJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Mar; 63:246-8
An SSRI — Not Psychotherapy — Prevents Relapse in Late-Life Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Comorbidities in the "old old" might limit the usefulness of interpersonal psychotherapy.
By Peter Roy-Byrne MD
April 19, 2006
Covering:
Reynolds CF III et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 16; 354:1130-8
High Heritability for Two Anxiety Disorders in Young Children
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even so, the influence of heredity might weaken as children age.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
April 19, 2006
Covering:
Bolton D et al., Psychol Med 2006 Mar; 36:335-44
Course of Depressive Symptoms Among Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Minor or subsyndromal depression is associated with a greater likelihood of future diagnosis of depression and more severe symptoms.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
April 18, 2006
Covering:
Lyness JM et al., Ann Intern Med 2006 Apr 4; 144:496-504
Kroenke K., Ann Intern Med 2006 Apr 4; 144:528-30
Prenatal Maternal Psychopathology Affects the Fetus: More Evidence
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Mothers with prenatal psychological morbidity appear more likely to have low-birth-weight infants.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
April 18, 2006
Covering:
Patel V and Prince M., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Mar; 188:284-5
Preventing Late-Life Depression
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Addressing risk factors could decrease costs substantially.
By Nada L Stotland, MD, MPH
April 18, 2006
Covering:
Smit F et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Mar; 63:290-6
Antidepressants in Elders: Stopping Treatment Is Risky
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Among those whose depression responded to paroxetine and psychotherapy, maintenance regimens that included paroxetine yielded the greatest benefit.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
April 18, 2006
Covering:
Reynolds CF III et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 16; 354:1130-8
Multiple Levels of Drug Treatment for Depression
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Patients who fail initial SSRI treatment have several roughly equivalent treatment options.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 7, 2006
Covering:
Trivedi MH et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:28-40
Rush AJ et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1231-42
Trivedi MH et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1243-52
Rubinow DR., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1305-7
What to Do After Depressed Patients Fail an SSRI
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Either substituting or augmenting with another medication might help a minority of patients.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
April 5, 2006
Covering:
Rush AJ et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1231-42
Trivedi MH et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 23; 354:1243-52
Can ECT Make Ineffective Medications Effective?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Perhaps, according to this small study
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
April 5, 2006
Covering:
van den Broek WW et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2006 Feb; 67:263-8
Poststroke Depression: It’s Not Just the Brain, It’s the Genes
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The <$EMPH_O>5-HTTLPR<$EMPH_C> polymorphism is associated with the development of poststroke depression.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
April 5, 2006
Covering:
Ramasubbu R et al., J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2006 ; 18:96-9
Does Depression Interact with Alzheimer Disease?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Yes, but the nature of the interaction remains obscure.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
April 5, 2006
Covering:
Rapp MA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006 Feb; 63:161-7
SSRIs and Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this case-control study, SSRI use late in pregnancy significantly increased risk for PPHN.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
SSRI-Exposed Babies: Monitor Them for at Least 48 Hours
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this cohort study, symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome were observed in about one third of exposed infants.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Levinson-Castiel R et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Feb; 160:173-6
Antidepressants During Pregnancy: Think Twice Before Stopping
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Women who stopped treatment were five times more likely to relapse than those who maintained treatment.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
April 4, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 1; 295:499-507
Depression in the Children of Depressed Mothers
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Longitudinal data suggest that treating maternal depression can have significant mental health benefits for children.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
March 28, 2006
Covering:
Weissman MM et al., JAMA 2006 Mar 22/29; 295:1389-98
Augmenting Strategies for Bipolar Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
They’re not created equal — but none are very effective, anyway.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 22, 2006
Covering:
Nierenberg AA et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Feb; 163:210-6
Polarity Switches in Bipolar Patients Taking Mood Stabilizers and Antidepressants
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Specific antidepressants may pose different levels of risk for hypomania or mania in depressed bipolar patients.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 22, 2006
Covering:
Leverich GS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Feb; 163:232-9
