Antidepressants Cross the Placenta
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Cord blood levels of two tricyclics were close to maternal levels.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 22, 2006
Covering:
Loughhead AM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2006 Feb 1; 59:287-90
Does Your Anxious or Depressed Patient Drink Too Much?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Clinicians should be alert for heavy drinking in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
March 21, 2006
Covering:
Arch JJ et al., Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2006 Jan/Feb; 28:37-42
Maintenance Treatment of Major Depression in Elders
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In a randomized trial, 2 years of maintenance paroxetine prevented recurrent depression in elders.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
March 17, 2006
Covering:
Reynolds CF III et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 16; 354:1130-8
Reifler BV., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 16; 354:1189-90
Is Prenatal SSRI Exposure Harmful to Newborns?
Infants born to mothers on SSRIs should be monitored closely for neonatal abstinence syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD, and Howard Bauchner, MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Levinson-Castiel R et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Feb; 160:173-6
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
Suicide Risk Is Highest Before Antidepressant Therapy
Risk for attempting suicide may be highest in the month before initiation of antidepressant treatment.
By Alain Joffe, MD, MPH, FAAP
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Simon GE et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:41-7
Collaborative Care for Depressed Elders Helps in the Long Run
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Effects of a collaborative intervention persisted even after treatment was stopped.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Hunkeler EM et al., BMJ 2006 Feb 4; 332:259-63
Effects of Epilepsy Surgery on Depression and Anxiety
Neurology Summary and Comment
Most, though not all, epilepsy patients with depression or anxiety exhibited improved mood after surgery.
By Bruce H. Price, MD
March 9, 2006
Covering:
Devinsky O et al., Neurology 2005 Dec 13; 65:1744-9
rTMS for Refractory Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
It might be useful for treating moderate depression.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 8, 2006
Covering:
Avery DH et al., Biol Psychiatry 2006 Jan 15; 59:187-94
Killer Cells Respond as Depression Resolves
Psychiatry General Medicine
Depression is a risk factor for morbidity in conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and HIV infection. Depression disturbs patients’ normal eating and sleeping patterns, . . .
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
March 8, 2006
Covering:
Cruess DG et al., Am J Psychiatry 2005 Nov; 162:2125-30
Postpartum Psychosis: Risk Factors
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Among patients with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder, first-time mothers and those with complicated deliveries might especially be at risk.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
March 7, 2006
Covering:
Blackmore ER et al., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 188:32-6
SSRIs and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Maternal SSRI use in late pregnancy was associated with increased risk for persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
March 2, 2006
Covering:
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
Mills JL., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:636-8
Etanercept Alleviates Fatigue and Depression Along with Psoriasis
Dermatology Summary and Comment
When I first began using etanercept for psoriasis, I noted that many patients who returned for a first visit after initiating therapy reported how well . . .
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
February 28, 2006
Covering:
Tyring S et al., Lancet 2006 Jan 7; 367:29-35
Bos JD and de Korte J., Lancet 2006 Jan 7; 367:6-7
SSRI Exposure in Utero — Harmful to Newborns
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Maternal use of SSRIs increases risks for neonatal abstinence syndrome and persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
February 24, 2006
Covering:
Levinson-Castiel R et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Feb; 160:173-6
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
Depression Relapse During Pregnancy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Pregnancy is not protective for women with longstanding, recurrent depression — but antidepressant use during pregnancy might be.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 1; 295:499-507
Suicidality and Antidepressants: Was the FDA Right?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The FDA may have been overly cautious, but close monitoring of all depressed patients for suicidality makes good clinical sense.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Simon GE et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:41-7
Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns with Late-Gestation SSRI Exposure
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Clinicians need to take into account another possible risk from antidepressant use during pregnancy.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Chambers CD et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Feb 9; 354:579-87
New Antidepressant Protein Helps Serotonin Work Better
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This study, involving both animal and human tissues, may have unveiled a new connection between depression and serotonin neurotransmission.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Svenningsson P et al., Science 2006 Jan 6; 311:77-80
Sharp T., Science 2006 Jan 6; 311:45-6
Leptin: It’s Not Just for Weight
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
This weight-regulating hormone may have antidepressant effects in an animal model.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Lu XY et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 Jan 31; 103:1593-8
Discovering and Treating Anxiety in School-Age Children
Psychiatry General Medicine
Various forms of anxiety, including generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and phobias, are underdiagnosed in pediatric practice. Recognition begins with asking parents the right . . .
By Martin T. Stein, MD
February 22, 2006
Covering:
Mifsud C and Rapee RM., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2005 Oct; 44:996-1004
Antidepressants During Pregnancy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Stopping antidepressants during pregnancy is associated with high risk for relapse.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
February 21, 2006
Covering:
Cohen LS et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 1; 295:499-507
Do Antidepressants Increase Suicide Risk? Maybe Not
Women's Health Summary and Comment
These findings do not support an increased risk for suicidality upon initiation of the antidepressants listed in recent FDA advisories.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
February 21, 2006
Covering:
Simon GE et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:41-7
Antidepressants: Which Patients Adhere to Treatment? Which Don’t?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In this study, Hispanic ethnicity, low education level, and low family income all were associated with early discontinuation of treatment.
By Nada L. Stotland, MD, MPH
February 21, 2006
Covering:
Olfson M et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:101-8
Off-Label Antidepressant Use Up, Psychotherapy Use Down in Depressed Kids
The number of visits during which children or adolescents were diagnosed with depression more than doubled.
By M. Susan Jay, MD
February 10, 2006
Covering:
Ma J et al., J Adolesc Health 2005 Dec; 37:434-42
Brent DA., J Adolesc Health 2005 Dec; 37:431-3
Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Bipolar Depression: Are You What You Eat?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The results are promising, but the study needs to be performed in a more typical population.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 8, 2006
Covering:
Frangou S et al., Br J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 188:46-50
Antidepressant Metabolites Found in Amniotic Fluid
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The decision to prescribe depression medications to pregnant women becomes more complex.
By Barbara Geller, MD
February 8, 2006
Covering:
Loughhead AM et al., Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jan; 163:145-7
