Inflammatory Proteins: The Body–Brain Connection
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Inflammatory response to vaccination affected participants' sense of well-being and activated specific cortical regions but did not worsen cognitive performance.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 19, 2009
Covering:
Harrison NA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Sep 1; 66:415
Harrison NA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Sep 1; 66:407
Review of Associations Between Sleepiness and Depression
Neurology Summary and Comment
Sleep and depression are so complex that a review article can only describe, not answer, specific questions about their interaction.
By Quentin Regestein, MD
October 13, 2009
Covering:
Chellappa SL et al., Sleep Med 2009 May; 10:505
A Step Toward Personalized Treatment of Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Further analyses of genome-wide association data generate a multilocus model of antidepressant response.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 9, 2009
Covering:
Ising M et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Sep; 66:966
Strep Antibodies and PANDAS: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers tie behavioral abnormalities to strep-associated antibodies.
By Barbara Geller, MD
October 9, 2009
Covering:
Yaddanapudi K et al., Mol Psychiatry 2009 Aug 11
Management of Chronic Pain
Comprehensive treatment for chronic pain must address both physical and psychological aspects.
By Lynn Rader, MD
October 8, 2009
Treating Adolescent Depression — A TAD Better
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A year after the end of the study, TADS-treated adolescents hold their own.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 5, 2009
Covering:
Treatment for Adolescents With Depression Study (TADS) Team., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Oct; 166:1141
Neurocognitive Responses in Psoriasis Patients
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Imaging in patients with psoriasis shows brain changes that blunt responses to expressions of disgust in others.
By Craig A. Elmets, MD
October 2, 2009
Covering:
Kleyn CE et al., J. Invest Dermatol 2009 Aug 27
Are Developing Hearts Harmed by SSRIs?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
First-trimester fetal exposure to SSRIs more than doubled risk for septal heart defects; absolute differences in incidence were small.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
October 1, 2009
Covering:
Pedersen LH et al., BMJ 2009 Sep 23; 339:b3569
Chambers C., BMJ 2009 Sep 23; 339:b3525
Joint APA-ACOG Algorithms for Treatment of Depression During Pregnancy
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A groundbreaking collaboration provides useful advice on a clinically challenging problem.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
September 28, 2009
Covering:
Yonkers KA et al., Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2009 Sep/Oct; 31:403
Online Psychotherapy for Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Instant messaging of therapy provides surprisingly positive results.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
September 28, 2009
Covering:
Kessler D et al., Lancet 2009 Aug 22; 374:628
Simon GE and Ludman EJ., Lancet 2009 Aug 22; 374:594
Long-Term Relief of Poststroke Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Brief interventions that educate patients and teach a problem-solving approach might have a long-lived effect.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
September 28, 2009
Covering:
Mitchell PH et al., Stroke 2009 Sep; 40:3073
Psychiatric Morbidities in Gay and Bisexual Subgroups
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Mood and anxiety disorders were more common in bisexuals and gay men than in heterosexuals.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 28, 2009
Covering:
Bostwick WB et al., Am J Public Health 2009 Aug 20
Mental Health Burden of Veterans Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A large-scale study suggests that more than one third of returning veterans receive new psychiatric diagnoses.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 21, 2009
Covering:
Seal KH et al., Am J Public Health 2009 Sep; 99:1651
Does Chamomile Calm Your Nerves?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A small study shows small effects in individuals with mild anxiety.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Amsterdam JD et al., J Clin Psychopharmacol 2009 Aug; 29:378
Antipsychotic Drugs Still Necessary for Psychotic Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Adding an antipsychotic to a newer antidepressant produces better results than monotherapy, but the clinician must choose the antipsychotic carefully.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Meyers BS et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Aug; 66:838
Somatic Sequelae of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In adults, four disorders with often puzzling etiologies are associated with abuse histories.
Dosing CBT for Panic Disorder: "Massed" Treatment vs. Usual Scheduling
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Is going to "mass" better for treating panic disorder?
By Joel Yager, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Bohni MK et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2009 Sep; 120:187
Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms After 5 to 6 Years: Lessons from 9/11
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
PTS symptoms are common initially and continue to develop 5 to 6 years later.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Brackbill RM et al., JAMA 2009 Aug 5; 302:502
Antidepressant Prescriptions Are on the Rise in the U.S.
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Meanwhile, prescriptions of mood stabilizers remain steady and adjunctive antipsychotic prescriptions jump — a disturbing combination.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
September 14, 2009
Covering:
Olfson M and Marcus SC., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Aug; 66:848
Depression in Primary Care: Continuing Diagnostic Challenge and New Therapeutic Options
General Medicine Summary and Comment
New technologies offer promise for more-accurate diagnosis and more-effective treatment.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
September 3, 2009
Covering:
Mitchell AJ et al., Lancet 2009 Aug 22; 374:609
Tyrer P., Lancet 2009 Aug 22; 374:589
Kessler D et al., Lancet 2009 Aug 22; 374:628
In Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Is Treating the "Psychiatric" or the "Neuro" Aspect More Important?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Addressing mood or anxiety issues may improve these patients' quality of life.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
August 31, 2009
Covering:
Herrmann N et al., J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2009 ; 21:181
LaFrance WC Jr and Syc S., Neurology 2009 Aug 4; 73:366
Optimism and Risk for Heart Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Women with sunny outlooks were less likely to develop heart disease and more likely to live longer.
Does Sleep Deprivation Really Work for Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A novel approach to bipolar depression seems promising.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 24, 2009
Covering:
Wu JC et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Aug 1; 66:298
Who Gets Suicidal? Who Acts on Those Thoughts?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
It usually takes more than depression to prompt suicide plans or attempts.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 17, 2009
Covering:
Nock MK et al., Mol Psychiatry 2009 Mar 31
ECT: Alone or with Medication?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Some insights into a long-standing question
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Sackeim HA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Jul; 66:729
