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
Delaying Progression to Alzheimer Disease
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Donepezil might work, if the patient with amnestic mild cognitive impairment is (a little) depressed.
A Polygenic Basis for Major Disorders?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Common polymorphisms that individually exert small effects might, as a group, play a substantial genetic role.
By Barbara Geller, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Purcell SM et al. for the International Schizophrenia Consortium., Nature 2009 Jul 1
Shi J et al., Nature 2009 Jul 1
Stefansson H et al., Nature 2009 Jul 1
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Run in the Same Families
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A meta-analysis of familial coaggregation studies yields positive results.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Van Snellenberg JX and de Candia T., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Jul; 66:748
Of Depressed Mice and Men: Similar Genetic Expression in the Amygdala
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An elegant cross-species study homes in on genetic expression in depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Sibille E et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jul 15
A New and Improved Anxiolytic?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A drug that promotes production of GABAA receptors also prevents panic attacks.
Psychological Effect of Disclosing Genetic Risk for Alzheimer Disease
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Among extensively counseled subjects, disclosure of genotype information did not affect psychological status.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
August 4, 2009
Covering:
Green RC et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:245
Which Psychotherapy Works for Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Both CBT and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy were effective in a group of relatively healthy patients.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Leichsenring F et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jul 1
Factors in Middle Age Might Predict Later Dementia
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Being calm and staying married may reduce the risks for dementia.
By Joel Yager, MD
August 3, 2009
Covering:
Gallacher J et al., Psychosom Med 2009 Jul; 71:659
Håkansson K et al., BMJ 2009 Jul 2; 339:b2462
The System of Care and Outcomes in Geriatric Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Comprehensive care reduces depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in elders with depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
July 27, 2009
Covering:
Alexopoulos GS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jun 15
