Anticipatory Worrying and Neural Circuitry in GAD
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Activation of the anterior cingulate might predict medication response in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 30, 2009
Covering:
Nitschke JB et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Mar; 166:302
Problems Taking Tests While Stressed?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An MRI study shows the reversible effects of chronic stress on the prefrontal cortex.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
March 30, 2009
Covering:
Liston C et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jan 20; 106:912
In a Meta-Analysis, Two Antidepressants Lead the Pack
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Escitalopram and sertraline were the most efficacious of 12 antidepressants.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
March 24, 2009
Covering:
Cipriani A et al., Lancet 2009 Feb 28; 373:746
Parikh SV., Lancet 2009 Feb 28; 373:700
The Importance of Assessing for Suicidality in Children
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Clinicians who rely on spontaneous reports from patients or families might miss events.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 23, 2009
Covering:
Brent DA et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Feb 17
Childhood Stresses Take a Toll on Adult Immune Health
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a large records study, childhood adversity increases the risk for autoimmune disorders in adulthood.
By Joel Yager, MD
March 23, 2009
Covering:
Dube SR et al., Psychosom Med 2009 Feb; 71:243
Are Psychiatric Patients Really Dangerous?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Substance use and history of violence play important roles in a patient’s risk for violent behavior.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 16, 2009
Covering:
Elbogen EB and Johnson SC., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Feb; 66:152
Emerging Perspectives: Effectively Addressing Depression in Low-Income Mothers
Maternal depression hurts children, and screening-only programs are insufficient, but brief therapies hold great value.
More Data on Treating Depression with DBS
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Encouraging results for severely refractory illness
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 16, 2009
Covering:
Malone DA Jr et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Feb 15; 65:267
Goodman WK and Insel TR., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Feb 15; 65:263
Targeting the Neuroanatomy of Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Two studies of limbic and prefrontal activation in healthy people support current hypotheses of depression.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
March 16, 2009
Covering:
Kross E et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Mar 1; 65:361
Drabant EM et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Mar 1; 65:367
Carter CS., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Mar 1; 65:359
Diabetes and Risk for Antenatal and Postpartum Depression
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Perinatal depression was substantially more prevalent among women with diabetes than among those without.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
March 12, 2009
Covering:
Kozhimannil KB et al., JAMA 2009 Feb 25; 301:842
Social Avoidance in Animals, and Human Psychopathology
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Do autism and social anxiety disorder lie on a continuum?
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 9, 2009
Covering:
Watson KK et al., PloS ONE 2009 Jan 14; 4:e4156
OCs and Mood Changes: Which Come First?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Rates of mood and anxiety disorders were similar for current and past OC users.
Diabetes, Depression, and Pregnancy
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Diabetes was associated with perinatal depression in low-income mothers.
Problems Often Continue When Adolescents with Conduct Disorder Grow Up
In a population-based study, many adolescents with externalizing behavior experienced poor outcomes as adults, but most did well.
Manic Symptoms in Bipolar Depression: Prevalence and Significance
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Watch out for this underappreciated but common phenomenon.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 23, 2009
Covering:
Goldberg JF et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Feb; 166:173
Frye MA et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Feb; 166:164
Metabolic Syndrome and Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In women only, depressive symptoms predicted onset of metabolic syndrome.
By Joel Yager, MD
February 23, 2009
Covering:
Vanhala M et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2009 Feb; 119:137
Behavioral Disturbance in CADASIL
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
Mood disorders are common in these patients but have been characterized inconsistently in published reports.
By Stephen Salloway, MD, MS
February 17, 2009
Covering:
Valenti R et al., Acta Neurol Scand 2008 Nov; 118:291
Which Newer Antidepressant Is Best?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A meta-analysis gives the edge to sertraline and to escitalopram for efficacy and tolerability.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
February 13, 2009
Covering:
Cipriani A et al., Lancet 2009 Jan 29
Parikh SV., Lancet 2009 Jan 29
Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety in Elders?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
It had modest efficacy, but the brevity of this study limits the generalizability of its results.
Predicting Remission in Depressed Children Treated with Fluoxetine
A reduction in symptoms of 50% or more after 4 weeks of treatment predicts remission at 12 weeks.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
February 11, 2009
Covering:
Tao R et al., J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2009 Jan; 48:71
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Illness: Common Genetic Origins
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Swedish national registers provide clearer answers to an old controversy.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
February 9, 2009
Covering:
Lichtenstein P et al., Lancet 2009 Jan 17; 373:234
Depression and Parkinson Disease: An Old Drug Still Works (Better)
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Tricyclics remain a good choice for depressed patients with neurologic disease.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
February 9, 2009
Covering:
Menza M et al., Neurology 2008 Dec 17
Okun MS and Fernandez HH., Neurology 2008 Dec 17
Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Psychological interventions and peer support show promise.
By Deborah Cowley, MD
February 9, 2009
Covering:
Dennis C-L et al., BMJ 2009 Jan 15; 338:a3064
Morrell CJ et al., BMJ 2009 Jan 15; 338:a3045
Dennis C-L., BMJ 2009 Jan 15; 338:a2975
Beyond Serotonin in the Pathophysiology of Suicide
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Researchers examine alterations in a gene expressed in astrocytes.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
February 9, 2009
Covering:
Ernst C et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009 Jan; 66:22
In Finland, Fewer Suicides in Areas with Diversified Outpatient Mental Health Services
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Suicide rates were lower in communities that provided 24-hour emergency services.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
January 27, 2009
Covering:
Pirkola S et al., Lancet 2009 Jan 10; 373:147
