Appropriate Medication for Youths with Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The use of divalproex is not supported in a placebo-controlled study.
By Barbara Geller, MD
July 9, 2007
Covering:
Findling RL et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2007 May; 68:781-8
DelBello MP et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2007 May; 68:789-95
Does Age of Onset Predict Outcomes in Bipolar Disease?
Childhood onset of illness was associated with long treatment delay and more severe disease than adult onset.
By M. Susan Jay, MD
July 3, 2007
Covering:
Leverich GS et al., J Pediatr 2007 May; 150:485-90
Scheffer RE., J Pediatr 2007 May; 150:459-60
Do SSRIs Cause Birth Defects?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Two large case-control studies indicate a few very small increases in risks for particular defects.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Alwan S et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2684-92
Louik C et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2675-83
Greene MF., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2732-3
SSRIs and Birth Defects — How Concerned Should Our Patients Be?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
New information clarifies that SSRIs are <$EMPH_O>not<$EMPH_C> major teratogens.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Alwan S et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2684-92
Louik C et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2675-83
Greene MF., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2732-3
SSRIs in First-Trimester Pregnancy: Small Risks to the Fetus
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
New data from two large, well-performed studies
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Alwan S et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2684-92
Louik C et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2675-83
Greene MF., N Engl J Med 2007 Jun 28; 356:2732-3
The Comorbidities of PTSD
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Patients with PTSD are at high risk for numerous medical illnesses.
By Joel Yager, MD
June 25, 2007
Covering:
Sareen J et al., Psychosom Med 2007 Apr; 69:242-8
Depression, Neuropsychological Status, and Functional Impairment: Are They Related?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Depression did not explain most functional impairment in patients with moderate-to-severe brain injury.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
June 25, 2007
Covering:
Chaytor N et al., J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2007 May; 13:377-85
Sertraline for Cancer Patients Without Major Depression?
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
SSRIs do not appear to be effective for alleviating fatigue or anxiety symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.
Reviews of Note
A proposal on immunosuppressive therapy for schizophrenia patients, an essay clarifying the types of interplay between genes and the environment, an article examining possible taxonomies for DSM-V, and systematic reviews of treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and back pain.
The Treatment-Risk Paradox in Cardiology
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Researchers probe a phenomenon that may hinder delivery of effective care to the patients who need it most.
By Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH
June 13, 2007
Covering:
McAlister FA et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 May 28; 167:1019-25
Yan AT et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 May 28; 167:1009-16
Spertus JA and Furman MI., Arch Intern Med 2007 May 28; 167:987-8
Suicide Bereavement and Grief Counseling
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Counseling did not have a big impact in this unselected group of bereaved individuals.
By M. Katherine Shear, MD
June 11, 2007
Covering:
de Groot M et al., BMJ 2007 May 12; 334:994
Persistence of Mental Disorders After the Gulf War
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
War continues to be hell, years later.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 11, 2007
Covering:
Toomey R et al., Br J Psychiatry 2007 May; 190:385-93
Prazosin for Nightmares Associated with PTSD
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Sleep, but not many other symptoms, improved in prazosin-treated war veterans.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 11, 2007
Covering:
Raskind MA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Apr 15; 61:928-34
Krystal AD and Davidson JRT., Biol Psychiatry 2007 Apr 15; 61:925-7
A Wider Look at the Genetics of Bipolar Illness
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Multiple genes appear to contribute to risk for bipolar disorder.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
June 11, 2007
Covering:
Baum AE et al., Mol Psychiatry 2007 May 8
Does Depression Care Decrease Mortality?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Care management was associated with lower mortality risk among those with major depression, but the mechanism is unclear.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
June 5, 2007
Covering:
Gallo JJ et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 May 15; 146:689-98
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Any sort seems to help.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 4, 2007
Covering:
Miklowitz DJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Apr; 64:419-27
How Good Are the Atypical Antipsychotics for Mania?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Results were mixed in this meta-analysis.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
June 4, 2007
Covering:
Scherk H et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2007 Apr; 64:442-55
A Circadian Gene and Mania: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Eventually, experiments on mice with mutant <$EMPH_O>Clock<$EMPH_C> genes will provide insights into how mood stabilizers work.
By Barbara Geller, MD
May 21, 2007
Covering:
Roybal K et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Apr 10; 104:6406-11
Coyle JT., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Apr 10; 104:6097-8
Not Looking at the Brighter Side: Attention Bias in Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Individuals with current or remitted depression seem to prefer looking at sad faces.
By M. Katherine Shear, MD
May 21, 2007
Covering:
Joormann J and Gotlib IH., J Abnorm Psychol 2007 Feb; 116:80-5
Simultaneous Screening for Parental Depression and Psychosocial Risk
Further validation that asking one question about mood and one about anhedonia identifies parents at risk for depression
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 16, 2007
Covering:
Dubowitz H et al., Pediatrics 2007 Mar; 119:435-43
Bipolar Teens in the First Year After Hospitalization
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Although many patients initially recovered, rates of relapse and continued symptoms were high.
By Barbara Geller, MD
May 7, 2007
Covering:
DelBello MP et al., Am J Psychiatry 2007 Apr; 164:582-90
Does Low Socioeconomic Status "Cause" Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a longitudinal study, worsening SES worsened depression scores.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
May 7, 2007
Covering:
Lorant V et al., Br J Psychiatry 2007 Apr; 190:293-8
Elevated Salivary Cortisol as a Possible Indicator of Depression Risk
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Individuals with histories of family depression had higher early-morning levels than those without such histories.
By Joel Yager, MD
May 7, 2007
Covering:
Mannie ZN et al., Am J Psychiatry 2007 Apr; 164:617-21
More on Antidepressants in Children and Adolescents: Analysis of Benefits and Risks
Treatment benefits outweigh the risk for suicide ideation.
By Martin T. Stein, MD
May 2, 2007
Covering:
Bridge JA et al., JAMA 2007 Apr 18; 297:1683-96
Benefits of Antidepressants Appear to Outweigh Risks in Children and Adolescents
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Slightly increased risk for suicidal ideation with antidepressant use, but even greater benefits
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
May 1, 2007
Covering:
Bridge JA et al., JAMA 2007 Apr 18; 297:1683-96
