A New Way to Make Antidepressant Treatment Decisions?
a genetically guided treatment algorithm for depression improves outcomes in a pilot study.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 9, 2012
Covering:
Hall-Flavin DK et al., Psychiatry 2012 Oct 16; 2:e172
Polyvictimization Increases Risk for Teen Suicidality Sixfold
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Suicidal ideation is linked to three of five aggregate categories of victimization.
By Barbara Geller, MD
November 9, 2012
Covering:
Turner HA et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Oct 22
Loneliness and Subjective Well-Being: Chickens and Eggs?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Each appears to substantially affect the other, but subjective well-being's effects may endure longer.
By Joel Yager, MD
November 9, 2012
Covering:
VanderWeele TJ et al., Am J Epidemiol 2012 Nov 1; 176:777
Panic Disorder and Vulnerability to Later Atrial Fibrillation
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Results from a large population-based, retrospective study
By Joel Yager, MD
November 9, 2012
Covering:
Cheng Y-F et al., Psychosom Med 2012 Oct 29
Alcohol Impairs Fear Extinction in Mice
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The research may explain why PTSD may be more persistent in drinkers.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 9, 2012
Covering:
Holmes A et al., Nat Neurosci 2012 Oct; 15:1359
SSRIs and Intracerebral Bleeds: A Small Risk
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Clinicians should remain aware of the possibility, but these medications are probably safe for almost all patients.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
November 5, 2012
Covering:
Hackam DG and Mrkobrada M., Neurology 2012 Oct 30; 79:1862
McGrath ER and O'Donnell MJ., Neurology 2012 Oct 30; 79:1844
Oral Scopolamine Augmentation for Major Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Scopolamine pill added to citalopram produces higher response and remission rates than add-on placebo.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 29, 2012
Covering:
Khajavi D et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2012 Oct 16
Predictors of Antidepressant Response in Late-Life Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Hippocampal volume and cognitive processing speed are associated with response over time to sertraline treatment.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 29, 2012
Covering:
Sheline YI et al, Am J Psychiatry 2012 Oct 3
Patient-Reported Stress Levels and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology Summary and Comment
In a prospective cohort study, both survival and health status markers were worse in patients with greater perceived stress than in those with less stress.
Disrupting the Fear Response "Resets" the Amgydala
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An imaging study of healthy people reveals the role of the amygdala in fear recall and reconsolidation.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
October 22, 2012
Covering:
Agren T et al., Science 2012 Sep 21; 337:1550
Depression with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is a Bad Combination After MI
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
After myocardial infarction, patients with both conditions risk much higher mortality and morbidity than those with either condition alone.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 22, 2012
Covering:
Hayano J et al., Psychosom Med 2012 Sep 28
Neural Network Basis for Hypnotizability
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Highly hypnotizable people have greater executive control over networks judging the salience of incoming information, compared with people harder to hypnotize.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 15, 2012
Covering:
Hoeft F et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2012 Oct; 69:1064
Cognitive Deficits in Euthymic Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Deficits persist over time and are associated with poor psychosocial functioning.
Can a Small "Dose" of Stress Help Long-Term Reactions?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In this animal study, a small stressor experienced before a larger one seems to prevent later anxiety behaviors.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 15, 2012
Covering:
Rao RP et al., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Sep 15; 72:466
Expression of Which Genes Is Associated with Antidepressant Response?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Several genes separately predict or accompany antidepressant response, and eventually a simple blood assay for leukocyte gene expression might help to personalize depression treatments.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 15, 2012
Covering:
Cattaneo A et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2012 Sep 19
A Polymorphism That Affects Fear Extinction
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of a cannabinoid receptor gene impedes fear extinction in humans.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 15, 2012
Covering:
Heitland I et al., Transl Psychiatry 2012 Sep 25; 2:e162
Recurrence of Suicidality After the Second Antidepressant Trial
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Although patients with suicidality during the initial trial are at elevated risk, most patients do not experience suicidal thoughts or behavior after switching or adding therapies.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
October 5, 2012
Covering:
Perlis RH et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2012 Sep 18
The Sex Difference in Depression and Anxiety Explained?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
An animal study suggests that a genetic variant of brain-derived neurotrophic factor could play an important role.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 5, 2012
Covering:
Bath KG et al., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Sep 15; 72:499
Epperson CN and Bale TL., Biol Psychiatry 2012 Sep 15; 72:434
Increased Mortality from All Causes in Patients with Self-Harm
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Psychosocial factors contributing to self-harm may also contribute to premature death from natural causes.
What Happens to Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a prospective study, many patients improve or remit, and MAO inhibitors may hold particular promise.
Predicting PTSD Risk Following Disasters
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Demographic and clinical factors contribute to risk for post-traumatic stress disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
October 1, 2012
Covering:
North CS et al., Am J Public Health 2012 Oct; 102:e40
Detoxification Program for Narcotic Bowel Syndrome
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Researchers describe outcomes for 39 patients.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 27, 2012
Covering:
Drossman DA et al., Am J Gastroenterol 2012 Sep; 107:1426
Can Aspirin Reduce the Risk of Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
In older men, the combination of high plasma homocysteine levels and aspirin use is associated with a lower risk for depression.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 24, 2012
Covering:
Almeida OP et al., Transl Psychiatry 2012 Aug 14; 2:e151
Duration of Untreated Bipolar Disorder Can Be Long
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Outcomes may worsen with poor detection of bipolar disorder.
By Joel Yager, MD
September 24, 2012
Covering:
Drancourt N et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2012 Aug 20
Early-Life Adversity Wipes Out Genetic Protective Effects in Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
The protective effect of the <$EMPH_O>BICC1<$EMPH_C> minor allele against the development of small hippocampi, associated with depressive pathophysiology, seems to be lost in people with early-life adversity.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
September 24, 2012
Covering:
Bermingham R et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2012 Aug 22
