A Clinically Relevant Way to Assess Antidepressant Effectiveness
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Looking at response trajectories instead of endpoints reveals that early response to antidepressants likely means continued improvement.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 30, 2012
Covering:
Gueorguieva R et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Dec; 68:1227
Make the Brain Younger to Treat Anxiety: An Animal Study
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may change the brain to an immature state where behavior therapy may be more effective.
By Jonathan Silver, MD
January 30, 2012
Covering:
Karpova NN et al., Science 2011 Dec 23; 334:1731
Antiepileptics May Not Elevate Suicide Risk in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A 30-year observational study showed no rise in risk for suicidal behaviors when antiepileptic medications were used.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 23, 2012
Covering:
Leon AC et al., Am J Psychiatry 2011 Dec 15
ECT May Be More Effective Than rTMS
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
In a head-to-head comparison study from Iran, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves depressive symptoms, but less so than electroconvulsive therapy.
Difficult-to-Treat Depressed Patients May Be Bipolar
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Results based on analyses of a large national database validate clinician impressions that medication-nonresponsive depressed patients may have bipolar illness, often with atypical manifestations.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
January 23, 2012
Covering:
Li C-T et al., Br J Psychiatry 2012 Jan; 200:45
Antidepressants and Fetal Risk: A New Look at SSRIs During Pregnancy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Maternal use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors during late pregnancy raised risk for neonatal pulmonary hypertension, but individual risk-benefit profiles should be evaluated.
By Allison Bryant, MD, MPH
January 19, 2012
Covering:
Kieler H et al., BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d8012
Koren G and Nordeng H., BMJ 2012 Jan 12; 344:d7642
Do Vasomotor Symptoms Influence Mood — Or Vice Versa?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Vasomotor symptoms were related to next-day negative affect.
By Anne A. Moore, WHNP/ANP-BC, FAANP
January 19, 2012
Covering:
Gibson CJ et al., Menopause 2011 Dec; 18:1270
Genazzani AR and Gambacciani M., Menopause 2011 Dec; 18:1265
How Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Work: Understanding More Fundamental Mechanisms of Action
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
By stimulating microRNA miR-16 in the midline serotonergic raphe, fluoxetine initiates signaling cascades that lead to hippocampal neurogenesis.
By Joel Yager, MD
January 13, 2012
Covering:
Launay JM et al., Translat Psychiatry 2011 Nov 22
How Well Are We Treating Depression?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Despite a broader range of antidepressants and psychotherapies and more generic medications, this analysis of Medicaid data shows that the treatment of depression has not become cheaper and better.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 13, 2012
Covering:
Fullerton CA et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Dec; 68:1218
Desipramine for PTSD and Alcoholism in Military Veterans
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
A modest-sized study suggests that this forgotten tricyclic might have beneficial effects that equal those of FDA-approved medications for these two conditions.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
January 9, 2012
Covering:
Petrakis IL et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 2011 Nov 16
Serotonin and Stress — It's Complicated
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Exposure to stress in infant animals leads to enhanced expression of a serotonin receptor gene in adults, a finding that might point the way to new mood and anxiety therapies.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 9, 2012
Covering:
Benekareddy M et al., Biol Psychiatry 2011 Dec 1; 70:1024
Fear Conditioning: Not Just for Animals
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
According to this review, specific therapies based on neurobiological mechanisms of fear memory are possible.
Alternative Treatments for Our Patients: 2011 Research
Psychiatry Year in Review
Clinical benefits of alternative treatments can be clear-cut, but these effects may be limited in scope and may not work via the hypothesized mechanism.
Psychiatry at the Interface with General Medicine
Psychiatry Year in Review
New studies on psychiatric and medical comorbidities and the possible evolution in healthcare delivery may change the practice of mental health care.
Effective Psychiatric Treatments in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Psychiatry Year in Review
Researchers begin to answer the question of what works for psychiatric problems in neurology patients.
A Promising Intervention for Suicidal, Substance-Abusing Adolescents
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A modified CBT protocol involving patients and their families is more effective than enhanced treatment as usual.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 22, 2011
Covering:
Esposito-Smythers C et al., J Consult Clin Psychol 2011 Dec; 79:728
What Lamotrigine and Ziprasidone Are Not Good For
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
There are better adjunctive treatments than ziprasidone for bipolar depression and lamotrigine for unipolar depression.
By Peter Roy-Byrne, MD
December 19, 2011
Covering:
Sachs GS et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2011 Oct; 72:1413
Barbee JG et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2011 Oct; 72:1405
Got Heart Disease? Don't Be Depressed
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Even in relatively young people, depression and suicidality can worsen outcomes from ischemic heart disease.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
December 19, 2011
Covering:
Shah AJ et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Nov; 68:1135
More Bad News About Varenicline
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Compared with other smoking-cessation treatments, the risk for suicidal behavior or depression was markedly increased with varenicline.
Genetic Makeup Affects Anxious Children's Response to CBT
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
The short <$EMPH_O>5-HTTLPR<$EMPH_C> allele is associated with better response to cognitive-behavioral therapy.
By Barbara Geller, MD
December 5, 2011
Covering:
Eley TC et al., Mol Psychiatry 2011 Oct 25
Endophenotypes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Verbal recall, set-shifting, response inhibition, and visuoconstructive abilities are impaired in both OCD patients and their first-degree relatives.
By Joel Yager, MD
December 5, 2011
Covering:
Rajender G et al., Acta Psychiatr Scand 2011 Aug; 124:152
Can PTSD Be Prevented?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Prolonged exposure or cognitive therapy seems very effective for patients who show PTSD symptoms soon after trauma.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 21, 2011
Covering:
Shalev AY et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Oct 3
The Real Risk for Suicide in Mental Disorders
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
New results suggest that the risk is lower than previously reported.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
November 21, 2011
Covering:
Nordentoft M et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2011 Oct; 68:1058
Mapping Functional Circuits in Depression
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
Activation of a brain "hate circuit" was significantly different in patients with new depression or treatment-resistant depression, compared with healthy individuals.
Depression as a Stroke Risk Factor
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Free
A systematic review and meta-analysis find that depression increases the risk for stroke.
