Psychiatry: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

You've Got a Friend: Befriending for the Distressed

• March 15, 2010
• Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

This intervention, pioneered in the U.K., is better than nothing — but not as helpful as psychotherapy.

• Reviewing:
• Mead N et al., Br J Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 196:96

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Acupuncture for Depression ... Only If You're Pregnant?

• March 15, 2010
• Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Although many studies have not found acupuncture to be effective for depression, it might work in pregnant women with major depression.

• Reviewing:
• Manber R et al., Obstet Gynecol 2010 Mar; 115:511

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Depression and Hippocampal Damage: Which Comes First?

• March 15, 2010
• Steven Dubovsky, MD

Hippocampal malfunction may precede the onset of depression, and environmental factors may worsen the damage to the hippocampus.

• Reviewing:
• Rao U et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Feb 15; 67:357

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Genetic Variant Influences Extinction Learning

• March 15, 2010
• Barbara Geller, MD

A single-nucleotide polymorphism affects anxiety-related behavior in both mice and humans.

• Reviewing:
• Soliman F et al., Science 2010 Feb 12; 327:863

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Does a Sick Cingulate Syndrome Promote Anxiety?

• March 8, 2010
• Joel Yager, MD

In generalized anxiety disorder, the pregenual anterior cingulate might inadequately regulate emotional processing by the amygdala.

• Reviewing:
• Etkin A et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Feb 1

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

More on Depression and Diabetes

• March 8, 2010
• Joel Yager, MD

Even low-grade preexisting depression may increase the risk for diabetes.

• Reviewing:
• Campayo A et al., Am J Psychiatry 2010 Feb 1

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Omega-3s for Prodromal Psychosis

• March 8, 2010
• Barbara Geller, MD

A relatively safe intervention yields early positive results.

• Reviewing:
• Amminger GP et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 67:146

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Quetiapine Beats Lithium and Paroxetine for Bipolar DepressionFree

• March 8, 2010
• Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Two manufacturer-sponsored studies show efficacy for this antipsychotic as acute treatment, but careful clinical judgment remains necessary when prescribing to individual patients.

• Reviewing:
• Young AH et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 71:150 McElroy SL et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010 Feb; 71:163

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Maternal Flu and the Postnatal Brain: An Animal Study

• March 1, 2010
• Barbara Geller, MD

In rhesus monkeys, titers of virus-specific immunoglobulin are associated with brain abnormalities.

• Reviewing:
• Short SJ et al., Biol Psychiatry 2010 Jan 13

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Intimate Relationship Problems and Depression Treatment Outcome

• March 1, 2010
• Deborah Cowley, MD

Chronically depressed patients are less likely to remit in the presence of dyadic discord.

• Reviewing:
• Denton WH et al., Psychol Med 2010 Mar; 40:415