Psychiatry: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Ghrelin: It's Not Just for Food; Let's Drink to That

• August 3, 2009
• Jonathan Silver, MD

In an animal study, central ghrelin signaling activates the mesolimbic reward system for alcohol.

• Reviewing:
• Jerlhag E et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jul 7; 106:11318

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Even Fruit Flies Love Happy Hour

• July 27, 2009
• Steven Dubovsky, MD

An animal study uncovers a gene that regulates signaling pathways involved in alcohol intoxication and preference.

• Reviewing:
• Corl AB et al., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:949 Palfreyman MT., Cell 2009 May 29; 137:802

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

The System of Care and Outcomes in Geriatric Depression

• July 27, 2009
• Joel Yager, MD

Comprehensive care reduces depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in elders with depression. CME

• Reviewing:
• Alexopoulos GS et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jun 15

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

APOE Genotyping: Nothing to Worry About?

• July 20, 2009
• Jonathan Silver, MD

When coupled with extensive education, genotyping did not increase distress among individuals with risk for Alzheimer disease.

• Reviewing:
• Green RC et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:245 Kane RA and Kane RL., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 16; 361:298

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Gene–Environment Interaction Redux: BDNF Pathways

• July 20, 2009
• Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Researchers use a sophisticated analytic method to trace the effects of the interaction between early life stress and genotype.

• Reviewing:
• Gatt JM et al., Mol Psychiatry 2009 Jul; 14:681

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

The Psychopathology of Institutionalized Children

• July 20, 2009
• Barbara Geller, MD

Researchers randomized institutionalized children to foster care or to continued institutionalization, but both experimental groups were more impaired than a never-institutionalized group.

• Reviewing:
• Zeanah CH et al., Am J Psychiatry 2009 Jul; 166:777

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Can Your Personality Increase Your Survival?

• July 13, 2009
• Joel Yager, MD

Being conscientious and open to experience may reduce your mortality risk.

• Reviewing:
• Taylor MD et al., Psychosom Med 2009 May 28

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Converging on Genes for Schizophrenia

• July 13, 2009
• Steven Dubovsky, MD

Data from animals, humans, autopsies, and electrophysiology identify a variant potassium-channel gene and suggest its role in a core feature of schizophrenia.

• Reviewing:
• Huffaker SJ et al., Nat Med 2009 May; 15:509 Horváth S and Mirnics K., Nat Med 2009 May; 15:488

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

More About Cannabis and Psychosis

• July 13, 2009
• Deborah Cowley, MD

Acute exposure increases psychosis-like symptoms, especially among those with high-trait schizotypy. CME

• Reviewing:
• Mason O et al., Psychol Med 2009 Jun; 39:951 Morrison PD et al., Psychol Med 2009 Apr 1

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Medication for Depression and Anxiety: Don't Give Up Easily

• July 13, 2009
• Peter Roy-Byrne, MD

Clinicians should consider switching medications in patients who show little effect after 4 or 6 weeks of treatment.

• Reviewing:
• Baldwin DS et al., Hum Psychopharmacol 2009 Jun; 24:269