Ketamine Works in OCD, Stubborn Depression

May 21, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO — The anesthetic agent ketamine continues to show tantalizing promise in psychiatric disorders, with results from new studies in intractable depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

In a 72-patient randomized trial involving patients with major depression who had not responded to standard therapies, mean scores on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) fell by half 1 day after an intravenous infusion with ketamine, significantly more than in an “active placebo” group receiving the benzodiazepine agent midazolam.…

New Approach to Treatment-Resistant Depression

May 20, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO – A pilot randomized study of 30 patients with treatment-resistant depression suggests that helping them cope with their illness as a chronic disease might be more helpful than focusing exclusively on symptom remission.

Clinicians usually focus on trying to push symptoms of depression into remission using one medication or combination of therapies after another, Dr.…

APA Leaders Defend DSM-5

SAN FRANCISCO — The fifth edition of the “psychiatrist’s bible” was officially released here in all its 947-page glory, with its developers offering a spirited rebuttal to their critics.

Known as DSM-5, the new version of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was launched at a press briefing to kick off the organization’s annual meeting.…

ATS 2013: Identifying Depression Risk in COPD Patients

The Particulars: Studies suggest that the rate of depression among patients with COPD is significantly higher than that of the general population. The ability to identify patients with COPD who are most at risk for depression could help ensure timely counseling and treatment.…

AAN 2013: Sweetened Drinks Hike Depression in Seniors

March 18, 2013

Older adults who drink sweetened beverages, and artificially sweetened diet drinks in particular, are at increased risk for depression, a large prospective study suggested.

Individuals ages 50 to 70 who consumed four cans or cups of sweetened soft drinks each day had a 30% increase in risk of developing depression (odds ratio 1.30, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.44, P<0.0001) compared with those who avoided such beverages, according to Honglei Chen, MD, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and colleagues.…

The Black Dog: An Unwanted Side Effect in the ED | Medical Blog

February 14, 2013

There is always a risk of patients at their worst in the ED, feeding the black dog of depression that rests his forepaws on your tired shoulder.

ISC 2013: Stroke Survivors and Suicidal Thoughts | Medical Blog

February 8, 2013

Nearly one in 12 American stroke survivors may have contemplated suicide or wished themselves dead, according to a study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2013.

The proportion of stroke survivors who contemplated suicide was striking, compared with patients with other health conditions, said Amytis Towfighi, M.D., lead author of the study and an assistant professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and chair of the Department of Neurology at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.…

ISC 2013: Same Factors Influence Depression in Stroke Patients, Spouse Caregivers | Medical Blog

February 6, 2013

Self-esteem, optimism and perceived control influence depression in stroke survivors and their spouse caregivers — who should be treated together, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2013.

Researchers, who analyzed 112 depressed stroke survivors up to 8 weeks after hospital discharge and their spouses, found self-esteem and optimism influenced each partners’ depression.…

Reducing the Risk of Suicide in the ED | Feature

January 9, 2013

Suicide attempts and completions in the ED can have catastrophic effects on emergency staff. Communicating risk and being short-staffed are significant obstacles to consider, but several strategies can be implemented to help reduce suicide attempts in the ED.

Psychiatric Emergencies: Some People Call It Angst | Guest Blog

December 14, 2012

"... ED’s are not meant to handle these patients any longer than it takes to medically clear them. Leaving the patient to suffer the prejudice of those who don’t understand, or the silence of those frightened by the stigma of identifying with them..."