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Antidepressants account for only 10 percent of fall in suicide rates among older people

A large population-based study using Danish register data suggests that antidepressant use accounts for only 10% of the fall in suicide rates among middle-aged and older people. Despite a significant increase in antidepressant prescriptions, the study found no conclusive link between medication and reduced suicidal behavior.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateApr 14, 2008

A link between antidepressants and type 2 diabetes

A study published in Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice found that people with depression taking antidepressants have a 30% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The risk was highest for those using two types of therapies simultaneously, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalDiabetes Research and Clinical Practice·DateMar 25, 2008

Treating SSRI-resistant depression

A new report suggests that switching from a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to a non-SSRI antidepressant may be more effective for treating symptoms of major depressive disorder. However, the effectiveness and tolerability of this approach varied depending on the individual.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMar 25, 2008

Teens with treatment-resistant depression more likely to improve with combination therapy

A recent study published in JAMA found that teenagers with difficult-to-treat depression who switched to another antidepressant medication and added psychotherapy showed significant improvement. The results suggest that a combination approach may be more effective than traditional treatment strategies for adolescents with treatment-res...

Who benefits from antidepressants? US health inequities

A new study published in PLoS Medicine suggests that antidepressants only provide clinically significant benefits for a small group of severely depressed patients. However, even among these patients, the improvement is not very great, and depressed people can still improve without chemical treatments.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 25, 2008

Researchers explore the antidepressant effects of ketamine

A new study finds that ketamine's antidepressant effects are mediated by its ability to increase AMPA receptor stimulation, suggesting drugs enhancing this function may have rapid antidepressant properties. Researchers now aim to develop AMPA-boosting drugs without ketamine's side effects.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateFeb 21, 2008

Older women more susceptible to depression than older men

A new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers found that older women are more prone to depression and less likely to die from it compared to older men. The study, which evaluated 754 individuals aged 70+, found that women were more likely to experience symptoms of depression and remain depressed over time.

SourceYale University·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateFeb 5, 2008

Natural human hormone as the next antidepressant?

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that erythropoietin, a natural human hormone, may have antidepressant properties. The study found that erythropoietin regulated emotional responses and had neuroprotective effects on neural function, supporting its potential as a treatment strategy for depression.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateDec 11, 2007

Practice parameters discuss treatment for narcolepsy, other hypersomnias of central origin

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has updated its practice parameters for the treatment of narcolepsy and other central hypersomnias. The guidelines recommend a comprehensive approach to managing symptoms, including modafinil, sodium oxybate, and tricyclic antidepressants. Regular follow-up with healthcare providers is crucial to ...

A faster class of antidepressants

Researchers have discovered a new class of antidepressants that work by directly enhancing nerve impulses of serotonin neurons. The compounds, RS 67333 and prucalopride, target serotonin type-4 receptors and have been shown to reduce symptoms of depression in rats after just three days of treatment.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateSep 5, 2007

Rates of bipolar diagnosis in youth rapidly climbing, treatment patterns similar to adults

The study found that the number of office visits resulting in a bipolar disorder diagnosis for youths ages 19 and younger increased from 25 per 100,000 people in 1994-1995 to 1,003 per 100,000 people in 2002-2003. In contrast, adults saw a rise from 905 per 100,000 people to 1,679 per 100,000 people over the same period.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalArchives of General Psychiatry·DateSep 3, 2007

Adding medication improves recovery for elderly with depression, says Pitt School of Medicine study

A Pitt School of Medicine study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that adding a medication to a standard treatment regimen for major depressive disorder in the elderly improves chances of recovery. The study showed that recovery rates increased from 40% to 60% when adding a second drug to the treatment.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateJun 1, 2007

Getting dirty may lift your mood

Researchers at the University of Bristol found that treatment with beneficial soil bacteria activated neurons producing serotonin, a key brain chemical linked to depression. This discovery sheds light on why some individuals are vulnerable to mood disorders like depression and may lead to new treatments.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNeuroscience·DateApr 1, 2007