Antidepressant News and Research

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Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. Your doctor can prescribe them for you. They can improve your mood, sleep, appetite and concentration. It may take several weeks for them to help. There are several types of antidepressants. You and your doctor may have to try several before finding what works best for you.

PET imaging of brain reveals ketamine may act as antidepressant by regulating serotonin activity

Ketamine is a potent anesthetic employed in human and veterinary medicine, and sometimes used illegally as a recreational drug. The drug is also a promising candidate for the fast treatment of depression in patients who do not respond to other medications.

7 Jan 2014

Antidepressant medications do not increase suicide risk in children

A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study released today shows there is no evidence that the risk of suicide differs with two commonly prescribed antidepressants prescribed to children and adolescents.

7 Jan 2014

Portage acquires approximately 54% equity in Biohaven

Portage Biotech Inc., is pleased to announce that it has acquired approximately 54% equity in Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Limited, a private corporation formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, for $3.5 million, payable as $1.75 million upfront and the balance in three installments over the next eleven months.

6 Jan 2014

Environmental stresses can help trigger depression in people vulnerable to SAD, post-holiday blues

The first Monday after the holidays can be a depressing time for people coping with a post-holiday letdown and a type of depression triggered by short days called seasonal affective disorder.

6 Jan 2014

‘First-line’ role for sleep deprivation in suicidal bipolar patients

Chronotherapy, involving total sleep deprivation and light therapy, brings about a rapid reduction in suicidality among patients with bipolar disorder experiencing a phase of major depression.

3 Jan 2014

Antidepressant nortriptyline does not improve overall symptoms in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis

Among patients with idiopathic (of unknown cause) gastroparesis, use of the antidepressant nortriptyline compared with placebo for 15 weeks did not result in improvement in overall symptoms, according to a study appearing in the December 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Dec 2013

Study: Antidepressants not effective for bipolar disorder treatment

The use of antidepressants in the treatment of bipolar disorder remains controversial. Some studies and treatment guidelines suggest that antidepressant treatment for bipolar disorder may have the potential to increase the manic switch, while others recommend short-term antidepressant treatment and early discontinuation.

24 Dec 2013

Treating depression fails to reverse cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder

Successful treatment of depression with total sleep deprivation does not improve neuropsychologic deficits in bipolar patients, despite improving clinical symptoms, Italian researchers report.

24 Dec 2013

Inactive patients following cardiac surgery have higher risk of depression

New research indicates that inactive patients following cardiac surgery have a substantially higher risk of depression and that the number of patients suffering from depression after cardiac surgery is as high as 40%. Investigators recommend that cardiac patients should be assessed for depression and level of physical activity and remain as active as they safely can after surgery to minimize post-operative depression. The results are published in the December issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

19 Dec 2013

Studies suggest that stress-related disorders may be associated with hippocampal volume loss

Depression has been associated with reduced volume of the hippocampus in magnetic resonance imaging studies in humans. A new study just published in Biological Psychiatry now clarifies the cellular basis of these volumetric changes, which have been unclear until now.

18 Dec 2013

New test may help decrease risk of suicidality in patients treated with antidepressants

The new test, based on research carried out at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, should help doctors to decrease the risk of suicidality in patients treated with antidepressants who show certain gene markers. Sundance is completing a new round of funding to extend the initial validation results reported by the Institute. The company plans to launch the test immediately as a laboratory developed test. In addition, clinical studies in support of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration submission for market clearance, CE marking and reimbursement will be initiated. Sundance expects to submit its application to the agencies within 18 months.

13 Dec 2013

Exercise at the right time improves sexual functioning in women who take antidepressants

New psychology research, which could have important public health implications for alleviating some side effects of antidepressants, shows that engaging in exercise at the right time significantly improves sexual functioning in women who are taking the antidepressants.

11 Dec 2013

TAU researchers discover gene that may predict human responses to specific antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, but they don't work for everyone. What's more, patients must often try several different SSRI medications, each with a different set of side effects, before finding one that is effective.

9 Dec 2013

Majority of epilepsy surgery patients satisfied with results in improving psychological and social well-being

The majority of epilepsy patients who have brain surgery to treat their disorder are satisfied with the results in reducing epilepsy-related seizures and improving their psychological and social well-being.

9 Dec 2013

Researchers investigate effect of epilepsy surgery on patients lives

Resective surgery is an effective treatment for dug-resistant epilepsy. To investigate the effect of epilepsy surgery on patients lives, researchers from the Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit conducted a long-term retrospective follow up of surgical patients and correlated post-surgical psychosocial outcomes with seizure outcome and brain area surgically treated.

9 Dec 2013

Study examines correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids in blood and risk of PTSD

A study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has examined the correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder.

6 Dec 2013

Bipolar-specific disease management gives good returns

Diagnostic-specific management of bipolar II disorder is associated with significant clinical improvements, show findings that support the need for greater recognition of the condition.

4 Dec 2013

San Diego School of Medicine receives grant to provide professional training to senior drivers

For the seventh consecutive year, the Training, Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS) program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has been awarded a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) that will help keep our roadways and senior drivers safe through professional training.

27 Nov 2013

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

About a year ago the Senate fell five votes short of ratifying an international treaty that would improve protections for the disabled. It was an ignoble spectacle as the opponents rebuffed Bob Dole, a former colleague and disabled veteran, who came to the Senate floor to lobby for it.

26 Nov 2013

Researchers analyze effects of MXE drug usage

Researchers from Sweden have attempted to create an understanding to the subjective effects from use of Methoxetamine (MXE), a drug belonging to a class known as "legal highs" or "research chemicals," and available for purchase on the Internet.

26 Nov 2013

Antidepressant News and Research

Further Reading

PET imaging of brain reveals ketamine may act as antidepressant by regulating serotonin activity

Antidepressant medications do not increase suicide risk in children

Portage acquires approximately 54% equity in Biohaven

Environmental stresses can help trigger depression in people vulnerable to SAD, post-holiday blues

‘First-line’ role for sleep deprivation in suicidal bipolar patients

Antidepressant nortriptyline does not improve overall symptoms in patients with idiopathic gastroparesis

Study: Antidepressants not effective for bipolar disorder treatment

Treating depression fails to reverse cognitive deficits in bipolar disorder

Inactive patients following cardiac surgery have higher risk of depression

Studies suggest that stress-related disorders may be associated with hippocampal volume loss

New test may help decrease risk of suicidality in patients treated with antidepressants

Exercise at the right time improves sexual functioning in women who take antidepressants

TAU researchers discover gene that may predict human responses to specific antidepressants

Majority of epilepsy surgery patients satisfied with results in improving psychological and social well-being

Researchers investigate effect of epilepsy surgery on patients lives

Study examines correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids in blood and risk of PTSD

Bipolar-specific disease management gives good returns

San Diego School of Medicine receives grant to provide professional training to senior drivers

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

Researchers analyze effects of MXE drug usage

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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