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.

Serotonin 2C receptors induce fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice

More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants, but these medications can take weeks-and for some patients, months-before they begin to alleviate symptoms. Now, scientists from the University of Chicago have discovered that selectively blocking a serotonin receptor subtype induces fast-acting antidepressant effects in mice, indicating a potential new class of therapeutics for depression. The work was published Oct. 29 in Molecular Psychiatry.

29 Oct 2013

Current drugs may harbor small-cell lung cancer promise

Scientists have identified several existing non-oncology drug classes that may have potential as a treatment for small-cell lung cancer, especially for patients with chemoresistant and metastatic disease.

28 Oct 2013

Neuropsychoanalysis Association to host conference on depression

The Neuropsychoanalysis Association is hosting a conference for researchers and clinicians on depression, "Towards a Real Understanding of Depression: Lessons from the Treatment Battlefeld and New Research," on Friday, November 1, 2013 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, The Bonnie and Kenneth Davis Auditorium, 1470 Madison Avenue (between 101st and 102nd Streets) in New York City.

24 Oct 2013

Postpartum diagnostic switches likely in depressed women

Women with major depression should be monitored for emerging symptoms of hypomania during the postpartum period, say researchers.

23 Oct 2013

Study examines association between suicidal vulnerability and analgesic consumption in elderly

A paper published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics has investigated the relationship between pain killers and suicidal behavior in the elderly.

23 Oct 2013

Pfizer announces top-line results from phase 3b studies with Lyrica Capsules

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced top-line results from two phase 3b, placebo-controlled studies with Lyrica® (pregabalin) Capsules CV in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), respectively.

19 Oct 2013

DSM-IV insufficient for bipolar disorder diagnosis

Research findings support concerns that the text revision of the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is too restrictive for diagnosing bipolar disorder.

11 Oct 2013

Study: Depression in Parkinson's patients may reflect impaired striatal dopamine function

According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, up to 60% of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit mild to moderate depression, which is often underdiagnosed.

11 Oct 2013

TSRI scientists discover viable strategy for weight loss in people

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered key details of a brain-to-body signaling circuit that enables roundworms to lose weight independently of food intake. The weight-loss circuit is activated by combined signals from the worm versions of the neurotransmitters serotonin and adrenaline, and there are reasons to suspect that it exists in a similar form in humans and other mammals.

11 Oct 2013

Depression in Parkinson's disease people associated with reduced dopamine synthesis capacity

According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, up to 60% of individuals with Parkinson's disease exhibit mild to moderate depression, which is often underdiagnosed. It is unclear whether depression results from having a debilitating disease or reflects a parallel abnormal change in the brain caused by PD pathophysiology.

11 Oct 2013

Alkermes' ALKS 5461 drug gets FDA Fast Track status for major depressive disorder

Alkermes plc today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track status for ALKS 5461 for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder in patients with an inadequate response to standard therapies.

10 Oct 2013

Alkermes announces plans to advance ALKS 5461 phase 3 program for major depressive disorder

Alkermes plc today announced that it has successfully completed its End-of-Phase 2 interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the company plans to advance ALKS 5461 into phase 3 development in early 2014.

9 Oct 2013

New smartphone app puts genetic information in the hands of people

Until now, understanding and using genetic information has depended on the scientists and doctors who do the testing. No longer.

9 Oct 2013

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation to hold research symposium on mental health

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with mental illness through the transformative power of neuroscience and psychiatric research, will hold its 25th Annual Mental Health Research Symposium on Friday, October 25th from 9:00 am to 4:30 p.m. at the Kaufman Music Center, located at 129 W. 67th St. in New York City.

8 Oct 2013

Study: Effect of medication treatments on patients with alcoholism and anxiety

Domenic Ciraulo, MD, chair of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and David H. Barlow, PhD, professor of psychology at Boston University (BU), have collaborated to study the effect of behavioral and medication treatments on patients with alcoholism and anxiety.

8 Oct 2013

PMDD may shed light on complex interactions between sex hormones and mood

Improved understanding of the role of female sex hormones on the drivers and symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) may shed light on the complex interactions between sex hormones and mood, potentially helping to explain the increased prevalence of mood disorders in women.

8 Oct 2013

Glutamergic agents may be used as novel treatment for mood and anxiety disorders

Glutamergic agents may one day be used as a novel treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, new research presented at the 26th ECNP Congress suggests.

7 Oct 2013

Study: One in three teens with bipolar disorder develop substance abuse

A study published in the October 2013 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that approximately one in three teens with bipolar disorder developed substance abuse, for the first time, during 4 years of follow-up.

3 Oct 2013