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.

Antidepressant prescriptions are on the rise

A dramatic rise in antidepressant prescriptions issued by GPs has been caused by a year on year increase in the number of people taking antidepressant drugs on a long-term basis, according to researchers from the University of Southampton.

23 Oct 2009

Targacept presents data from Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214

Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as NNR Therapeutics-, today announced the presentation of data from its recently completed Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214 as an augmentation (add-on) treatment in subjects with major depressive disorder, or MDD, who did not respond adequately to first-line treatment with the representative SSRI citalopram hydrobromide.

20 Oct 2009

Study explores the efficacy of antidepressant drugs for patients with severe depression and medical disorder

This study demonstrates that over 6 weeks of treatment, patients with melancholic depression and medical comorbidity (MC) (specifically cardiovascular or endocrinological MC) had poorer treatment response and a worse functional outcome as opposed to their counterparts without MC. Interestingly, these effects were not related to various antidepressant treatment regimens.

20 Oct 2009

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals announces positive results from Phase IIa Serdaxin clinical study

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing multi-indication therapeutics in CNS and oncology, today announced top-line results from a Phase IIa clinical study of Serdaxin™, its major depressive disorder (MDD) drug candidate.

20 Oct 2009

Depression becomes more difficult to treat the longer it goes undiagnosed or undertreated

A new survey of 2,001 adults living with depression revealed that despite being diagnosed for an average of 12 years, many unknowingly took actions that could have sabotaged their chances of getting well. Furthermore, on average, it took about six years for respondents to seek diagnosis from a health care professional, suggesting these adults may have been coping with depression for as long as 18 years.

15 Oct 2009

New neurosurgical procedure may prove helpful for patients with treatment-resistant depression

A new neurosurgical procedure may prove helpful for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Bilateral epidural prefrontal cortical stimulation (EpCS) was found generally safe and provided significant improvement of depressive symptoms in a small group of patients, according to lead researcher Ziad Nahas, M.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina. The data are reported in the on-line issue of Biological Psychiatry.

14 Oct 2009

Researchers stress the importance of ensuring quality psychiatric treatment in general practice settings

Fifty-nine percent of all prescriptions filled for psychotropic medications are written by general practitioners, according to a research report published this month in Psychiatric Services.

1 Oct 2009

POWER study results support the need to re-evaluate depression treatment in Ontario

Less than half of men and women in Ontario who may be suffering from depression see a doctor to treat their potentially debilitating condition, according to a new women's health study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). What's more, many hospitalized for severe depression fail to see a doctor for follow-up care within 30 days of being discharged, and many head to hospital emergency departments for care.

1 Oct 2009

New drug combination releives neuropathic pain and improves sleep

People who suffer from debilitating neuropathic pain may get more relief and sleep better by combining two commonly-prescribed drugs.

1 Oct 2009

Antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo for children with gastrointestinal disorders

When used "off-label," the antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo in treating pain-predominant gastrointestinal disorders in children, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute. To view this article's video abstract, go to the AGA's YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/AmerGastroAssn.

1 Oct 2009

Less than half of men and women in Ontario with depression visit doctor for treatment

1 Oct 2009

Mayo Clinic scientists conduct clinical study on functional dyspesia patients

"Nerve cells are found throughout the body, and just as their dysfunction in the brain can cause depression, we suspect overly sensitive nerves in the gut can produce this very uncomfortable indigestion," says Nicholas Talley, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the trial and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic campus in Florida.

18 Sep 2009

Glaxo conceals risks: Antidepressant drug Paxil causes birth defects

Antidepressant drug Paxil, which generated about 2.1% of GlaxoSmithKline's total revenue last year, has been known to cause birth defects, but the world's second-biggest drugmaker hid its risks to pump up profits, a Philadelphia court has heard.

17 Sep 2009

Monoamine oxidases responsible for personality and behaviour

Antisocial and aggressive behaviours represent a widespread and expensive social problem. Recent research has convincingly shown that there is a strong interaction between genetic inheritance and environment for development of personality and behaviour.

14 Sep 2009

Results from the BRITE-MD trials published in Psychiatry Research: Aspect Medical Systems

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) today announced that two companion articles highlighting results from the BRITE-MD (Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness trial in Major Depression) were published in the September issue of the journal Psychiatry Research.

11 Sep 2009

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks. In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

11 Sep 2009

Biomarkers for rapid identification of treatment effectiveness in major depression

Now, based on the final results of a nationwide study led by UCLA, clinicians may be able to accurately predict within a week whether a particular drug will be effective by using a non-invasive test that takes less than 15 minutes to administer. The test will allow physicians to quickly switch patients to a more effective treatment, if necessary.

11 Sep 2009

Labopharm to present its novel trazodone formulation data

Labopharm Inc. today announced that three separate posters will be presented at three upcoming internationally prestigious medical meetings showcasing data on its novel trazodone formulation.

10 Sep 2009

Ketamine shows rapid antidepressant effects

Researchers have now explored ketamine's effects on suicidality in patients with treatment-resistant depression, and are publishing their results in the September 1st issue of Biological Psychiatry. Ketamine acutely reduced suicidal thoughts when patients were assessed 24 hours after a single infusion. This reduction in suicidality was maintained when patients received repeated doses over the next two weeks.

10 Sep 2009

Research study examines the depression rate in chronic kidney disease patients

One in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

9 Sep 2009

Antidepressant News and Research

Further Reading

Antidepressant prescriptions are on the rise

Targacept presents data from Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214

Study explores the efficacy of antidepressant drugs for patients with severe depression and medical disorder

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals announces positive results from Phase IIa Serdaxin clinical study

Depression becomes more difficult to treat the longer it goes undiagnosed or undertreated

New neurosurgical procedure may prove helpful for patients with treatment-resistant depression

Researchers stress the importance of ensuring quality psychiatric treatment in general practice settings

POWER study results support the need to re-evaluate depression treatment in Ontario

New drug combination releives neuropathic pain and improves sleep

Antidepressant amitriptyline works just as well as placebo for children with gastrointestinal disorders

Less than half of men and women in Ontario with depression visit doctor for treatment

Mayo Clinic scientists conduct clinical study on functional dyspesia patients

Glaxo conceals risks: Antidepressant drug Paxil causes birth defects

Monoamine oxidases responsible for personality and behaviour

Results from the BRITE-MD trials published in Psychiatry Research: Aspect Medical Systems

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

Biomarkers for rapid identification of treatment effectiveness in major depression

Labopharm to present its novel trazodone formulation data

Ketamine shows rapid antidepressant effects

Research study examines the depression rate in chronic kidney disease patients

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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