I got to two free papers talks today, and a drug sponsored meeting. From a new ideas point of view, the effect on testosterone during puberty in brain development — where it appears that there are changes in cortical thickness but in different hemispheres between boys and girls — was interesting. The same group from McGill also presented data on migraine as comorbid with mood disorders, and worsening the outcome.

The Astra-Zeneca sponsored talk was on treatment resistant depression. Three take home points (a) using measurements makes as much of a difference as giving medications (b) mindfulness therapy requires an hour of meditation a day — for therapist and client and (c) the most prescribed drug in the US is hydrocodiene… which is not available in NZ.

Nice people, sunny day, but the jet lag has cut in