The genetics of depression has been an interestly difficult problem. In this paper, which is long, complex, and well worth reading, post mortem brain samples are used to demonstrate differential genetic expression by region between people with depression and controls, that differ by sex. This is then replicated in mice experimental models, and using a … Continue reading Genetics of depression show sexual dimorphism?
Depression
Watch this neuroimaging space?
Some of the tools we have coming out of the Magnetic Resonance Suite look attractive, such as high resolution diffusion imaging. On a population basis, you can see the difference between normal, psychotic, depressed and manic networks. The pictures are pretty, and some of them may be useful. Recent work from the international Study to … Continue reading Watch this neuroimaging space?
What antidepressant matters.
When you do acute, crisis, community or inpatient psychiatry, you are using medications that in overdose can be risky. Moreover, you are working with people who have a tendency to overdose. So what you prescribe and how you prescribe matters. This paper, in the American Journal of Psychiatry has two important findings. The first is … Continue reading What antidepressant matters.
Your cellphone as a ‘therapist’.
I have been aware of the use of internet based CBT, including the development of cellphone apps, for about a decade. We are now at the meta analysis stage of evaluating this technology. I would suggest any interested people read the paper, as it is freely available. As a clinician, the attractive thing about iCBT … Continue reading Your cellphone as a ‘therapist’.
Which outcome you report matters.
This is an example of how you can play with data to get a positive result: and also that with major amounts of money in a study you better get a positive result. It comes from a large multicentre trial of a novel antidepressant compound that modifies glutamate, basimglurant. The authors used a standard depression … Continue reading Which outcome you report matters.
How do psychiatric disorders remain?
Psychiatric disorders tend to cause disability and they impair one's ability to function. But this varies from disability to disability. One would expect the more disabling conditions to disappear. But they do not, and even the less disabling ones remain. As you can see from this, although depression or substnace abuse does not decrease your … Continue reading How do psychiatric disorders remain?
Trauma and depression?
Scott made a comment a couple of days ago that most PTSD symptoms could be subsumed into depression. This month's British Journal of Psychiatry has a systematic review of the risk of depression following disaster. There is a moderate association: I generally don't pay that much attention to odds ratios less than two, and would … Continue reading Trauma and depression?