Archive for December, 2007
« Previous EntriesBlue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan Foundation Funds Study Exploring Link Between Heart Disease And Depression
Saturday, December 22nd, 2007Studies show that people with heart disease are more likely to suffer from depression than those without heart disease. The link between these two diseases is not yet well understood, but it is known that depression in heart patients is under-recognized and, even when diagnosed, under-treated. [click link for full article]
Swedish Rhodiola Rosea Extract Effective In Treating Mild To Moderate Depression In New Clinical Trial
Friday, December 21st, 2007A new clinical trial has found that an extract of Rhodiola rosea roots and rhizomes demonstrated anti-depressive activity in patients with mild to moderate depression. This is the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of Rhodiola rosea in patients diagnosed with depression. Patients given the Swedish-made Rhodiola rosea extract showed significant improvements in depression compared to those given placebo. [click link for full article]
Evidence Doesn’t Support CYP450 Gene Testing Before Antidepressant Treatment
Thursday, December 20th, 2007Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene testing is currently not recommended to guide treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs for patients with depression, concludes an expert panel report in the December issue of Genetics in Medicine, published by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health. [click link for full article]
Clinical Data Initiates Long-Term Safety Study For Vilazodone
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA), a leader in the development of targeted therapeutics and predictive tests from a growing portfolio of proprietary genetic biomarkers, announced that it has initiated a long-term safety study for Vilazodone, the company’s drug candidate for the treatment of depression, ahead of schedule. [click link for full article]
Lack Of Light And Seasonal Depression - What’s The Link? From The Harvard Health Letter
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007People troubled by depression usually experience their dark moods in an on-again, off-again fashion. In that respect, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) differs only in that the oscillations follow a seasonal schedule, with the depression usually starting in the fall and lasting through the spring. Lack of light is often blamed for SAD, but just how darker days cause depression in SAD sufferers is still in question, reports the January 2008 issue of the Harvard Health Letter. [click link for full article]
Holiday Letdown: Tips For Beating The Post Holiday Blues
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007The houseguests are gone. The gifts have been exchanged. The decorations are down, and so are you. If you’re feeling blue following the holidays, you’re not alone. “I see more cases of depression in January than any other time of year,” says Gary L. Malone, M.D., medical director and chief of behavioral health at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth.Why is depression so common following the holidays? The frantic holiday season is catching up with you. [click link for full article]
Immigration Detainees Suffer Serious Depression And Anxiety, UK
Tuesday, December 18th, 2007People detained in immigration reception centres in the UK are highly vulnerable to psychological distress, and detention may itself be a risk factor for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Those are the findings of a study presented on Friday 14 December 2007, to the Annual Conference of the Division of Clinical Psychology at the Congress Centre, London, by Dr Katy Robjant from the University of Surrey. [click link for full article]
Cedars-Sinai Studying Whether Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Help Depression
Monday, December 17th, 2007Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences are seeking participants for a clinical trial examining whether two polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids are effective treatments for depression. The two fatty acids being studied — docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) — are found naturally in fish oil, flaxseed and walnuts. [click link for full article]
Europe Wants Warnings On Champix Smoking Cessation Drug
Monday, December 17th, 2007The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) said it wants the marketer of the adult smoking cessation prescription drug Champix (varenicline) to update the patient and doctor information to mention that some patients on the drugs have been having suicidal thoughts and made attempts to kill themselves.The European Commission (EC) authorized Champix, marketed by drug company Pfizer, in September 2006. [click link for full article]
European Medicines Agency Concludes New Advice To Doctors And Patientsfor Champix Needed
Saturday, December 15th, 2007The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has concluded that updated warnings to doctors and patients are needed to increase awareness of cases of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts reported in patients using Champix (varenicline), a medicine indicated for smoking cessation in adults. The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has been closely monitoring the safety of Champix since it was first authorised in the European Union (EU) in September 2006. [click link for full article]
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