Thursday, July 07, 2005

Psychosocial and psychological interventions for prevention of postnatal depression: systematic review  British Medical Journal paper which concludes that "Diverse psychosocial or psychological interventions do not significantly reduce the number of women who develop postnatal depression. The most promising intervention is the provision of intensive, professionally based postpartum support."  
  

The Lifetime Risk of Suicide in Schizophrenia: A Reexamination A March 2005 Archives of General Psychiatry article recently reprinted at Medscape - " The prevalence of suicide in patients with schizophrenia has traditionally been quoted at approximately 10%. However, studies on which this figure is based have evaluated proportionate mortality rates -- namely, the suicide percentages among all who died in a particular cohort over a given duration of time; this method probably leads to an overestimation of suicide rates. It is believed that suicide risk in persons with schizophrenia is highest during the early stages of the disease. Thus, as a particular cohort ages, the number of patients with schizophrenia committing suicide may decrease, while death by other means would increase. The use of a case fatality methodology, therefore, might be more accurate for assessing schizophrenia-related suicide. Case fatality looks at the percentage of the original cohort who died specifically by suicide..." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Schizophrenia and the Metabolic Syndrome Medscape Psychiatry & Mental Health "Expert Interview" with Jonathan Meyer - "Patients with schizophrenia are at greater risk for obesity than other individuals due to factors including inactive lifestyle, poor dietary choices, and side effects of psychotropic medications. The metabolic effects of atypical antipsychotics have received particular attention in the literature as accrued experience demonstrates marked differences between various agents in their risk for weight gain and changes in serum triglycerides and glycemic control." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Pharmacotherapy boosts psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder Psychiatry Matters story - "Patients with borderline personality disorder who are treated both psychotherapeutically and pharmacologically appear to have lower dropout rates and improved outcomes in comparison with those given just psychotherapeutic management, Spanish scientists have discovered. While atypical antipsychotic agents have shown improved outcomes in the treatment of borderline personality disorder compared with typical antipsychotics, they are still associated with high dropout rates that can be as high as 68%. As dialectical behavior therapy has proven efficacy, Victor Pérez and colleagues from Sta Creu and St Pau Hospital in Barcelona sought to examine the effects of adding pharmacological therapy."