Monday, July 04, 2005

Is There a Delay in the Antidepressant Effect? A Meta-Analysis Journal of Clinical Psychiatry story at Medscape - "It has long been thought that there is a delay of several weeks before a true antidepressant effect occurs, although this theory has increasingly come into question. The goals of this meta-analysis were to determine whether significant drug-placebo separation occurs during the first 2 weeks of treatment and to ascertain whether the timing of response to antidepressant medication and placebo is distinct." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

FDA warns anew about antidepressants and suicide AP story reprinted at PsycPORT - "The Food and Drug Administration issued a second public warning Friday that adults who use antidepressants should be closely monitored for warning signs of suicide, especially when they first start the pills or change a dose. Much of the concern over suicide and antidepressants has centered on children who use the drugs. The FDA last fall determined there is a real, but small, increase in risk of suicidal behavior for children and ordered the labels of all antidepressants to say so. A year ago, the FDA issued a warning that adults, too, may be at increased risk. The agency began reanalyzing hundreds of studies of the drugs to try to determine if that's the case, and told makers to add or strengthen suicide-related warnings on their labels in the meantime. Since then, several new studies have been published in medical journals about a possible connection. Citing them, FDA issued a new public health advisory reminding doctors and patients to watch closely for suicidal thinking or worsening depression and seek medical care if it happens."  
  

Low birth weight linked to psychological distress in adulthood Medical News Today story - "Low birth weight is associated with adult psychological distress. The research found that children born full term but weighing less than 5.5 lbs had a 50% increased risk of psychological distress in later life. Low birth weight is associated with adult psychological distress, according to a new study published in the July issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The research found that children born full term but weighing less than 5.5 lbs (almost 3% of the total sample) had a 50% increased risk of psychological distress in later life. This remained the case after taking into account potential confounding factors, such as the father's social class, maternal age and adult marital status."  
  

Globalisation affecting children's mental health around the world Medical Net News story - "A child psychiatrist says that globalisation is affecting children's mental health around the world, by imposing Western child rearing beliefs and psychiatric practice. Sami Timimi, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust, in the UK, says that western culture promotes individualism, competitiveness, and weakens social ties, while in contrast, many non-Western cultures encourage values such as duty and responsibility within a close family structure. Timimi says that while the rates of psychological problems, such as crime, anxiety, and unhappiness, have increased sharply among young people in Western societies, the communal ethic of non-Western cultures seems to promote psychiatric wellbeing."