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."  
  

Michigan checks up on doctors Brief Detroit News story - "To improve care for people who are mentally ill, the state Department of Community Health is launching a two-year program to make sure doctors are up-to-date and follow recommendations when they prescribe medicine. The Michigan Pharmacy Quality Improvement Project is aimed at assuring that some of the 450,000-650,000 Michiganians who suffer mental illness or emotional disorders get proper medication. ... Advocates for the mentally ill complain that the mental health system in Michigan does not provide a program for recovery, including a regimen of the latest medications and adequate supervision. The new program, financed by drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co., enables the state to analyze prescriptions for Medicaid members to identify patterns inconsistent with industry guidelines."