Demystifying the workings of the brain have proven to be a far more daunting task for pharmaceutical companies whose bread and butter rely upon the research and development of new psychotropics. As a result, nine major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pool data on drug trials in an effort to streamline the methodology for formulating [...]
Individuals who engage in regular physical activity – regardless of intensity – are less likely to experience symptoms of depression, according to new research published in the November issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Of particular importance, researchers studying this issue found that this physical activity needs to be taken in people’s leisure time [...]
Approximately 50 percent of teens treated for depression will relapse within a five year period, according to a new study conducted by Duke University. A research team from Duke’s Department of Behavioral Sciences conducted a study of 86 boys and 110 girls with a mean age of 14 who had taken part in a previous [...]
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” remember this old saying? Sometimes we spot a serious problem, and with the best of intentions, discover that our solution wreaks as much havoc as the original problem itself. The writers of DSM 5 have identified what they believe to be a very troublesome problem – [...]
It appears that most Americans take the easy way out when it comes to the treatment of depression. Given a choice between talk therapy and taking an antidepressant, the medication wins out. This is one of the key findings of a survey of 1500 readers of Consumer Reports who had sought medical help for depression [...]
Q. Is bipolar disorder more difficult to diagnose in children than it is in adults? A. My answer to this question is YES. Bipolar Disorder is very hard to diagnose in children because childhood onset presentations differ a bit from what would typically be seen in adults. The salient features of childhood onset BPD are: [...]
On July 4, two hundred thirty four years ago, influential members of the Continental Congress, affectionately referred to as our founding fathers, were hard at work pursuing the arduous process task of declaring independence from the abusive, arrogant and autocratic governance of King George III. What I find strikingly poignant was how painful this ordeal [...]
The basic tenet of non compliance is the failure to take medication according to prescribed directions. But it’s more than non adherence to directions, non compliance is also indicative of the misuse of medication. Here are five common causes of non compliance and how healthcare professionals can help. Side Effects. In a “perfect drug” scenario, [...]
Although not available in the United States, Valdoxan (agomelatine) is the first ever melatonergic antidepressant in that the drug activates specific melatonin receptors (MT-1, MT-2) in the brain. Valdoxan claims to improve sleep disruption without affecting daytime vigilance by exerting specific actions on the regulation of circadian rhythms. The recommended starting dose is 25mg, once [...]
Recent Arrivals Intuniv (guanfacine LA). Intuniv is a long-acting formulation of the alpha-2 agonist Tenex (guanfacine). Intuniv is FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents ages 6-17. The drug is available in 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, and 4mg tablets, and is dosed once daily. Guanfacine was first marketed as an antihypertensive for [...]