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Clinical Times: Mental Health & CNS

All entries for Mental Health & CNS

Antidepressants of benefit to CAD patients

09 March 2010

Antidepressant (AD) treatment in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients suffering from depression results in significant therapeutic effects without substantially increased rates of discontinuation, a new study has concluded. According to the Canadian researchers, depression can occur in up to 45... Read more

Psychiatrists report patient self-diagnosis

09 March 2010

Psychiatrists in London have identified a phenomenon of people diagnosing themselves with bipolar disorder. Dr Diana Chan and Dr Lester Sireling said they had noticed numerous GP referrals where the primary request had been for a psychiatric opinion on whether... Read more

Future treatments for depression

Dr Ross Dunne | 08 March 2010

Dr Ross Dunne looks at the current treatments for depression, ranging from electro-convulsive therapy to lithium, and looks forward to emerging treatments that may help patients in the future... Read more

Gene variation associated with lower dementia

04 March 2010

Preliminary research suggests that a variation of a gene for a plasma protein is associated with slower age-related memory decline and a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a new study. The cholesteryl ester transfer protein... Read more

Genetic mutations link with suicide in depression

24 February 2010

Single mutations in genes involved with nerve cell formation and growth appear to be associated with the risk of attempting suicide among individuals with depression, according to a new report. Doctors led by colleagues at the Max Planck Institute of... Read more

Narcolepsy hugely underdiagnosed

Suzanne McCormack | 19 February 2010

Sleep disorders were the focus of a recent symposium held as part of the Irish Thoracic Society's Annual Scientific Meeting, writes Suzanne McCormack... Read more

Antidepressant may result in improved cognitive function

17 February 2010

Patients who received the antidepressant escitalopram following a stroke appeared to recover more of their thinking, learning and memory skills than those taking placebo or participating in problem-solving therapy, according to a new report. In the study, doctors investigated the... Read more

Bipolar disorder poses treatment challenges

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2010

Clinical Update - Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder remains a largely under-recognised illness despite an estimated 2 per cent of the population suffering from the condition.... Read more

Clear genetic targets emerge for understanding biploar

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2010

Clinical Update - Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar is a complex condition that is not caused by one gene alone.... Read more

New guidelines issued on treatment options

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2010

Clinical Update - Bipolar Disorder: There are a number of approaches to the treatment of bipolar disorder. A conservative approach works for most patients, in the view of Prof Brian Leonard, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology at NUI Galway.... Read more

The quest for better wisdom on depression

Dr Aine Tubridy | 11 February 2010

When treating depression, Dr Aine Tubridy believes it is worthwhile considering the 'quest' perspective adopted by psychotherapists... Read more

Warnings about atypical antipsychotics have reduced their use among elderly

10 February 2010

The use of atypical anti-psychotics to treat elderly patients appears to have decreased following a 2005 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory regarding the risks of these medications in this population, according to a new report. Clozapine, the first second-generation... Read more

Levodopa remains the staple for Parkinson's

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2010

Clinical Update: Parkinson's Disease - In his latest Clinical Update, Gary Culliton reports on the various treatment options available for patients with Parkinson's disease, and examines the latest research targeting diseased neurons and the potential of stem-cell transplantation... Read more

Stem-cell therapy has potential role

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2010

Clinical Update: Parkinson's Disease - There have been important new developments in stem-cell transplantation into Parkinson’s disease patients. A clinical trial, which was followed up recently, showed that the position in the brain into which the stem cells are transplanted... Read more

Research aims to halt disease progression

Gary Culliton | 05 February 2010

Clinical Update: Parkinson's Disease - About 80 per cent of the neurotransmitter dopamine can be depleted from the affected region of the Parkinsonian brain before symptoms begin to develop. Thus, it is imperative that treatments be found to prevent further... Read more

Elderly on psychotic drugs likely to stay on them in nursing homes

03 February 2010

Older adults newly admit-ted to nursing homes with high rates of antipsychotic prescribing in the previous year are more likely to receive antipsychotic agents, according to a new report. Of these, some had no identified clinical indication for this therapy.... Read more

Depression — the real worldwide epidemic?

Dr Suzanne Milligan | 29 January 2010

Depression Supplement: Dr Suzanne Milligan discusses depression as it typically presents in general practice and suggests that the condition, which is on the rise, needs extra vigilance... Read more

Diagnosis and treatment of GAD

Rory Hafford | 29 January 2010

Depression Supplement: Rory Hafford puts generalised anxiety disorder under the microscope and discovers a wolf in sheep’s clothing... Read more

Depression, epigenetics and the ‘plastic brain’ — a GP’s view

Dr Harry Barry | 29 January 2010

Depression Supplement: Dr Harry Barry takes a look at how developments in neuroscience have changed the ways in which we diagnose and treat conditions such as major depressive disorder... Read more

Treatment through talking

Rory Hafford | 29 January 2010

Depression Supplement: Rory Hafford listens to the considerable treatment benefits of one of the most effective talk therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy... Read more

Medication is available to treat Alzheimer's disease

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: Evidence from clinical trials show that the behavioural disturbance features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be helped. A subset of patients with dementia can experience significant behavioural disturbance, and it can completely alter their personality.... Read more

Pathways research may help AD

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: It is thought that in Alzheimer’s disease, accumulations of amyloid deposits (amyloid-beta, known as Ab) destroy synapses, the major communication networks in the brain.... Read more

Scans hold potential to observe ‘moving target’ of degeneration

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: With the emergence of scan technology over the past 20 years, medics have the potential to investigate the living brain, allowing the ‘moving target’ of degeneration to be observed. Thus the ability of pharmacological treatments to... Read more

Treatment to delay disease progression in pipeline

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: Senior Research Fellow at TCD’s Institute of Neuroscience Dr Michael Ewers believes that as there are so many different compounds in the pipeline, the expectation is that in the near future, a potential treatment to delay... Read more

Clinical Conversation: Schizophrenia

11 December 2009

Rory Hafford talks to Dr Eamonn Kenny and Dr Sean O'Domhnaill about their work treating and researching schizophrenia at Tallaght and St James's hospitals, respectively, and where we're going... Read more

Use of antipsychotic medications by children linked to significant weight gain

25 November 2009

Many paediatric and adolescent patients who received second-generation antipsychotic medications experienced significant weight gain, along with varied adverse effects on cholesterol and triglyceride levels and other metabolic measures, according to a new study. In the study, American doctors investigated weight... Read more

Reduced muscle strength associated with AD risk

25 November 2009

Individuals with weaker muscles appear to have a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and declines in cognitive function over time, according to a new report. The report followed a study of 970 older adults whose average age was 80.3 years... Read more

Antidepressant use on the increase

18 November 2009

A marked and broad expansion in antidepressant treatment occurred between 1996 and 2005, although treatment rates remain low among racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new report from the United States. In the study, doctors analysed data from the... Read more

Fatigue and stress in doctors in training linked to medical errors

18 November 2009

Doctors in training who report higher levels of fatigue and distress are more likely to report a medical error, according to a new report. In the study, doctors assessed the independent contributions of fatigue and distress to self-reported medical errors... Read more

Benefits to doctors from mindful scheme

18 November 2009

Doctors who participated in an educational programme that included an emphasis on ‘mindful’ communication reported improvement in personal well-being, emotional exhaustion, empathy and attitudes associated with patient-centred care, according to a new study. Researchers designed a continuing medical education (CME)... Read more

Depression among preschoolers may well continue into childhood

18 November 2009

Depression among preschoolers appears to be a continuous, chronic condition rather than a transient developmental stage, according to new research. The report followed a study in which doctors followed 306 preschoolers aged three to six years.... Read more

Two traumatic episodes increase likelihood of PTSD

11 November 2009

Individuals who experience both childhood adversity and traumatic events in adulthood appear more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than those exposed to only one of these types of incidents, according to researchers. In addition, the risk was further increased... Read more

TV may be associated with aggressive children

11 November 2009

Three-year-old children who are exposed to more TV appear to be at an increased risk for exhibiting aggressive behaviour, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors analysed data from 3,128 mothers of children born... Read more

The constant oscillation of life

Marie-Catherine Mousseau | 05 November 2009

Marie-Catherine Mousseau on the internal clocks in every life form that regulate us in alignment with the universe... Read more

Smoking, high BP and diabetes in mid-life can lead to dementia

04 November 2009

Middle-aged people who smoke, have high blood pressure or diabetes are far more likely to develop dementia in later life, new research has suggested. Previous studies have shown that the presence of cardiovascular risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes,... Read more

Living near green spaces reduces mental health problems in Dutch study

04 November 2009

People living close to green space have lower rates of anxiety and depression than those living in concrete jungles, new research has found. The researchers based their findings on the health records of people registered with 195 family doctors in... Read more

Common mental disorders may be linked to an increased risk of obesity

04 November 2009

People with common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety are at increased risk of becoming obese, according to new research. The findings also showed that individuals with chronic or repeat episodes of common mental disorders are particularly at risk.... Read more

Psychiatric symptoms may predict internet addiction in adolescents

28 October 2009

Adolescents with psychiatric symptoms such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social phobia, hostility and depression may be more likely to develop an Internet addiction, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors in Taiwan examined the... Read more

Childhood 'top dogs' enjoy better health as adults

28 October 2009

Children who are popular and wield power among their school classmates enjoy better health as adults, new research has suggested. The authors of the research based their findings on more than 14,000 children who were born in Sweden in 1953... Read more

Increase in ‘academic doping’ could spark routine urine tests for students

28 October 2009

The increasing use of smart drugs, or ‘nootropics’, to boost academic performance, could mean that exam students will face routine doping tests in future, a psychologist in Australia has predicted. Despite raising many dilemmas about the legitimacy of chemically enhanced... Read more

Burnout: coping with stress-induced illness

Dr Anne Doherty and Prof Patricia Casey | 22 October 2009

Dr Anne Doherty and Prof Patricia Casey write on stress-induced illness, explain why some people suffer more than others, and discuss other factors that impede the management of stress in patients... Read more

IICN Registrar's Prize in Clinical Neuroscience 2009

22 October 2009

Papers delivered at the Registrar's Prize in Clinical Neuroscience indicate a high quality of research taking place in Ireland... Read more

Bell’s Palsy treatments show reduced risk and benefits

21 October 2009

Among patients with Bell’s Palsy, treatment with corticosteroids is associated with a reduced risk of an unsatisfactory recovery, and treatment with a combination of corticosteroids and antiviral agents may be associated with additional benefit, according to a systematic review and... Read more

Clinical Conversation: Bipolar Disorder

15 October 2009

In the first of a new series — Clinical Conversations — Rory Hafford talks to leading Irish doctors about the diagnosis, treatment options and future direction of various diseases and disorders. This week he talks to Dr Patrick Mc Keon... Read more

Few doctors have genetic disease on radar

Derbhile Dromey | 15 October 2009

Derbhile Dromey on a disease which is the second-most common fatal genetic disease in Ireland but has a low profile with many doctors... Read more

Training system may reduce bad teen behaviour

07 October 2009

A prevention system that trains community leaders to identify and apply appropriate evidence-based programmes may reduce substance use and other delinquent behaviours among adolescents, according to a new report from American researchers. The report followed a study of the so-called... Read more

Friedreich's ataxia: a review

Dr Christine Albertyn | 01 October 2009

Dr Christine Albertyn writes about the rare but debilitating condition of Friedreich's Ataxia... Read more

Daily activities difficulties associated with dementia progression

30 September 2009

Among individuals with mild cognitive impairment — often considered a transitional state between normal cognitive function and Alzheimer’s dementia — those who have difficulties performing routine activities appear more likely to progress quickly to dementia, according to a new study.... Read more

Childhood bullying linked to psychiatric disorders

30 September 2009

Childhood bullying and victimisation appear to predict future psychiatric problems in both males and females, although females appear more likely to be affected regardless of pre-existing psychiatric problems, according to a new report from Finland. The report followed a study... Read more

Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents

Dr Sophia Morgan and Prof Carol Fitzpatrick | 24 September 2009

Dr Sophia Morgan and Prof Carol Fitzpatrick look at deliberate self-harm in young people, examine the best ways to assess such an episode and indicate when to seek specialist treatment... Read more

Pesticides associated with Parkinson’s

23 September 2009

Patients whose occupation involves contact with pesticides appear to have an increased risk of having Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a new report. The report followed a study of 519 individuals with PD and 511 controls who were the same... Read more

Managing Alzheimer's disease

Dr Sean Kennelly | 18 September 2009

CLINICAL FOCUS: DEMENTIADr Sean Kennelly looks at the diagnostic methods of determining Alzheimer's disease, treatment options and emerging disease-modifying agents that aim to enhance the lives of patients and carers... Read more

When is confusion not dementia?

Dr Paula Hickey | 18 September 2009

CLINICAL FOCUS: DEMENTIA Dr Paula Hickey differentiates between dementia and delirium, a challenging condition that is also associated with cognitive decline and which can be indicative of the later development of dementia itself... Read more

Predictive genetic testing for Huntington's disease

Rosemarie Kelly and Prof Andrew Green | 17 September 2009

Rosemarie Kelly and Prof Andrew Green take a look at the genetics of Huntington's disease and explain the sensitive process of predictive genetic testing for patients whose family members have the condition... Read more

Brain dopamine pathway link to ADHD symptoms

16 September 2009

Results from brain scans suggest an association between a reduction in the transmission of dopamine markers with symptoms of inattention for individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a preliminary study. Doctors conducted the study to determine whether there... Read more

The effects of physical punishment in child discipline

Dr Muhammad Arshad, Prof Michael FitzGerald and Mr S. Salahuddin | 10 September 2009

Dr Muhammad Arshad, Prof Michael FitzGerald and Mr S. Salahuddin describe how the physical punishment of children can affect their wellbeing... Read more

MAO-B inhibitors in idiopathic Parkinson’s

Dr John O'Dwyer | 03 September 2009

Dr John O'Dwyer looks at the benefit of MAOIs in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and the safety of new MAO-B inhibitors when taken with antidepressants... Read more

Smoking linked to faster MS progression

02 September 2009

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who smoke appear to experience a more rapid progression of their disease, says a new report. Cigarette smokers are at higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to background information in the article. However, the... Read more

Pioneer who improved care of the disabled

Prof Conor Ward | 20 August 2009

Prof Conor Ward on the life and achievements of John Langdon Down — who identified the condition that carries his name and radically improved standards of care... Read more

Biomarkers may help predict Alzheimer’s risk in elderly with cognitive impairment

29 July 2009

Several cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have shown good accuracy in identifying patients with mild cognitive impairment who progressed to Alzheimer’s disease in old age, according to a new study. Biochemical changes in the brain are reflected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF),... Read more

Elderly at higher risk of dementia if they lived alone in middle-age

BMJ Online | 20 July 2009

A new study has found that elderly persons who lived alone in middle-age had twice the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease compared with people who were married or cohabited in middle-age. The study also found that elderly persons... Read more

Amino acid may help with hair-pulling condition

Archives of General Psychiatry | 19 July 2009

The amino acid N-acetyl-cysteine appears to reduce symptoms of compulsive hair-pulling in patients with a condition of trichotillomania. Study authors undertook their study of the basis of previous studies that found that N-acetylcysteine had shown promise in treating repetitive and... Read more

Migraine may cause changes in the brain

June Shannon | 17 July 2009

New studies have shown that migraine — previously thought to have no long-term consequences — may cause pathological changes in the brain, reports June Shannon Women who suffer from migraine with aura in middle age are more likely to have... Read more

Depression linked with chest pain in elderly

Circulation | 11 July 2009

Anxiety and depression are associated with more frequent angina in older patients with coronary artery disease, researchers have reported. Heart patients with at least moderate anxiety were more than four times likely to have chest pain, while patients with clinical... Read more

Managing and treating dementing illnesses

Dr Farhan Haq and Dr Atif Ijaz | 06 July 2009

Dr Farhan Haq and Dr Atif Ijaz examine the different types of dementia and take a look at the various options of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments that are available. Dementia refers to a group of illnesses characterised by progressive and,... Read more

Combination therapy does not improve Bell's outcome

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery | 03 July 2009

Adding an antiviral agent to corticosteroids for the treatment of Bell’s palsy does not improve the recovery of facial movement function, according to a new meta-analysis of previously published studies. According to the researchers who performed the analysis, the current... Read more

Cognitive impairment reduces survival of the elderly across racial lines

Archives of Neurology | 03 July 2009

Alzheimer’s disease and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, appear to be associated with an increased risk of death among black and white elderly patients, according to a new report from the United States. In the study, doctors studied 1,715 older... Read more

Combination therapy does not improve Bell's outcome

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery | 03 June 2009

Adding an antiviral agent to corticosteroids for the treatment of Bell’s palsy does not improve the recovery of facial movement function, according to a new meta-analysis of previously published studies. According to the researchers who performed the analysis, the current... Read more

Some anti-clotting drugs linked to brain microbleeds in elderly

06 May 2009

Individuals who take aspirin or other anti-clotting medications appear more likely to have tiny, asymptomatic areas of bleeding in the brain, according to a new Dutch study. Cerebral microbleeds – small deposits of the iron-storing protein hemosiderin in the brain... Read more

Abnormalities in brain pathways in patients with muscle disorders

Archives of Neurology | 06 May 2009

Abnormalities in the fibres connecting different brain areas may contribute to muscle disorders such as writer’s cramp, according to a new study by French doctors. In the study, French doctors compared 26 right-handed patients with writer’s cramp to 26 right-handed... Read more

Mania and depression: taking a psychological approach to treatment

John O'Connor | 06 May 2009

John O'Connor looks at the relationship between manic and depressive states from a psychological treatment perspective. This short article considers the relationship between depression and mania from a psychological perspective. Key to this is an idea that mania is a... Read more

Changes in donation requests could prevent relatives refusing

BMJ Online | 29 April 2009

Timing and whether a transplant co-ordinator makes the request are key factors in whether relatives consent to organ donation, according to a new study. A recent audit of 341 deaths in intensive-care units in the UK revealed that 41 per... Read more

Making a comprehensive assessment of patients

Mike Power | 29 April 2009

Mike Power, research psychologist, discusses how medicine can effectively mobilise a patient's ‘hope-factors’ to aid their recovery. Some years ago, my troublesome digestion took me into one of our general hospitals for some basic tests. This was a good opportunity... Read more

Job strain linked to stroke in Japanese men

Archives of internal Medicine | 06 April 2009

Japanese men in high-stress jobs appear to have an increased risk of stroke compared with those in less demanding positions, according to a new study. In the study, doctors investigated 6,553 Japanese workers (3,190 men and 3,363 women, age 65... Read more

Pharmacotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic addiction treatments

Dr Conor Farren | 31 March 2009

Dr Conor Farren writes that different treatment interventions can have a major part to play in addiction treatment, along with patient motivation. Addiction treatment, for alcoholism and for drug abuse, has traditionally been seen as moderately effective. The only influence... Read more

Brain circuit abnormalities may underlie bulimia nervosa in women

Archives of General Psychiatry | 30 March 2009

Women with bulimia nervosa appear to respond more impulsively during psychological testing than those without eating disorders, and brain scans show differences in areas responsible for regulating behaviour, according to a new report. Certain pathways between nerve cells known as... Read more

Gender dysphoria — a treatable condition in mainstream medicine

Sara-Jane Cromwell | 30 March 2009

Sara-Jane Cromwell, CEO of Gender Identity Disorder Ireland, defines the condition of and treatments for gender identity disorder. Gender identity disorder (GID)/gender dysphoria is a little known but much misunderstood congenital intersex condition, which is clinically diagnosable and treatable. The... Read more

Depression in old age

Dr Stephen McWilliams | 30 March 2009

Dr Stephen McWilliams looks at the reasons for depression in older people and why they are less likely to access mental health services. Opinions seem to differ on the virtues of old age. On his ninetieth birthday, William Somerset Maug-ham... Read more

Half of prematurely born children need extra school help

Disease in Childhood | 24 March 2009

Over half of children born extremely prematurely need extra educational support in mainstream schools, according to new research. In particular, they struggle with maths, the research found. Those findings followed an analysis of the cognitive ability and academic prowess of... Read more

Alcohol leads to depression risk in men and in women

Archives of General Psychiatry | 23 March 2009

A statistical modelling study has suggested that problems with alcohol abuse may lead to an increased risk of depression, as opposed to the reverse model in which individuals with depression self-medicate with alcohol. A number of epidemiological investigations have shown... Read more

MS treatment: time for a paradigm shift

16 March 2009

A recent clinical meeting investigated whether MS patients should be treated early with natalizumab to try and prevent disease progression. At a recent clinical meeting in Dublin, the delegates heard that the monoclonal antibody natalizumab (Tysabri) offers not only significant... Read more

Understanding bipolarity and mood disorders

Natalya Anderson | 11 March 2009

Natalya Anderson reports from the Sixth National Conference on Bipolar Disorder in London, where delegates heard that better classification of bipolarity is needed to avoid misdiagnoses An ongoing discourse between healthcare professionals and their patients may be necessary to gain... Read more

Does Ireland need a constitution for our health service

Dr Brendan Kelly | 03 March 2009

Dr Brendan Kelly looks at the UK's new Constitution for the National Health Service and asks whether Ireland needs a similar document. On January 21, 2009, the Department of Health in Eng-land published a Constitution for the National Health Service... Read more

Teen media exposure associated with depression symptoms in young adulthood

Archives of General Psychiatry | 16 February 2009

Teen media exposure associated with depression symptoms in young adulthood Exposure to more tele-vision and other electronic media during the teenage years appears to be associated with developing depression symptoms in young adulthood, especially among men, according to a new... Read more

Psychological approaches to treating depression

Dr Eoin Galavan and Dr Adam Meisleman | 11 February 2009

Dr Eoin Galavan and Dr Adam Meisleman write that not only does the psychological approach work in treating depression, it also saves valuable resources. At any given time in Ireland, there are approximately 170,000 people over 15 experiencing clinically significant... Read more

The evidence for acupuncture in the Irish health system

Dr Clare Thornley | 09 February 2009

Dr Clare Thornley writes that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture has a place in modern Western medicine, especially when it comes to providing pain relief for patients. Like it or not, acupuncture is growing ever more popular in Ireland.... Read more

Abuse of people with dementia by family carers is common

03 February 2009

A third of family carers report significant abusive behaviour towards people with dementia, and half report some abusive behaviour, according to a new UK study. In the study, researchers set out to determine the prevalence of abuse by family carers... Read more

The legal definition of mental disorders in recent legislation

Dr Brendan Kelly | 03 February 2009

Dr Brendan Kelly takes a look at how the law defines 'mental disorder' and what changes have been made to the definition of this term in recent legislation, both in Ireland and in the United Kingdom. The history of psychiatry... Read more

The evidence for acupuncture in Irish health system

Dr Clare Thornley | 03 February 2009

Dr Clare Thornley writes that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture has a place in modern Western medicine, especially when it comes to providing pain relief for patients. Like it or not, acupuncture is growing ever more popular in Ireland.... Read more

The evidence for acupuncture in Irish health system

Dr Clare Thornley | 03 February 2009

Dr Clare Thornley writes that the traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture has a place in modern Western medicine, especially when it comes to providing pain relief for patients. Like it or not, acupuncture is growing ever more popular in Ireland.... Read more

Management of obsessive compulsive disorder

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Prof Michael Fitzgerald | 27 January 2009

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Prof Michael Fitzgerald take a close look at the diagnosis and management of obsessive compulsive disorder, in the second article of our two-part series. With regard to comorbidity, about 25 per cent of patients with chronic... Read more

Obsessive compulsive disorder: a distressing and annoying illness

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Prof Michael Fitzgerald | 20 January 2009

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Prof Michael Fitzgerald take a close look at the prevalence and symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder, in the first article in a two-part series ‘Help them to live’ — Hajrah, 1943-2003. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a... Read more

Doctors must look after their own health too

BMJ Online | 10 December 2008

Short-term counselling and a modest cut in work hours may help reduce emotional exhaustion and sick leave in doctors, according to a new study. It is well known that doctors have higher rates of depression and suicide than the general... Read more

PET scans support 'cognitive reserve' hypothesis

Archives of Neurology | 09 December 2008

Individuals with higher education levels appear to score higher on cognitive tests despite having evidence of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report. The so-called ‘cognitive reserve’ hypothesis holds that individuals with greater cognitive abilities are... Read more

Study reveals link between depression and pain

Archives of General Psychiatry | 08 December 2008

The brains of individuals with major depressive disorder appear to react more strongly when anticipating pain and also display altered functioning of the neural network that modifies pain sensitivity, according to a new report. The report followed a study in... Read more

Schizophrenia – early detection and integrated care

Dr Dominic Fannon | 04 December 2008

Early detection and integrated care — the future for people with schizophrenia Dr Dominic Fannon writes on the prevalence and treatment of schizophrenia and the need for 'joined-up' treatment for patients. Schizophrenia is a clinical syndrome comprised of a variety... Read more

Mental illness linked to increased risk of stillbirth and newborn deaths

Online First edition of Archives of Disease in Childhood | 03 December 2008

Mothers with any form of serious mental illness are more likely to have children who are stillborn or who die within the first month, new research has found. The links between the causes of stillbirth and newborn death, however, depend... Read more

Diagnosis and treatment of generalised anxiety disorder

Gary Culliton | 02 December 2008

At a recent clinical meeting in Dublin, those present heard about the epidemiology of generalised anxiety disorder and about some evidence-based treatments for the condition. Prof Christer Algulander, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden gave an update on diagnosis, cognition and treatment... Read more

Parenting programmes help raise sexually healthy kids

BMJ Online First | 25 November 2008

‘Let’s talk about sex’ programme helps parents raise sexually healthy young people. Parenting programmes in the workplace can significantly improve parents’ ability to talk with their children about sexual health and may provide a unique way of promoting healthy adolescent... Read more

Good prognosis for patients with West Nile virus

Annals of Internal Medicine | 25 November 2008

The long-term prognosis of patients infected with West Nile virus is good, according to a new study. The study found that physical and mental functions returned to normal about year after infection. The researchers noted that 20 per cent of... Read more

Gingko biloba does not prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s

JAMA | 21 November 2008

Use of the herb ginkgo biloba, claimed to have beneficial effects on memory and cognition, was not effective in reducing the rate of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease among more than 1,500 elderly study participants after several years of use, according... Read more

Precipitation levels may be associated with autism

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine | 17 November 2008

Children living in counties with higher levels of annual precipitation appear more likely to have higher prevalence rates of autism, according to a new report. The results raise the possibility that an environmental trigger for autism may be associated with... Read more

Study brings hope for Parkinson's

Mary Anne Kenny | 14 November 2008

Results from a new study have the potential to change the way Parkinson’s disease (PD) is treated, delegates at the 12th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Madrid heard in August. The results from the ADAGIO (Attenuation... Read more

Oestrogen relieves symptoms in women who have schizophrenia

Archives of General Psychiatry | 13 November 2008

When combined with antipsychotic medications, the oestrogen estradiol appears to be a useful treatment in women with schizophrenia, according to a new report. According to the report, doctors conducted a randomised, double-blind study involving 102 women of child-bearing age with... Read more

Suicide laws may overlook depressed patients

BMJ Online First | 11 November 2008

One in four terminally ill patients in the American state of Oregon who opt for doctor-assisted suicide has clinical depression and the Death with Dignity Act may not be adequately protecting them, a new study has concluded. In 1997, the... Read more

Longer-duration psychotherapy better for complex disorders

JAMA | 07 November 2008

Long term psychodynamic psychotherapy (LTPP) for at least a year is effective and superior to shorter-term therapy for patients with complex mental disorders, according to a meta-analysis of existing studies. German researchers conducted the meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of... Read more

Psychotropic-induced SIADH and associated treatment challenges

Dr Azhar Zia | 07 November 2008

Dr Azhar Zia writes about the causes of psychotropic-induced SIADH and the best approach to take in treating the condition. The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH) has numerous aetiologies, including medical illness, stress and various pharmacologic agents... Read more

Voluntary exercise 'doesn't alleviate anxiety and depression'

Archives of General Psychiatry | 06 November 2008

Voluntary physical activity does not appear to cause a reduction in anxiety and depression, but exercise and mood may be associated through a common genetic factor, says a new report. The report followed a study of 5,952 twins from the... Read more

End-of-life discussions with doctors can benefit patients and caregivers

JAMA | 05 November 2008

Terminally ill patients who had end-of-life discussions with doctors were not more likely to experience emotional distress, received less aggress-ive medical care in their final week of life and had a better quality of life as they neared death, compared... Read more

Aerobic exercise can reverse brain decline

British Journal of Sports Medicine | 04 November 2008

Regular aerobic exercise not only staves off the decline in brain power associated with ageing, but it can also reverse it, according to a leading American cognitive neuroscientist. Prof Art Kramer of the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois,... Read more

Drinking alcohol linked to reduced brain volume

Archives of Neurology | 04 November 2008

The more alcohol an individual drinks, the smaller his or her total brain volume, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors investigated 1,839 adults whose average age was 60 years. Between 1999 and 2001,... Read more

Treating cultural-bound syndromes

Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly and Prof Patricia Casey | 31 October 2008

In the third and final article in this series on cross-cultural psychiatry, Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly and Prof Patricia Casey discuss issues such as diagnosis, assessment, treatment options, ethical issues and the benefits of awareness Medical care of... Read more

Relapse or remission? Improving outcomes in schizophrenia patients

31 October 2008

The rewards of adherence to schizophrenia medication are considerable, as those who attended a recent psychiatry meeting in Cork were told. In schizophrenia, perhaps more than any other disease area, the consequences of not taking medication can be disastrous and... Read more

Facing up to the problem of pain

Mr David Chin-Shong | 30 October 2008

Mr David Chin-Shong, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with the Hermitage Medical Clinic, writes about the challenges of diagnosing and treating facial pain. Facial pain is certainly a challenging diagnosis. It is also a relatively common presentation for both general medical... Read more

High-dose vitamin B does not slow Alzheimer’s decline

JAMA | 28 October 2008

High-dose vitamin B supplementation for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) does not slow the rate of cognitive decline, according to a new study. Evidence of homocysteine elevation in Alzheimer’s disease and the involvement of homocysteine in neuropathological... Read more

Reasons for sickness absence found to predict employee deaths

28 October 2008

Employees who take long spells of sick leave more than once in three years are at a higher risk of death than their colleagues who take no such absence, particularly if their absence is due to circulatory or psychiatric problems... Read more

Mental disorders in specific cultures

Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly and Prof Patricia Casey | 28 October 2008

In the second of our series on cross-cultural psychiatry, Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly and Prof Patricia Casey describe the various clinical disorders discussed in cultural-bound syndromes. Culture-bound syndromes are specific mental disorders which mainly occur within specific cultures.... Read more

GPs must watch for problems in new mums

Natalya Anderson | 21 October 2008

IMT UK correspondent Natalya Anderson reports from a recent conference on maternal mental health in London and found that GPs have a big role to play in spotting problems. Frequent appointments, continuity of care and referral for counselling are key... Read more

Cross-cultural psychiatry more important in Ireland

Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly, Prof Patricia Casey | 16 October 2008

In the first of a three-part series of cross-cultural psychiatry, Dr Faraz Jabbar, Dr Brendan Kelly and Prof Patricia Casey outline the general principles of this particular field of psychiatry and its increasing relevance. This article is the first of... Read more

ECT debate continues in the Seanad

Dr Michael Corry | 16 October 2008

When the Seanad reconvenes this week, ECT will be debated as an issue of human rights. Dr Michael Corry says there is a lack of information available on the procedure. Since June 21, the abolition of ECT has become a... Read more

New criterion may improve identification of dementia risk

Archives of Neurology | 04 October 2008

A different cut-off point on an existing mental function assessment may more effectively assess the risk of dementia in highly educated older adults, according to American researchers. The most commonly administered screening test of cognitive (thinking, learning and memory) function... Read more

Increasing GPs' opening hours could prevent recurrent strokes

BMJ Online First | 03 October 2008

Increasing gP opening-hours would improve the opportunity for assessment and urgent referral to specialist care of patients with a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Doctors in a UK study assessed the potential impact on stroke prevention of increasing opening hours to... Read more

The memory of a snail

Laurence O'Dwyer | 30 September 2008

In the second article of a new monthly series on general science in Irish Medical Times Laurence O'Dwyer writes about the memory process and how a small snail has helped scientists to understand the workings of the memory of more... Read more

Changing with the seasons

Dr Stephen McWilliams | 24 September 2008

According to John Keats, in his poem The Human Seasons, ‘Four seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of men.’ One of many literary figures to compare the phases of life to the... Read more

Optimising schizophrenia outcomes

24 September 2008

Issues surrounding remission in schizophrenia were the principal themes at the recent annual conference of the Association of Community Mental Health Nurses of Ireland (ACMHNI), which was held in Athlone. Since the early 1990s, the treatment of schizophrenia has changed... Read more

Memory impairment associated with sound-processing disorder

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery | 18 September 2008

Mild memory impairment may be associated with central auditory processing dysfunction, or difficulty hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as hearing a single conversation amid several other conversations, according to a new report. According to the authors of... Read more

Tackling alcoholism and drug addiction

Dr Conor Farren | 15 September 2008

Dr Conor Farren Consultant Psychiatrist at St Patrick's Hospital writes on the treatment of drug abuse and alcohol addiction and says that motivation can be significantly influenced by treatment interventions. Addiction treatment, for alcoholism and for drug abuse, has traditionally... Read more

Anatomy of a physician — III

Mike Power | 14 September 2008

Mike Power, Research Psychologist, examines the social and personal qualities that lead people to choose a life in medicine and the factors that make doctors unique inour society. To hard-pressed hacks of all kinds at this fallow time of the... Read more

Spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of neuropathic pain

Dr Philip Hu | 13 September 2008

Dr Philip Hu, Consultant Anaesthetist and Pain Medicine Specialist at AMNCH and Clinical Research Fellow at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on the use of spinal cord stimulation as an agent of pain relief. Chronic pain affects millions of... Read more

Facing up to challenges ahead

03 September 2008

Experts in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have put community services, early diagnosis, collaboration between tiers of care and the development of disease-modifying therapies at the top of their list of challenges. Many consultants who work with people living with dementia... Read more

Improving outcomes in schizophrenia

02 September 2008

Janssen-Cilag’s established series of Spring Psychiatry Meetings continued this year with another line-up of experts who addressed topics on the theme of schizophrenia treatment for improved patient outcomes. The first speaker was Dr Conor Farren, Director of Dual Diagnosis, St... Read more

A manifesto for the future of dementia care services

Mary Anne Kenny | 27 August 2008

A diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can feel devastating for the person affected and for that person’s family and friends. Receiving a diagnosis of any serious illness is an isolating experience – nobody else in the world feels as... Read more

Fewer psychiatrists are also delivering psychotherapy

Archives of General Psychiatry | 27 August 2008

A declining number of office-based psychiatrists appear to be providing psychotherapy to their patients, according to a new report from the United States. According to the report, doctors analysed trends in psychotherapy provision using data from national surveys of office-based... Read more

Learning medicine and the factors that form a medical brain

Mike Power | 20 August 2008

Mike Power, Research Psychologist, continues his series of articles on the stresses and pressures faced uniquely in the medical profession How many readers would still choose the same vocation if they had life to live over? Most of the doctors... Read more

The value of using evidence in medicine

Dr John Wallace | 19 August 2008

Dr John Wallace looks at some common criticisms of the evidence-based approach to medicine and also discusses some of its merits Doctors often underestimate the information they need to deal successfully with a patient’s problem. Even when they realise that... Read more

Dementia heading for population time bomb

Dr Dermot Walsh | 18 August 2008

Dr Dermot Walsh of the Mental Health Research Unit of the Health Research Board forecasts an explosion in the costs of caring for people with dementia The Central Statistics Office has just produced its Population and Labour Force Projections to... Read more

There is a place for ECT in today's psychiatry

Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill | 14 August 2008

Dr Seán Ó Domhnaill writes that refusing to consider the possibility that older treatments like ECT can be of benefit demonstrates a kind of 'therapeutic blindness' “There can be no place in psychiatry for those who would refuse treatments with... Read more

Statin not helpful for children with neurofibromatosis

JAMA | 30 July 2008

Use of simvastatin by children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder that can cause learning disabilities, does not result in improved cognitive function, according to a new study. Characteristics of NF1 include skin disorders, problems with small and... Read more

The case for retaining ECT treatment

Dr Paul O'Connell | 30 July 2008

Dr Paul O'Connell writes that the campaign to ban ECT is wrong and that the tone of the debate gives the 'alarming' impression of doctors motivated to do harm. The following preamble may appear a little off the point, given... Read more

Psychiatric problems in Crohn's and colitis

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Zoya Ali | 28 July 2008

Dr Muhammad Arshad and Zoya Ali write about the psychiatric problems that can result from receiving a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease "They certainly give very strange names to diseases" Plato (427 BC-347 BC). Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a... Read more

Pregnancy alone is not linked to mental disorders

Archives of General Psychiatry | 17 July 2008

Pregnancy alone does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of the most prevalent mental disorders, according to a new report. However, post-partum women may have a higher risk of major depressive disorder, the study also found. In... Read more

Is there a place for ECT in today's psychiatry?

Dr Michael Corry | 16 July 2008

Dr Michael Corry believes that electro-convulsive therapy should now be abolished from modern psychiatric practice. Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is the deliberate administration of electric shocks to the brain. As described by the UK Department of Health in 2007: “Electro-convulsive therapy... Read more

Relationship violence common for students

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine | 16 July 2008

Violence between partners, friends and acquaintances appears prevalent both during and before college, according to results of a new American survey. Researchers interviewed 910 students aged 17 to 22 years in 67 randomly chosen college classes.... Read more

Anatomy of a physician

Mike Power | 09 July 2008

Mike Power, Research Psychologist, begins his series focussing on the stresses and challenges that doctors face to their own health in the medical profession. There’s something about medicine and its devotees that exerts an immediate fascination for lay people. Hollywood... Read more

Common diagnostic errors in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry

Prof Michael Fitzgerald | 07 July 2008

Prof Michael Fitzgerald writes on how to avoid the most common major errors in clinical practice, with special regard to ADHD. In attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), missing comorbidities is extremely common. ADHD is diagnosed and the autism features are... Read more

Prozac may help to curb disease activity in MS patients

05 July 2008

The antidepressant Prozac may help to curb disease activity in the relapsing remitting form of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new study. The study’s research team randomly allocated 40 patients with the relapsing remitting form of MS to treatment... Read more

Neurological disease: subtle nervous system abnormalities may predict risk of death in elderly

Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:1270-1276 | 01 July 2008

Subtle but clinically detectable neurological abnormalities, such as reduced reflexes and an unstable posture, may be associated with the risk of death and stroke in otherwise healthy older adults, according to a new report. In the study, doctors in Italy... Read more

Awareness of PSP badly needed

Dr Angela Wilson | 25 June 2008

Dr Angela Wilson writes that the lack of awareness about progressive supranuclear palsy amongst healthcare professionals is the reason why so many cases go undiagnosed. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that gradually robs people of their... Read more

St John’s wort not effective for ADHD in kids

JAMA 2008;299:2633-2641 | 18 June 2008

Children and teens with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who were treated with the herb St John’s wort did not have any greater improvement in ADHD symptoms compared to those who received placebo, according to a new study. In the study, doctors... Read more

Tackling sleep-wake cycle disorders

Gary Culliton | 14 June 2008

Narcolepsy and sleep apnoea were topics broached at a recent Sleep Disorder Symposium in Dublin supported by Cephalon, reports Gary Culliton. Cork University Hospital consultant Neurologist Dr Brian Sweeney at Cork University Hospital spoke about ‘Sleep Disorders in Neurological Disorders’.... Read more

Sleep Apnoea

Gary Culliton | 14 June 2008

Dr Catherine Crowe, a Consultant in Sleep Disorders Medicine at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, spoke about the ‘Social Aspects of Narcolepsy’. It is estimated that there are around 2,500 patients with narcolepsy in Ireland but the vast majority... Read more

Sleep-wake disorders

Gary Culliton | 14 June 2008

The American Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has approved the use of modafinil (Provigil) for the management of residual excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with obstructive sleep Apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), Dr John... Read more

Clinical aspects of hypersomnia and narcolepsy

Gary Culliton | 14 June 2008

Prof Emmanuel Mignot of the Centre for Narcolepsy at Stanford University in California reviewed clinical aspects of hypersomnia and narcolepsy and especially the diagnosis and treatment of narcolepsy, at the Sleep Disorder Symposium on March 28 and 29, at Dublin’s... Read more

Calls for trial on removing food additives

12 June 2008

A properly supervised trial eliminating colours and preservatives from the diet of hyperactive children should considered a part of the standard treatment, according to a leading Australian expert. Although a substantial body of evidence shows a link between attention deficit... Read more

The fear of fear itself

Dr Aine Tubridy | 12 June 2008

Dr Aine Tubridy writes on the wide-ranging, negative effects that panic attacks can have on the lives of those affected by them and how professional psychotherapy can provide an effective treatment. The sudden and all-consuming terror which has become known... Read more

Nothing to worry about?

Dr Ross Dunne and Dr Michael McDonough | 05 June 2008

Dr Ross Dunne and Dr Michael McDonough report on the burden of anxiety disorders and why we should all be paying more attention to the most common mental health problems which present to doctors. Taken as a whole, anxiety disorders... Read more

Citalopram may prevent depression in patients with head and neck cancer

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2008;134:528-535 | 29 May 2008

Taking the antidepressant citalopram before beginning treatment for head and neck cancer may help prevent depression during therapy, according to results of a new pilot study. In the study, doctors conducted a randomised clinical trial involving patients with head and... Read more

Anxiety disorders: a modern problem

21 May 2008

Prof Patricia Casey and Dr Divina Pillay look at the rising rates of panic and anxiety disorders in the first of a four-part Irish Medical Times series on panic disorders. Anxiety is an emotion experienced by everyone at some stage... Read more

Low levels of vitamin D linked to depression in older adults

Archives of General Psychiatry 2008;65:508-512 | 20 May 2008

Older adults with low blood levels of vitamin D and high blood levels of parathyroid hormone have a higher risk of depression, according to a new report. The report followed a study by Dutch doctors of the connection between blood... Read more

Who's afraid of the 'medical model'?

Dr John Wallace | 20 May 2008

The expression ‘medical model’ is often used as a term of disparagement. This particular phrase is thrown about with abandon and is sometimes used as a professional attack, with the aim appearing to be to discount an approach to patients... Read more

A head start on child protection

Natalya Anderson | 09 May 2008

Natalya Anderson reports from a UK conference, where the need for healthcare professionals to be able to identify non-accidental head injuries was stressed Multi-disciplinary assessment and training is essential in the identification of non-accidental head injury (NAHI) in very young... Read more

Panic disorder treatment and diagnosing the patient

Dr John Wallace | 01 May 2008

Dr John Wallace writes on how to diagnose panic disorder in patients, the different treatments available for treating the condition and their long-term effectiveness. Anxiety is a normal emotion that is experienced by everyone at some time. Intervention is required,... Read more

Symptoms of depression do not increase in early stages of Alzheimer’s

Archives of General Psychiatry 2008;65:439-446 | 27 April 2008

Although individuals with depression may be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms of depression do not appear to increase in the years before a diagnosis is made, according to researchers. Such a finding suggests that depression is not a... Read more

Blood urate levels linked to progression of Parkinson’s

24 April 2008

Higher blood levels of the compound urate may be associated with a slower progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. In the study, doctors examined 804 individuals with early Parkinson’s disease who were enrolled in a drug trial... Read more

Substance abuse still a major problem

Dr TMR Jackson | 23 April 2008

Dr TMR Jackson on the abuse of substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and drugs in the south-west and the recommendations put forward to deal with the problem. Substance use continues to be of major concern to our community. Smoking and... Read more

Weekly housework can boost mental health

19 April 2008

Just 20 minutes of any physical activity, including housework, in a week is enough to boost mental health, a new study has revealed. The findings were based on a representative sample of almost 20,000 men and women who were quizzed... Read more

Omega-3 fatty acids do not prevent Crohn's relapses

18 April 2008

Patients with Crohn’s disease who took omega-3 free fatty acids supplements did not have a significantly different rate of relapse compared to patients who took placebo. Researchers conducted two large-scale trials of high-dose omega-3 free fatty acids as maintenance in... Read more

Study shows the benefits of CRT

Natalya Anderson | 16 April 2008

The Irish Medical Times' UK correspondent Natalya Anderson reports from a recent London conference where cognitive remediation therapy on patients suffering from anorexia nervosa was found to have a positive effect. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) may be beneficial to patients... Read more

Antibiotics prescribed to advanced dementia patients

13 April 2008

Antibiotics appear to be frequently prescribed to individuals with advanced dementia in nursing homes, especially in the two weeks before death, according to a new report. According to the report, doctors studied 214 residents (whose average age was 85.2 years)... Read more

Children of parents with Alzheimer's more likely to develop illness

11 April 2008

Adult-age offspring of parents who have both been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease appear to have an increased risk of developing the disease compared with the general population, according to a new study. In the study, doctors assessed the frequency of... Read more

Learning disabilities linked to language problems later in life

Archives of Neurology 2008;65:244-248 | 05 April 2008

Individuals with primary progressive aphasiam – a neurodegenerative condition affecting language – appear more likely to have had a history of learning disabilities than those with other types of dementia or with no cognitive problems, according to a new report.... Read more

Depression among trainee doctors leads to medication errors

BMJ Online First: http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/depression.pdf and http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/depressionedit.doc | 04 April 2008

Doctors in training who are depressed are more than six times as likely to make medication errors as their non-depressed colleagues, a new American study has found. In the study, researchers set out to determine the prevalence of depression and... Read more

Folate deficiency associated with tripling of dementia risk

Early Online Edition of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, available at: http://press.psprings.co.uk/jnnp/january/jn131482.pdf | 02 April 2008

Folate deficiency is associated with a tripling in the risk of developing dementia among elderly people, new research has suggested. The researchers tracked the development of dementia in 518 people over two years from 2001 to 2003. All participants were... Read more

Psychosocial aspects of promoting patient healing

Mike Power | 27 March 2008

Mike Power discusses the complex processes involved in healing and suggests ways in which doctors can use these to speed up recovery times. Theory and practice are two very different things. Most of us in the medical line spend a... Read more

ADHD support team key to care

Natalya Anderson | 19 March 2008

Natalya Anderson reports from a meeting in Kildare where evidence was presented on the link between methylphenidate and long-term drug addiction Use of methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may reduce the risk of drug abuse in... Read more

OCD: managing responses

Dr Farhan Haq | 27 February 2008

Dr Farhan Haq reports on the increase in interest in obsessive compulsive disorder and on the range of treatments available for this debilitating disorder The last 15 years has seen an enormous increase in interest in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD),... Read more

The societal link to ADHD

Prof. Michael Fitzgerald | 26 February 2008

Prof Michael Fitzgerald reports on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and notes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for children found to have the condition Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AADHD) is characterised by a range of symptoms which can... Read more

History crucial in epilepsy diagnosis

Natalya Anderson | 13 February 2008

Natalya Anderson, the Irish Medical Times' UK correspondent, reports from a recent clinical update on epilepsy which was held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London Investigation of a patient’s history is crucial to achieving accurate differential diagnosis of... Read more

New test developed for Alzheimer's

Gary Culliton | 12 February 2008

Gary Culliton looks at a new Irish study whose purpose is to predict which patients suffering from pre-dementia will go on to develop full Alzheimer's disease. Recently the focus of research into Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has shifted to the pre-dementia... Read more

Men come under pressure to adhere to aesthetic ‘ideal’

Liam Quaide | 05 February 2008

Liam Quaide examines the seismic changes in public attitudes towards the body in recent years and notes the increase of body dysmorphic disorder amongst men. As Western culture has become increasingly sexualised over the past few decades, a sea change... Read more

Short birth length 'link to violent suicide bids'

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2008:62: 168-173 | 01 February 2008

Short male babies run more than double the risk of a violent suicide attempt as an adult, a new study has suggested. Catch up growth during childhood does not lessen the impact of short stature at birth, the research also... Read more

Genetic variation explains difference in MS response to interferon beta

March issue of Archives of Neurology | 25 January 2008

By comparing the DNA of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) whose symptoms are reduced by interferon beta therapy to the DNA of those who continue to experience relapses, researchers may have identified important genetic differences between the two, according to... Read more

No autism effect by removing thimerosal

Archives of General Psychiatry 2008;65:19-24 | 18 January 2008

Autism cases continued to increase in the US state of California after the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal was eliminated from most childhood vaccines in 2001, according to a new report in which doctors studied the prevalence of children with autism in... Read more

Family meals can curb female eating disorders

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2008;162:17-22 | 18 January 2008

Adolescent girls who frequently eat meals with their families appear less likely to use diet pills, laxatives or other extreme measures to control their weight five years later, a new report has found. According to the report, doctors studied 2,516... Read more

Children of depressed mothers more prone to injury

Injury Prevention 2007;13: 403-408 | 04 January 2008

Young children whose mothers are depressed are more prone to behavioural problems and injury, new research from the US has found. The researchers looked at the impact of maternal depression on children's behaviour and injury rates among 1,106 mother and... Read more

Patient seizure counts are invalid

Archives of Neurology | 30 November 2007

Asking patients with focal epilepsy how often they have seizures does not appear to provide an accurate count, according to a report. Researchers in Germany studied 91 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy who were admitted to a video-EEG monitoring unit... Read more

Substance-abuse treatable with fluoxetine and therapy

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine | 23 November 2007

The antidepressant fluoxetine, combined with cognitive behavioural therapy, appears as effective for treating depression among teens who also have substance-abuse disorders, as among those without substance-abuse problems, according to a new report. In the study, doctors involved 126 teenagers who... Read more

Emotionally unstable personality disorders

Dr Farhan Haq | 23 November 2007

The term ‘personality’ refers to the enduring characteristics of an individual, as shown in their ways of behaving in a wide variety of circumstances. Personality can be thought of as being made up of more circumscribed characteristics known as traits,... Read more

Bupropion, along with counselling, may help teens kick smoking habit

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine | 23 November 2007

The medication bupropion, as well as counselling, appears to help adolescents quit cigarette smoking in the short-term, according to a new report from the US. Doctors at the University of Arizona conducted a clinical trial of 312 adolescents aged 14... Read more

Neurosurgery: 50 years evolving

Prof Ciaran Bolger | 23 November 2007

Neurosurgery is, perhaps more than any other surgical specialty, a discipline driven by technology and technological development. In this regard, the world of neurosurgery from 50 years ago is unrecognisable to modern day practitioners, and I am sure practitioners from... Read more

Fluoxetine and psychotherapy effective for treatment of depressed teenagers

Archives of General Psychiatry | 16 November 2007

The combination of the antidepressant medication fluoxetine and cognitive behaviour therapy appears more effective than either strategy alone for the long-term treatment of adolescents with depression, according to a new report from the US. The research team randomly assigned 439... Read more

Turning the spotlight on Bipolar Affective Disorder, part three

09 November 2007

This is week three of a three-week clinical vignettes series entitled 'Turning the spotlight on Bipolar Affective Disorder' which will look at the various aspects of the disorder and maintenance regimes. With the patient’s agreement, and brought to you by... Read more

Pain management and the myths that still persist

Natalya Brown | 02 November 2007

Pain management should be viewed as a fundamental human right, and more work needs to be done to promote proper pain management in the areas of acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain, according to research presented by Prof Michael... Read more

Chronic fatigue syndrome linked to stomach virus

Journal of Clinical Pathology | 05 October 2007

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME (myalgic encephalitis), is linked to a stomach virus, new research has suggested. The researchers based their findings on 165 patients with ME, all of whom were subjected to endoscopy because of long-standing gut complaints.... Read more

Tadalafil for treatment of erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury

Archives of Neurology | 21 September 2007

The drug Tadalafil appears to improve erectile function in men with spinal cord injuries, according to a new study. Doctors led by French colleagues conducted a randomised, double-blind study of tadalafil in 197 men with spinal cord injuries.... Read more

Family-based treatment better than psychotherapy for bulimia

Archives of General Psychiatry | 14 September 2007

Bulimia patients aged 12 to 19 years who received family-based treatment were less likely to continue to binge and purge than those who received supportive psychotherapy that explored the underlying issues of the disorder, according to a new report. In... Read more

Coming to terms with Tourette's, part three

Dr Muhammad Arshad | 07 September 2007

It has been found that 12 per cent of Tourettes’s syndrome patients have no co-morbidity, which means 88 per cent show association with ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and affective disorders. Corbett et al (1969) reported that 31 per cent (57/184) TS... Read more

Coming to terms with Tourette's, part two

Dr Muhammad Arshad | 31 August 2007

Ferenczi (1921) described a tic as libido connected with genital sensation, being displaced onto other body parts, resulting in increased pleasure in muscular movements. Abraham (1921) postulated a tic had an anal origin and was supported by Klein (1925) “tic... Read more

What a diabolical way to die

David Sowby | 24 August 2007

In recent months there has been considerable interest in polonium employed for homicidal purposes. Polonium isn’t normally a substance that the medical profession comes across, so it might be useful to explain some of the reasons that make it such... Read more

Coming to terms with Tourette's, part one

Dr Muhammad Arshad | 24 August 2007

Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is not a rare condition. It affects up to one per cent of schoolchildren and is a chronic familial disorder with a fluctuating course as most of the patients show mild symptoms and live a normal successful... Read more

ADHD could cause lower dopamine functioning

Archives of General Psychiatry | 24 August 2007

Adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) show a blunted response to the drug methylphenidate (Ritalin), which increases brain dopamine levels, according to a new study. This finding suggests that dopamine dysfunction may be involved with ADHD symptoms and may contribute... Read more

Farmers unhappiest of all self-employed

Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 10 August 2007

Although self employment may be good for productivity, farmers score badly on every measure of health and quality of life, a Finnish study has revealed. Researchers assessed factors affecting productivity, as well as perceived health and quality of life among... Read more

Fragile X syndrome is both treatable and highly manageable

Dr Muhammad Arshad & Prof Michael Fitzgerald | 10 August 2007

“Our wealth of research strategies and technologies may soon lead to new forms of therapy and medication. Someday we may be able to prevent the mental retardation and other symptoms of Fragile X.” Dr James Watson (Noble prize winner). Fragile... Read more

Risk of Parkinson's disease is lowered in tobacco smokers

Archives of Neurology | 20 July 2007

A pooled analysis of data from previous studies suggests that cigarette smoking appears to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Parkinson’s disease, with long-term and current smokers at the lowest risk, according to a new report. In the... Read more

One-third of adults report some form of alcohol abuse

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:830-842 | 13 July 2007

About 30 per cent of people have reported some form of alcohol use disorder at some point in their life, including 17.8 per cent who abuse alcohol and 12.5 per cent who are alcohol-dependent, according to a new US study.... Read more

Antidepressant warnings may reduce prescription rates among children

Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine 2007;161:690-696 | 13 July 2007

Regulatory warnings regarding the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviours appear to be associated with reductions in the number of antidepressant medication prescriptions among children and adolescents, according to a new report. In December 2003, the UK Committee on Safety... Read more

Pharmacotherapy to help ditch alcohol dependence

Dr John Lyne, Dr Colin O'Gara & Dr Conall Larkin | 06 July 2007

Alcohol dependence is a major public health concern in Ireland today. Data from Health Statistics- Key Data on Health 2002, a report compiled by Eurostat, suggested that Ireland has the highest level of regular drinkers, with 51 per cent of... Read more

SARS survivors recover but suffer mental health decline

Archives of Internal Medicine 2007;167:1312-1320 | 06 July 2007

Most patients who have survived severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) make a good physical recovery, but they or their caregivers often report a decline in mental health, according to a new report. Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome (SARS) reached global epidemic... Read more

Previous military service doubles the suicide risk for men

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2007;61:619–624 | 22 June 2007

Former military personnel are twice as likely to kill themselves as people who have not seen combat, according to a new US report. Researchers in the United States followed up 320,000 men aged over 18 years for 12 years and... Read more

Genetic variations may be linked to suicidal thoughts in depression

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:689-697 | 15 June 2007

Genetic variations may help explain why some men with depression develop suicidal thoughts and behaviors after they begin taking antidepressant medications. A study included 1,447 individuals with depression who did not express suicidal thoughts at the beginning of the study.... Read more

Network of community health services

15 June 2007

The World Health Organization (WHO) has signalled the urgent need for countries to provide a network of community mental health services at its Global Forum for Community Mental Health. For the first time, WHO invited people living with mental disorders... Read more

Network of community health services

15 June 2007

The World Health Organization (WHO) has signalled the urgent need for countries to provide a network of community mental health services at its Global Forum for Community Mental Health. For the first time, WHO invited people living with mental disorders... Read more

Coenzyme Q10 does not improve Parkinson's

Archives of Neurology | 08 June 2007

Small doses of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) appear to increase blood levels of this naturally occurring compound in patients with Parkinson’s disease, but does not improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers conducted a randomised clinical... Read more

Testosterone gel may help men with multiple sclerosis

Archives of Neurology 2007;64:683-688 | 08 June 2007

A small pilot study has suggested that testosterone treatment is safe, well-tolerated and may reduce symptoms, slow brain degeneration and increase muscle mass in men with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, according to a new report. Doctors investigated testosterone treatment in 10... Read more

Study reveals bipolar prevalence in adults

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:543-552 | 18 May 2007

About 4.4 per cent of adults may have some form of bipolar disorder during some point in their lifetime, according to a new study from the US. In the study, researchers led by colleagues at the National Institute of Mental... Read more

Frequent TV viewing linked to learning difficulties

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2007;161:480-486 | 18 May 2007

Teenagers who watch television for three or more hours per day may have a higher risk of attention and learning difficulties in their adolescent and early adult years, according to a new report. In the study, researchers studied 678 families,... Read more

Simple Australian test will help diagnose Parkinson's

04 May 2007

A simple test to diagnose Parkinson’s disease before symptoms appear by measuring the levels of a protein in blood is being developed by Australian researchers from the Howard Florey Institute, The University of Melbourne and the Mental Health Research Institute... Read more

Benefits of antidepressants could outweigh their risks

JAMA 2007;297:1683-1696 | 27 April 2007

A review of previous studies has indicated that the benefits of antidepressants for children and teens with depression or anxiety disorders may outweigh their risks, and that the increased risk for suicidal thoughts and attempts from using these medications is... Read more

Avoiding the cycle of depression

Dr John Wallace | 27 April 2007

We know that depression affects an astounding number of people, with lifetime prevalence estimated between four and 12 per cent of the population and a mean age of onset of between 25-35 years. New prospective studies indicate that a much... Read more

Combination treatment for migraine seen more effective than single drug

JAMA 2007;297:1443-1454 | 20 April 2007

Combining sumatriptan and naproxen sodium to treat migraine results in better symptom relief than taking either one of the medications, according to a new study. In the study, doctors evaluated the effectiveness and safety of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium compared... Read more

A baby who doesn't respond to name may be at risk of autism

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 2007;161:378-383 | 20 April 2007

One-year-old babies who do not respond when their name is called may be more likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental problem at the age of two, making this simple test a potential early indicator... Read more

Lamotrigine and valproate work for stages of epilepsy

The Lancet 2007;369:1000-1026 | 06 April 2007

Lamotrigine should be the drug of first choice for patients with partial epilepsy, and valproate for generalised and unclassifiable epilepsy, according to a major new study. Over the past few decades a large number of new anti-epileptic drugs have become... Read more

Boys of single parents are found more likely to be sexually abused by women

Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2007; 61:319-325 | 30 March 2007

Boys growing up in one-parent families are twice as likely to report sexual abuse as boys from two-parent families and are also more likely to be abused by a female, a new US study has found. Rresearcher questioned 197 men... Read more

WHO concern over the number of deaths in African 'Meningitis Belt'

23 March 2007

Two months into the dry season in the African “Meningitis Belt”,15 595 cases including 1670 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from four countries: Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Uganda. Two... Read more

New technology is developing to help children with autism

23 March 2007

Researchers at the University of Ulster are developing a support package to help parents of children with autism and the health professionals who treat them. Parents‚ Education as Autism Therapists (PEAT), a local charity, is putting together a multimedia training and... Read more

A revolution in mental care– 50 years of Irish psychiatry

Dr Dermot Walsh | 23 March 2007

In the last 50 years no other branch of medicine has seen such far-reaching changes in care as in the delivery of services for the mentally ill. In 1958 there were 21,000 public and private patients in Irish psychiatric hospitals.... Read more

Intervention reduces behavioural problems

BMJ | 23 March 2007

Research in Wales has demonstrated that the ‘Incredible Years’ parenting programme is very effective in reducing the likelihood of children going on to develop behavioural problems. Researchers studied whether the Incredible Years programme, which teaches and develops parenting skills, could... Read more

Low birth weight may predict depression in teenage girls

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:338-344 | 16 March 2007

Girls born weighing less than 2.5 kg may be more likely to develop depression between ages 13 to 16 than those born at a normal weight, while the same does not appear to be true for boys, according to a... Read more

Cognitive therapy can help women with stress disorder

JAMA 2007;297:820-830 | 09 March 2007

Using a cognitive behavioural therapy called “prolonged exposure” appears more effective than ‘present-centred’ therapy, a supportive intervention to treat female military veterans and active duty women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study. In the study, researchers... Read more

Little evidence that omega-3 alone combats depression

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, February 2007 | 09 March 2007

There is no convincing evidence that taking omega-3 fatty acids on their own can alleviate depression, according to a leading review of the subject. And there is only limited evidence that they can relieve depression when used in combination with... Read more

Doctors’ own fear of death can be linked to hastening death of sick newborns

Archives of Disease in Childhood, Fetal Neonatal Edition | 16 February 2007

Doctors who fear their own death say they are more prepared than other doctors to hasten the death of sick newborns for whom further medical treatment is considered futile, new research has found. Neonatologists in New Zealand and Australia were... Read more

Severely mentally ill more at risk of cardiovascular death

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:242-249 | 16 February 2007

A large British study has found that individuals with severe mental illnesses are significantly more likely to die from coronary heart disease and stroke, but not cancer, than those without mental illnesses. In the study, doctors selected 46,136 individuals with... Read more

Child abuse or neglect may be linked to major depression in adults

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:49-56 | 19 January 2007

People who were abused and neglected during childhood have a higher risk of major depression when they become young adults, according to a new report. In the study, doctors examined whether abused and neglected children were at elevated risk of... Read more

PTSD patients show reduced pain sensitivity

Archives of General Psychiatry 2007;64:76-85 | 19 January 2007

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show reduced pain sensitivity, a pattern that may be related to altered pain processing in the brain, according to a new report. In the study, Dutch doctors examined neural correlates of pain processing in... Read more

Antidepressants increase risk of suicide attempts, but decrease risk of dying

Archives of General Psychiatry 2006;63:1358-1367 | 12 January 2007

Suicidal individuals taking antidepressant medications appear to have an increased risk of additional suicide attempts, but a reduced risk of dying from suicide or any other cause, according to a large Finnish study. Doctors analysed data for suicide attempts between... Read more

First-time mothers face higher risk for postpartum mental disorders

JAMA 2006;296:2582-2589 | 12 January 2007

New mothers are at an increased risk for mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder in the three months following the birth of their first child, according to a new study from Denmark. In the study, doctors analysed... Read more

Remission is a realistic goal for schizophrenia

15 December 2006

Irish psychiatrists have been urged to re-examine some of their assumptions about prescribing long-acting injectable antipsychotics for patients with schizophrenia. When considering treatment goals for such patients there are a number of beliefs that colour many psychiatrists’ thinking, according to... Read more

Complexity of bipolar disorder treatment in clinical practice

Dr Patrick Devitt, Consultant Psychiatrist and Dr Sinead Murphy, Registrar, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght | 08 December 2006

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Patrick Devitt and Registrar Dr Sinead Murphy at Adelaide and Meath Hospital look at the current use of mood-stabilisers in an empirical mix-and-match fashion to treat bipolar affective disorder Severe cases of bipolar affective disorder are very... Read more