News

(Additional information regarding violence and trauma can be found in the Special Report section of the April 2001 issue of Psychiatric Times-Ed.)

Missed Diagnosis

People are different, according to conventional wisdom - the saying generally used in explaining varying opinions, attitudes or ways of thinking. Why then is it not a given that people are different in basic brain functions such as learning and intelligence?

Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D., et al. provided data suggesting that fluoxetine (Prozac) exerts a broad-spectrum effect in reducing all symptom clusters in a sample of 53 patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their results indicated that fluoxetine was most effective in treating the individual symptoms of intrusive recollections and having a sense of failure.

The Most Common Time - Poetry of the Times

A further look at TMS, including synopses of presentations from the 3rd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Transcranial Stimulation.

The 89-year-old woman had undergone hip replacement surgery two days before, had tubes in her arms and couldn't walk. But she blithely announced to her daughter that she was leaving the hospital immediately and started to get out of bed. Astounded, the daughter sought out her mother's physician and asked, "What's going on?"

The author examines how temperature and length of day can affect mood and behavior, both in a general population and a group of inpatients. In both groups, there were two peaks of violent behavior, one in May-June and one in October-November, which correspond with the equinoxes. Is it possible to track violent behavior in various geographical areas depending upon weather and length of day?

In response to encouraging results from a small pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for treatment-resistant depression, researchers are now expanding the study to approximately 200 patients in 20 sites across the United States.

In this overview of research into the biopsychosocial changes caused by traumatic events, Dr. Novac discusses psychopathology, brain development and the effect a traumatic event can have on the victim's family-even long after the event occurred.

"Stalking" is defined as repeated and persistent unwanted communications and/or approaches that produce fear in the victim. The stalker may use such means as telephone calls, letters, e-mail, graffiti and placing notices in the media. A stalker may approach or follow the victim, or keep their residence under surveillance.

Methods for detecting possible abuse and how to help victims (even if they are unable to help themselves or leave their abuser).

Most studies have found clear gender differences in the prevalence of depressive disorders. Typically, studies report that women have a prevalence rate for depression up to twice that of men (Bebbington, 1996; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987).

Obstetrics Ward, County Hospital - Poetry of the Times

California's recent passage of Proposition 36 mandates treatment instead of incarceration for illegal drug offenses. Proponents believe the measure will save the state millions of dollars in the long run and will be more effective in curbing drug abuse than the war on drugs. Critics argue it is hamstrung, cannot achieve its goals and will only negatively impact successful drug court programs.

The National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Depression awarded the 2000 Nola Maddox Falcone Prize. A brief description of each recipient's contributions to research with affective disorders is given.

Evaluations of new drugs, new dosage formulations and new applications for currently approved drugs were a substantial portion of the scientific program at the 40th annual NCDEU meeting, which is sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health.

(The following are highlights of new research presented at the 2000 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Additional highlights can be found in "APA Meeting Highlights New Research," in the February issue of Psychiatric Times, p23-Ed.)

There is a history of gender bias in medical education and practice. Research has shown that this bias extends to the psychiatric field as well. Through material presented to medical trainees-in classes, textbooks, research reviews and the like-subsequent thoughts and actions may be negatively biased against women. A review of the ways in which biases are conveyed is explored, as well as suggestions for reducing, eliminating and preventing these biases in medical education.

Men's Reactions to Female Sexual Coercion

Because there is intense pressure by managed care to shorten the hospital stay for patients with anorexia nervosa, there is a need for partial-hospitalization treatment programs. Since patients gain an average of 0.5 lbs/week to 1.5 lbs/week in these less-monitored programs, as opposed to 2 lbs/week to 3 lbs/week in the inpatient behavioral specialty programs, Angela S. Guarda, M.D., and colleagues (Symposium 21B) described components that would improve the partial treatment program.

How Bourbon Says Goodbye - Poetry of the Times

Two studies of patients who switched from Clozaril to generic clozapine are being evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine whether the rating of the generic drug as bioequivalent (AB) to the brand-reference drug should be reconsidered and whether additional bioavailability assessment should be undertaken.

On Dec. 15, 2000, Glen O. Gabbard, M.D.; Paul Gray, M.D.; Arnold Richards, M.D.; and Arthur Valenstein, M.D., were presented with the Mary S. Sigourney Award for their outstanding contributions to psychoanalysis. This award recognizes past significant contributions to the field of psychoanalysis and is presented in the United States, Europe and the rest of the world on a rotating three-year cycle.

APA Annual Meeting Highlights New Research

With more and more Americans engaging in gambling activities, odds are high that psychiatrists may see patients who have some sort of gambling problem. What can be done about this problem, and how can these patients best be treated?

Smoking is not only a comorbid condition for schizophrenia; it may also have an effect on other psychiatric conditions.

America's policy regarding illegal drugs has been accused of being a failure and being racially biased against blacks and other minorities. The author asserts that while drugs and crime exist in all parts of the society, problem-generating drug use and serious crime are indeed concentrated among the urban poor, some of whom are black. He further explores what this disproportionate drug-related suffering means when it comes to the provision of addiction treatment, law enforcement resources and other responses to the problems spawned by addiction.

This article presents addictive behavior as a chronic illness rather than an acute illness. Studies of characteristics and treatment of addiction, similar to that of other chronic illnesses, are discussed.

Despite assertions by the manufacturers of generic clozapine that their products are equivalent to Clozapine, two new studies presented at the 2000 APA meeting have raised questions about the drugs' assessment ratings.