Although currently available antidepressants increase monoamine levels soon after the start of treatment, therapeutic benefits are often delayed by several weeks and the majority of patients with major depressive disorder fail to achieve an adequate response to first- or second-line therapies targeting monoamines. The recent approval of the NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) [...]
A novel, noninvasive, over-the-counter electromagnetic neuromodulation device (ActiPatch, BioElectronics Corp.) appears to deliver long-lasting relief in chronic pain patients. Results of a long-term prospective study that included 240 patients who had previously experienced chronic pain relief with the device showed that at 6 months, 97% of the 240 participants sustained [...]
Daily intranasal insulin may be effective in slowing progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD), new research suggests. The findings were presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2019. Investigators found intranasal insulin administered via a novel delivery device slowed the rate of cognitive decline by [...]
According to evidence-based reviews, the answer is a qualified “Maybe.” Chronic methamphetamine use can induce pathological brain changes in the brain. Users can develop thought, mood, and behavioral disorders, including psychosis. Such effects may persist even after extended abstinence. Because cognitive deficits can affect how well patients respond to treatment, interventions [...]
Patients with prostate, bladder or kidney cancers are at greater risk of dying if they have had psychiatric care prior to the cancer treatment. In addition, patients with these cancers show greater suicide risk than the general population, even once the data is corrected for previous psychiatric care. These are [...]
Biogen and Eisai have announced that they are discontinuing the ENGAGE and EMERGE trials, which were designed to test the efficacy and safety of aducanumab in patients with mild cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease and mild Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trials were [...]
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved brexanolone intravenous infusion (Zulresso, Sage Therapeutics), the first-ever drug indicated for the treatment of postpartum depression. The drug is administered under medical supervision as a continuous infusion over a total of 60 hours (2.5 days), according to the FDA. Postpartum depression can [...]
Adding the Alzheimer drug memantine (Namenda, Allergan) to treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor may improve depressive symptoms, executive function, and other outcomes in older patients with both depression and cognitive complaints, new research suggests. The findings were presented at the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) 2019. In a [...]
The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved an intranasal form of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression in adults who have failed at least two oral antidepressants of different classes. The spray, from Janssen Pharmaceutical (Spravato) is available in tamper-resistant prepackaged units of one, two, or three devices to deliver the prescribed doses [...]
A preliminary study of five patients suffering from both depression and substance abuse disorders suggest that isn’t the case. The study was published Jan. 9 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Substance abuse and depression are common in many patients, and efforts to treat both conditions simultaneously have had limited [...]