Don’t blame her mood on her condition

July 22, 2008

New underserved population in psychiatry: Moms-to-be

Pregnancy per se is not associated with new or recurrent Axis I mental disorders, according to the first nationally representative sampling to address the question by comparing pregnant and non-pregnant women. And in general, pregnant women are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

The exception was major depressive disorder, which was more prevalent among women who had given birth within the past year. (The study did not assess psychotic disorders.)

Pregnant women who did have psychiatric disorders were significantly less likely than other women to seek professional help (perhaps in part fearing medication risks to the fetus). The report in Archives of General Psychiatry suggests looking into barriers to care for this population group.

Related searches

pregnancy psychosis

psychopharmacology pregnancy risks fetus

Evidence-based Articles

Are there any proven non-drug interventions for postpartum depression?

Clinical Trials

What’s being tested now in clinical trials of postpartum depression?

No Comments » | Depression, Family Medicine, Mood Disorder, Women | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by smnewsletters

Breast cancer risk 2008: Obsessing

March 18, 2008

How many breast cancer patients (and MDs) ignore the greater risks?

The odds are about 50:50 that a breast cancer survivor over 60 will die as a result of something else – most likely heart disease or osteoporosis – according to a new report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It calls for greater attention to these women’s other medical problems.

Another study in the same issue finds that women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) radically overestimated their risk of progression to cancer or metastasis. They also showed “notable declines” in general health, vitality, and mental health during the 18 months after diagnosis.

A companion editorial to this study (look for the link at the bottom of the abstract) tentatively suggests a trial of “watchful waiting” for DCIS—rather than knee-jerk mastectomy. If it works for prostate cancer, then why not for this pre-malignant condition?

These articles aren’t full of advice about how to help patients who fret about their condition. But there are ideas elsewhere on SearchMedica.

Clinical Trials

Find the new trial mentioned in the DCIS editorial that is testing brief hormonal therapy before surgery. Researchers are looking for changes in tumor volume, with a goal of finding nonsurgical means to avert progression.

Patient Education

Find something worth sending home with a patient who will be thinking a long time about her diagnosis of early breast cancer.

No Comments » | Breast, Cancer, Mood Disorder, Women | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by smnewsletters

Cognitive, light therapy work against SAD

November 12, 2007

Improving treatment for the seasonally sad

The clocks change again, and people with seasonal affective disorder brace themselves. What’s new for these patients since last autumn? For one thing, a new study hints that cognitive therapy might boost the effects of light treatment.

A new multicenter trial shows that a more targeted LED light source may work better than the large full-spectrum lamps.

Clinical Trials for Patients
The new LED light and other strategies are being tested in numerous new clinical trials involving SAD.

Alternative Medicine
Your patient might like to know that the National Institutes of Health endorse light therapy for SAD as an example of “veritable energy medicine”.

No Comments » | Alternative Medicine, Mood Disorder | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Cranky Aged Mama