Medical and Science Research

Abilify in Bipolar Disorder: Doctors say, “We Need More (Good) Data!”

Medical researchers are asking for better data on aripiprazole (brand name, Abilify) based on the latest PLoS publication, “Aripiprazole in the Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar Disorder: A Critical Review of the Evidence and Its Dissemination into the Scientific Literature”. Basically the title is translated as, “objectively looking at Abilify’s use long term in bipolar disorder.” [...]

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Antidepressant-Suicide-Risk Paradox

Here’s a great question asked on Quora: “If antidepressants are supposed to make you less depressed, why would they carry an increased suicide risk?” Supportive of the answer regarding an increased motivation that has been created by the antidepressant in the system, another supporting observation to the “activating the motivation necessary to carry out suicide [...]

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Wellbutrin in Sexual Dysfunctions in Women

Recently 2 studies came out looking at the use of bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin) in female sexual dysfunction, including dysfunction that was caused by SSRI-antidepressant therapy. In this first study (below for scientific citation and abstract), 232 women who were diagnosed with “hypoactive sexual desire disorder” (HSDD) were treated for 12 weeks with either bupropion [...]

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Chemical Imbalance and Depression: Cause or Effect?

A couple of months ago, Dr. Jonathan Leo contacted me about an article he had published that asks a very important question on the relationship that we (including myself) have come to take for granted: chemical balance and depression. The journal article is called, “The Media and the Chemical Imbalance Theory of Depression.” It is [...]

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Breast Cancer Drug in Bipolar Mania Suggests Novel Therapy Options

Reuters reported on a study by the National Institute of Mental Health that showed breast cancer drug tamoxifen may have an effect on the “manic” symptoms of bipolar disorder. The researchers used tamoxifen because of its effect on protein kinase C (PKC), an enzyme that has many effects on cells, including brain cells. PKC may [...]

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Smoking Pot Increases Risk of Developing Schizphrenia

British psychiatrist Stanley Zammit and his colleagues published a study in The Lancet that suggests a link between marijuana (“pot”) use and increased risk of developing psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia by up to 41%. While the marijuana debate has often focused on “medical uses”, this report suggests that new dangers of smoking pot or marijuana. [...]

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Constantly Talking About Your Problems with Friends May Make Things Worse

I found an interesting report in a current issue of Developmental Psychology that suggests a limitation of constantly talking about your problems with friends – at least if you are a teenager girl. Dr. Amanda Rose studied 813 children and teens for 6 months and saw that girls who spent a lot of time co-ruminating [...]

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ECT Underutilized in Resistant Depression

I just read this interesting piece from WSJ’s Health Blog, reporting on a new commentary published in JAMA on the underutilization of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients whose depression does not respond to antidepressant treatment. The idea of sending electric currents through a person (some may even liken the procedure to controlled electrocution) has created [...]

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