The Structure of a Psychological Wellness Profile

Investigation of the structure and properties of a psychological wellness profile with a relatively small sample of 216 participants provided some evidence for the validity of this instrument. Six wellness components were found to be significant predictors of psychological wellness, stress management being the most significant predictor, followed by fortitude, sense of coherence, satisfaction with life, mood and coping. Factor analysis revealed the structure of the Wellness Profile to consist of four principal components which may be labelled as psychological wellness, healthy lifestyle, stress management and age components respectively.     

On the Eve of Upgrading Antidepressants:(R)-Ketamine and Its Metabolites

<正>Ketamine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR)antagonist th has attracted widespread attention for its rapid-onset antidepressant effects,especially in individuals with treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation[1-3].Compared with the traditional antidepressants that take weeks,if not months,to benefit patients and are associated with a high rate of relapse,ketamine exerts its antidepressant effects within     

Bupropion Versus Sertraline in the Treatment of Depressive Patients with Binge Eating Disorder: Retrospective Cohort Study

This study sought to compare Bupropion versus Sertraline in the treatment of depressed patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) prescribed off-label. Medical records of outpatients with diagnosis of BED and Depression (DSM-IV-TR criteria) were selected: 15 patients were treated with bupropion 150 mg/per day, and 15 with sertraline 200 mg/per day. During the screening and control visits (2°-6°-14°-24° week), the selected patients were first weighed and then evaluated using the following questionnaires: Binge Eating Disorder-Clinical Interview (BEDCI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory X (STAI-X) and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). Both drugs reduced anxious-depressive symptoms and binge frequency: Bupropion showed a better effectiveness in reducing weight and improving sexual performances; weight loss related to it was proportional to the body mass index. Bupropion may be associated with more weight loss in BED, depressed patients than sertraline.     

Fluphenazine (Oral) Versus Placebo for Schizophrenia

Fluphenazine, a phenothiazine derivative, was one of the first drugs to be classed as an “antipsychotic” and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1959. In Britain, it was first used for the relief of anxiety. The American reports, however, were the first to indicate its value in psychotic illness. Fluphenazine is an inexpensive and widely accessible antipsychotic drug that has been available to treat people with schizophrenia for five decades. We updated our original search (from September 2006) using The Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials register (May 2012); we found no new relevant studies. Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included with a total of N = 439 participants. Results, based on this small selection of studies, suggested that there was no significant difference between oral fluphenazine and placebo for most outcomes, including global state and leaving the study early. Results did suggest a statistically significant effect favoring oral fluphenazine in the short term for levels of relapse (n = 38, 1 RCT, RR 0.25 CI 0.06–1.03) with levels of extrapyramidal adverse effects more frequent with oral fluphenazine. The findings in this review confirm much that clinicians and recipients of care already know, but they provide quantification to support clinical impression. In this review, for perhaps the first time, we objectively quantified the effects of oral administration of fluphenazine in comparison with placebo. It is indeed a potent antipsychotic but with considerable adverse effects. Other drugs may well be preferable.Key words: oral fluphenazine, systematic review, meta- analysis, schizophrenia     

Classical person-centered and experiential perspectives on Rogers (1957)

Rogers (1957; see record 2007-14639-002) foreshadows the later development of the person-centered approach in North America and elsewhere. In this paper, the authors present contrasting perspectives on the legacy of this key paper. First, from the perspective of classical person-centered therapy, Freire describes the context for this key paper within the wider frame of Rogers' body of work and emphasizes its continuing importance and relevance. Second, Elliott offers a personal history from the point of view of a psychotherapy researcher and process-experiential therapist. These two perspectives represent two major and distinct views of Rogers' legacy from within his direct intellectual and therapeutic descendents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).     

Psychologische Therapie (Psychological Therapy)

Abstract

A variation of task analysis was used to build an empirical model of how therapists may facilitate client assimilation process, described in the Assimilation of Problematic Experiences Scale. A rational model was specified and considered in light of an analysis of therapist in-session performances (N = 117) drawn from six inpatient therapies for depression. The therapist interventions were measured by the Comprehensive Psychotherapeutic Interventions Rating Scale. Consistent with the rational model, confronting interventions were particularly useful in helping clients elaborate insight. However, rather than there being a small number of progress-related interventions at lower levels of assimilation, therapists' use of interventions was broader than hypothesized and drew from a wide range of therapeutic approaches. Concerning the higher levels of assimilation, there was insufficient data to allow an analysis of the therapist's progress-related interventions.     

Duality of Antidepressants and Neuroprotectants

The co-morbidity of neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD) with neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Parkinson’s disease (PD) is now well recognized. Indeed, it is suggested that depressive disorders, especially in late life, may be an indication of latent neurodegeneration. Thus, it is not unreasonable to expect that deterrents of MDD may also deter the onset and/or progression of the neurodegenerative diseases including PD. In this review, examples of neuroprotective efficacy of established as well as prospective antidepressants are provided. Conversely, mood-regulating effects of some neuroprotective drugs are also presented. Thus, in addition to currently used antidepressants, ketamine, nicotine, curcumin, and resveratrol are discussed for their dual efficacy. In addition, potential neurobiological substrates for their actions are presented. It is concluded that pharmacological developments of mood-regulating or neuroprotective drugs can have cross benefit in co-morbid conditions of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and that inflammatory and neurotrophic factors play important roles in both conditions.     

养血清脑颗粒治疗卒中后抑郁的疗效及对脑白质结构改变的影响

目的利用磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)技术,观察养血清脑颗粒治疗卒中后抑郁(PSD)的疗效差异,以及其对脑白质结构改变的影响。方法给予卒中后抑郁患者养血清脑颗粒4 g,口服,3次/d;疗程12 w,治疗前、后均收集汉密尔顿抑郁量表评分(HAMD-24)、DTI扫描数据。治疗后HAMD-24≤8分纳入治愈组,反之纳入难治组。比较两组治疗前、后FA值变化情况。结果养血清脑颗粒治愈率约44.6%。与治疗前相比,治愈组的左侧额叶FA值治疗后明显升高(P0.05);比较两组治疗前的FA值,发现难治组左侧额叶、右侧海马的基线FA值低下(P0.05)。结论养血清脑颗粒治疗PSD有效。PSD患者存在可逆性前额叶深部白质损伤;且难治性PSD患者左侧额叶、右侧海马的基线FA值低下,提示DTI可作为抗抑郁疗效评估的预测指标。     

Prediction of Response to Antidepressants: Is Quantitative EEG (QEEG) an Alternative?

Selecting the most effective antidepressant for depressed subjects having failed previous treatments is difficult; the rates of success are relatively low. There is a clear need for objective biomarkers which could assist and optimize such treatment selection. We review here the current literature and recent developments on the role of quantitative EEG (QEEG) predictors of treatment outcome in major depressive disorder.     

Antidepressants upregulate messenger RNA levels of the neuroprotective enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of amitriptyline, bupropion, doxepin or venlafaxine on the gene expression of the neuroprotective enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in a catecholamine cell in vitro model. DESIGN: Molecular study of a cultured cell line. INTERVENTIONS: Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were incubated in 1 and 10 mumol/L of various antidepressant medications for 24 or 48 hours. OUTCOME MEASURES: Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Amitriptyline up-regulated SOD1 messenger RNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The greatest up-regulation was following incubation with 10 mumol/L amitriptyline for 48 hours. The addition of bupropion, doxepin or venlafaxine to PC12 cell cultures also up-regulated SOD1 mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that some antidepressants have the ability to positively regulate neuroprotective genes.     

Psychological effects of neuroleptics (author's transl)

The short term activity of neuroleptics allows the possibility to distinguish between: 1 - their instictive-affective effects which can, according to the case, either diminish agitation, vigilance, aggressivity, anxiety and mood, or the disinhibitors in case of anti-autistic action; 2 - their effects reducing hallucinations and delusions. After 6 months, and more, in the case of schizophrenia or other psychotic evolution, the preventive effect on psychotic relapses appears as unquestionable to many psychiatrists even though there do exist discrepancies in controlled studies. A regularly administrated treatment reveals the possibility of a favorable evolution with a restitution of social and hedonic capacities. Indeed, although the patients behave in a neurotic or psychopathic way, there is no indication that they are to shift from their psychotic structure. We think it necessary to find new trends in the biological treatment of psychosis when unpredictable neurological or endocrinal side-effects occur, or when too numerous patients to remain neuroleptic-resistant.     

Antidepressants are functional antagonists at the serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor

Antidepressants are commonly supposed to enhance serotonergic and/or noradrenergic neurotransmission by inhibition of neurotransmitter reuptake through binding to the respective neurotransmitter transporters or through inhibition of the monoamine oxidase. Using the concentration-clamp technique and measurements of intracellular Ca2+, we demonstrate that different classes of antidepressants act as functional antagonists at the human 5-HT3A receptor stably expressed in HEK 293 cells and at endogenous 5-HT3 receptors of rat hippocampal neurons and N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. The tricyclic antidepressants desipramine, imipramine, and trimipramine, the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine, the norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor reboxetine, and the noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant mirtazapine effectively reduced the serotonin-induced Na(+)- and Ca(2)(+)-currents in a dose-dependent fashion. This effect was voltage-independent and, with the exception of mirtazapine, noncompetitive. Desipramine, imipramine, trimipramine, and fluoxetine also accelerated receptor desensitization. Moclobemide and carbamazepine had no effect on the serotonin-induced cation current. By analyzing analogues of desipramine and carbamazepine, we found that a basic propylamine side chain increases the antagonistic potency of tricyclic compounds, whereas it is abolished by an uncharged carboxamide group. The antagonistic effects of antidepressants at the 5-HT3 receptor did not correlate with their effects on membrane fluidity. In conclusion, structurally different types of antidepressants modulate the function of this ligand-gated ion channel. This may represent a yet unrecognized pharmacological principle of antidepressants.