Amisulpride in the short-term treatment of depressive and physical symptoms in cancer patients during chemotherapies

Introduction Amisulpride is a substituted benzamide that, at low doses, selectively blocks D2 and D3 presynaptic dopamine receptors, enhancing dopaminergic transmission in frontal cortex and limbic areas. Many clinical studies versus placebo, tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors showed amisulpride antidepressant effect, supporting its safety and rapid onset of action. In oncological population, depression is quite frequent and difficult to treat because of the particular sensitivity of cancer patients to the antidepressants’ side effects. Goals of work The aims of this study were to evaluate efficacy, safety and tolerability of low doses of amisulpride (50 mg) in oncological, depressed patients during chemotheraphy. Materials and methods One hundred six consecutive cancer outpatients with depressive symptoms were treated in a prospective, intention to treat, 4-week study, and were evaluated in single-blind with Montgomery Asberg rating scale for depression (MADRS), clinical global impression (CGI) and dosage record treatment emergent symptom scale (DOTES) to assess side effects of treatment. Main results After 4 weeks of treatment, scores of MADRS and CGI significantly improved (p < 0.002; p < 0.001, respectively), with a reduction of depressive symptoms concerning both emotional (such as apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, etc.) and physical cluster (such as lack of appetite, reduction in weight, tiredness and insomnia) with good tolerability (only two patients dropped out). Conclusions This study is the first trial on the use of amisulpride in a cohort of oncological, depressed patients during chemotherapy. Amisulpride demonstrated high efficacy and safety. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.     

精神病人与正常人戒烟前后焦虑抑郁症状的对照研究

目的　了解精神病人和正常人戒烟前后精神状况的变化及差异性 ,探讨戒烟措施。方法　对 71例精神病人和 5 0例正常人戒烟前及戒烟后 1周分别应用汉密顿焦虑量表 (HAMA)、汉密顿抑郁量表 (HAMD)、焦虑自评量表 (SAS)、抑郁自评量表 (SDS)、简明精神病量表 (BPRS )进行测评。结果　精神病人强制性戒烟前HAMA、HAMD、SAS、SDS、BPRS分值分别为 (8.2 1± 6 .4 1)、(7.6 4± 5 .71)、(36 .81± 7.14 )、(33.71± 7.1)、(2 9.4 5± 8.4 7) ;戒烟后HAMA、HAMD、SAS、SDS、BPRS分值分别为 (16 .4 5± 6 .34)、(19.73± 8.71)、(5 8.1± 12 .12 )、(5 6 .31± 11.4 )、(37.32± 7.95 ) ;戒烟前后 5种量表分值变化与正常人戒烟前后分值变化比较有极显著性差异(P <0 .0 1)。结论　对精神病人强制性戒烟可引起明显的情绪反应 ,应适宜控制病人吸烟 ,建立一个合理的管理制度     

帕罗西汀替换三环类抗抑郁剂治疗抑郁症对照研究

目的：了解帕罗西汀替换三环类抗抑郁剂(TCAs)治疗抑郁症的有效性和安全性。方法：将经TCAs足量治疗6周疗效达好转及以下的、符合反复发作抑郁症诊断标准的患者随机分为帕罗西汀组和三环类组。帕罗西汀组渐停TCAs，渐增帕罗西汀治疗，剂量20～40mg／d；三环类组继续使用TCAs150～250mg／d治疗。用Hamilton抑郁量表(HAMD)、大体评定量表(GAS)、临床疗效总评量表病情严重程度(GGI-SI)，分别于人组时，治疗1周末、2周末、4周末、8周末评定其病情变化；副反应量表(TESS)评定不良反应。结果：与入组时比较，帕罗西汀组治疗2周末各种量表评分差异即有显著性；三环类组治疗4周末HAMD、GAS评分差异有显著性，CGI—SI评分治疗8周末差异有显著性。帕罗西汀组治疗后HAMD、GAS、CGI—SI减分明显多于三环类组，帕罗西汀组不良反应发生率显著少于三环类组。结论：帕罗西汀替换TCAs治疗效差的抑郁症安全有效，可在临床上试用。     

抗抑郁治疗对功能性消化不良的辅助治疗作用

功能性消化不良是指具有上腹痛、上腹胀，早饱、暖气、食欲不振、恶心、呕吐等上腹不适症状，经检查排除引起这些症状的器质性疾病的一组临床综合征。在经济、科技、工业化高度发展的社会，已经成为危害人们健康状况和生活质量的最常见的消化系统疾病，因而受到广泛重视。欧美的流行病学调查表明，普通人群中有消化不良症状者占19％-41％，在我国人群中总的患病率为20％。普通门诊中占20％-40％，在消化专科中占60％-70％。FD的发病机制复杂，部分患者存在精神心理的异常，本文通过对FD患者进行抑郁自评量表（zuag评分）评定和抗抑郁药物治疗，旨在探讨二者关系及抗抑郁治疗FD的疗效。     

Limitations of current medical treatments for depression: Disturbed circadian rhythms as a possible therapeutic target

The proportion of diagnosed depressives prescribed antidepressants has increased markedly over the last 20 years, mainly following the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, currently available antidepressants have notable limitations, relating to their only moderate efficacy relative to placebo, relatively slow onset of action, possible withdrawal symptoms, and problems of compliance. Sleep disturbances are often used to identify newly presenting depressive patients, and may be part of a more general alteration of bodily rhythms. There are links between pharmacological treatments and circadian rhythms in depression, which might represent another, new option for the development of a therapeutic approach to depression treatment. Many antidepressants affect sleep, some are sedative, and others have been used specifically in severely insomniac depressives. Disturbances in circadian rhythms may be an integral part of depressive mechanisms, and normalising them via an innovative mechanism of antidepressant action may be a fruitful avenue in the search for improved antidepressant agents.     

Comorbidity and social phobia: evidence from clinical,epidemiologic, and genetic studies

This paper reviews evidence from clinical, epidemiologic, and family studies regarding the association between social phobia and other syndromes. Social phobia is strongly associated with other anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and affective disorders in both clinical and community samples. An average of 80% of social phobics identified in community samples meet diagnostic criteria for another lifetime condition. Social phobia is most strongly associated with other subtypes of anxiety disorders, with an average of 50% of social phobics in the community reporting a concomitant anxiety disorder including another phobic disorder, generalized anciety, or panic disorder. Approximately 20% of subjects in the community meet lifetime criteria for a major depressive disorder. The onset of social phobia generally precedes that of all other disorders, with the exception of simple phobia. Both clinical severity and treated prevalence are consistently greater among social phobics with comorbid disorders The results of family and twin studies reveal that shared etiologic factors explain a substantial proportion of the comorbidity between social phobia and depression, whereas the association between social phobia and alcoholism derives from a nonfamilial causal relationship between the two conditions. Clinical and phenomenologic implications of these findings are discussed.     

Identifying patients at risk for,and treatment of major psychiatric complications of cancer

A critically important aspect of supportive care in cancer is the prompt recognition and effective treatment of psychiatric complications. Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and delirium occur in a signifcant percentage of cancer patients, particularly as disease advances and as cancer treatments become more aggressive. This paper reviews factors that can be utilized to identify patients who are at increased risk for developing psychiatric complications, such as those with advanced disease, certain cancer treatments, uncontrolled physical symptoms, functional limitations, lack of social support, and past history of psychiatric disorder. Methods of diagnostic assessment and strategies for managing depression, anxiety, delirium and suicidal ideation are also reviewed.Presented as an invited lecture at the 6th International Symposium: Supportive Care in Cancer, New Orleans, La., USA, 2–5 March 1994     

医科职业中专生与医科本科生孤独,抑郁,自尊状况的比较研究

目的探讨医科职业高中生与医科本科生的心理健康状况的差异。方法采用ＵＣＬＡ、自尊量表、抑郁量表、感情与社会孤独量表及自编情况调查表对３５０名在校职业高中医士班、医学院本科学生进行评定。结果职业高中学生的孤独及抑郁量表得分高于医学院学生，自尊量表得分低于医学院学生。职高组轻度和中度抑郁占４２．６２％，大学组轻度和中度抑郁占２０％。结论职业高中学生心理健康水平低于医学本科生     

Infantile depression,nonorganic failure to thrive,and DSM-III-R: A different perspective

A controversy exists regarding the classification of nonorganic failure to thrive within the psychiatric nomenclature. There are a number of DSM-III-R diagnoses that may be applied to NOFTT, including Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy (RADI) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The behaviors characteristic of NOFTT are symptomatic of depression, and are similar to those exhibited by infants with anaclitic depression as well as those of the adult with depression. The correspondence of the behaviours of NOFTT and the DSM-III-R criteria for Major Depression are reviewed, as are the conceptual and therapeutic reasons to view NOFTT infants as suffering from Depression.