People with major depression accompanied by high levels of anxiety are significantly less likely to benefit from antidepressant medication than those without anxiety, according to a study based on data from the NIMH-funded Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. The study was published online ahead of print in January 2008, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. [continue reading…]
February 2008
February 26, 2008
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has urged people taking antidepressants not to discontinue their medication without consulting a doctor.
NICE guidelines point to the efficacy of antidepressants as well as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)for people with moderate to severe depression. Many studies have shown that a combination of medication and psychotherapy has been particularly effective.
Professor Sheila Hollins, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said “We are studying the recent findings from the Department of Psychology at the University of Hull carefully. The researchers claim to have obtained a full set of research data for the first time, and they should be commended for achieving this. But we must stress that anyone currently taking antidepressants should first contact their own doctor before considering stopping their medication, as is the case with any form of prescribed medication.”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has information available on depression, antidepressants, talking therapies, and exercise and mental health. These resources can be downloaded free from the College website at http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation.aspx
Millions of people taking commonly prescribed antidepressants such as Prozac and Seroxat might as well be taking a placebo, according to the first study to include unpublished evidence.
The new generation of antidepressant drugs work no better than a placebo for the majority of patients with mild or even severe depression, comprehensive research of clinical trials has found.
The researchers said that the drug was more effective than a placebo in severely depressed patients but that this was because of a decreased placebo effect.
The study, described as “fantastically important” by British experts, comes as the Government publishes plans to help people to manage depression without popping pills [continue reading…]
A new study indicates that smoking is linked to anxiety with depression, as well as to anxiety alone. However, people who are depressed but not anxious smoke the same as any other smokers. These findings come from a joint study from Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), University of Bergen and King’s College in London.
The link between smoking and anxiety/depression was most apparent among women and young people. Data were collected from 60 000 participants in “Health Studies in North-Troendelag” (HUNT), a study based in a county in northern Norway.
Figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that 30 percent of inhabitants in the western world smoke daily. Earlier studies have found that people with mental health problems are twice as likely to smoke as the rest of the population. Injuries to physical health after smoking are well documented. It is also known that smoking is linked to other psychological problems. Anxiety and depression are the most common complaints and are often both present in people who smoke.
[continue reading…]
