New studies explore the connection between sleep and depression and suggest that treating insomnia may increase both the likelihood and the rate of recovery for individuals receiving treatment for major depression. Additional research examines the first melatoninergic antidepressant, agomelatine (Valdoxan), and its use as an adjunctive therapy for bipolar disorder.
New estimates suggest that bipolar disorder is over 4 times more common than previously believed, and that its cost in terms of lost productivity and higher suicide risk has been significantly underestimated, compared to the more familiar major depressive disorder. New research on lithium shows it is the single most effective psychopharmacological agent for reducing rates of suicide for those affected by bipolar disorder.
According to Chinese and European experts at a conference in China, a drug commonly used to treat schizophrenia prevents and treats SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the deadly flu-like disease caused by the coronavirus which killed hundreds and sickened thousands in 2003.
Along with the obvious benefit of chemotherapy — surviving cancer — comes a secondary problem that is often not well understood by friends, family, or even cancer patients themselves. Referred to simply as ‘chemobrain’, its symptoms include memory problems, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. The problem occurs in as many as 99 percent of breast and ovarian cancer patients, and until now, little was known about how to treat it.
A new study of clinical trials involving nearly five thousand patients has reaffirmed that St. John’s Wort reduces symptoms of depression among adults suffering mild to moderate symptoms but questions the herbal extract’s effectiveness for moderate to severe depression. The study also indicates that serious drug interactions can occur between St. John’s Wort and other frequently used anti-depressants.
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