‘Psychiatry’ at Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life, Page 6

Schizophrenics struggle with such symptoms as hallucinations, delusions, social withdrawal, and other mental impairments that interfere with a normal lifestyle. Now a new federally-funded study has provided a head-to-head comparison of drugs that are most effective for treating schizophrenia. Another analysis of results for 300 patients provided more insight into the best medications for schizophrenia.

Individuals with bipolar I or II major depression are often misdiagnosed as having unipolar major depression. But a new screening method, testing just three factors, promises to help distinguish between those suffering from bipolar disorder and unipolar major depression.

The authors of a two-year inquiry, backed by the Mental Health Foundation and the Camelot Foundation, have called on the UK Government to launch a national initiative to develop better and more appropriate responses to young people who self-harm, starting with an awareness campaign targeted at professionals, parents and young people.

In the largest ‘real world’ trial ever conducted, a $35 million US government study has concluded that antidepressants cure (or fail to cure) the symptoms of major depression in half of all sufferers, even when individuals are receiving the best possible care. The drugs used in the study, including Celexa, Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Effexor, work in very different ways yet had roughly equal effectiveness when it came to treating depression.

Breaking with the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee, which voted last month to require ‘black box’ labelling on ADHD drugs such as Ritalin, the organisation’s pediatric advisory committee has recommended that ADHD drugs should not have to carry the government’s strongest warning about potential cardiovascular and psychiatric risks.