Over half (63%) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also suffer from psychiatric disorders, with the majority of these (87%) occurring in the depressive spectrum, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. Interestingly, over half (52%) of the patients studied indicated that they had experienced stress events before the onset of their RA.
The study also revealed a number of other interesting findings about the emotional burden of RA:
* Cognitive dysfunction was diagnosed in 23% of patients, with 16% of this attributed to depression
* A third (33%) suffered from sleep disorders
* Those with depression also exhibited more severe RA (measured by X-ray), greater functional insufficiency and pain, as well as having received less aggressive treatment than patients without depression. (No significant differences in age, duration of illness, gender or DAS28* scores were noted between the two groups)
* Significantly, cognitive impairments were found more often (p=0.02) in patients older than 50 years (39% vs. 9%)
* The age of the first prednisone intake was significantly higher (p<0.05) in patients with depression compared to those without (48 vs. 30 years)
Dr Tatiana Lisitsyna from the State Institute of Rheumatology RAMS, Russian Federation, who conducted the study, said: "Psychiatric disorders are a very common comorbidity for people with RA, and they tend to be stress-related and associated with disease activity and chronic pain. Evaluating and addressing the mental health of those with RA should be a regular feature of rheumatology practice to improve quality of life and reduce the potentially distressing psychological burden of RA."
READ MORE @ EUREKALERT
Showing posts with label psychiatric disorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psychiatric disorders. Show all posts
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Psychiatric Disorders Are Common In Adults Who Have Had Anorexia
The study was initiated in 1985. A total of 51 teenagers with anorexia nervosa were studied, together with an equally large control group of healthy persons. The groups have been investigated and compared several times as the years have passed.
"This study is unique in an international perspective. It is the only study in the world that reflects the natural course of anorexia nervosa in the population", says Elisabet Wentz, Associate Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
The research group has published new results from the study in two scientific journals: the British Journal of Psychiatry and the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Three women have still not recovered from anorexia, 18 years after the start of the study. Thirteen people, or around 25%, are on disability benefit or have been signed off sick for more than six months due to an eating disorder or other psychiatric disorder.. Thirty-nine percent have at least one other psychiatric disorder, in addition to the eating disorder. The most common of these is obsessive compulsive disorder.
READ MORE @ SCIENCE DAILY
"This study is unique in an international perspective. It is the only study in the world that reflects the natural course of anorexia nervosa in the population", says Elisabet Wentz, Associate Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
The research group has published new results from the study in two scientific journals: the British Journal of Psychiatry and the International Journal of Eating Disorders.
Three women have still not recovered from anorexia, 18 years after the start of the study. Thirteen people, or around 25%, are on disability benefit or have been signed off sick for more than six months due to an eating disorder or other psychiatric disorder.. Thirty-nine percent have at least one other psychiatric disorder, in addition to the eating disorder. The most common of these is obsessive compulsive disorder.
READ MORE @ SCIENCE DAILY
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Biomarkers of Illness and Treatment
Research on biological markers of disease process and treatment response were highlighted at the 48th annual New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit meeting, “New Research Approaches for Mental Health Interventions,” convened by the NIMH, May 27-30 in Phoenix.
In a workshop on biomarkers, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics, Michael Henry, MD, of Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, indicated that technological improvements in scanner design, along with increasing understanding of neuropathophysiology, “offer an unprecedented opportunity for utilizing brain imaging techniques to improve the precision of clinical trials.”
Henry foresees the application of technologies such as MRI, PET, and single photon emission CT to reduce diagnostic variability in study populations, measure drug penetration of target sites, and establish biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy. Although imaging in clinical trials is most common in cardiology and oncology, Henry noted its recent use in trials of agents for dementia, depression, and psychosis.
Andrew Leon, PhD, of Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, agreed with the described potential of biomarkers to serve as primary end points in clinical trials but reminded conferees that the current status is either as secondary end points or “hypothesized moderators of outcome.” To go forward, he asserted, clinical trials will need to include validity testing of putative biomarkers.
READ MORE @ PSYCHIATRIC TIMES
In a workshop on biomarkers, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacogenomics, Michael Henry, MD, of Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, indicated that technological improvements in scanner design, along with increasing understanding of neuropathophysiology, “offer an unprecedented opportunity for utilizing brain imaging techniques to improve the precision of clinical trials.”
Henry foresees the application of technologies such as MRI, PET, and single photon emission CT to reduce diagnostic variability in study populations, measure drug penetration of target sites, and establish biomarkers of therapeutic efficacy. Although imaging in clinical trials is most common in cardiology and oncology, Henry noted its recent use in trials of agents for dementia, depression, and psychosis.
Andrew Leon, PhD, of Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, agreed with the described potential of biomarkers to serve as primary end points in clinical trials but reminded conferees that the current status is either as secondary end points or “hypothesized moderators of outcome.” To go forward, he asserted, clinical trials will need to include validity testing of putative biomarkers.
READ MORE @ PSYCHIATRIC TIMES
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Preemies face some risk of psychiatric disorders
Results of a Swedish population-wide study hint that children born prematurely have some risk of developing anxiety, depression or other psychiatric disorder in adolescence and young adulthood.
Children born "preterm" should therefore be watched more closely for these disorders, the investigators suggest.
Among 545,628 Swedish residents born in the 1970s and followed up until 23 to 29 years of age, Dr. Karolina Lindstrom from Sachs Children's Hospital, Stockholm, and colleagues observed a stepwise increase in psychiatric hospital admissions with an increasing degree of preterm birth.
READ MORE @ REUTERS
Children born "preterm" should therefore be watched more closely for these disorders, the investigators suggest.
Among 545,628 Swedish residents born in the 1970s and followed up until 23 to 29 years of age, Dr. Karolina Lindstrom from Sachs Children's Hospital, Stockholm, and colleagues observed a stepwise increase in psychiatric hospital admissions with an increasing degree of preterm birth.
READ MORE @ REUTERS
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Few Young Adults Seek Treatment for Psych Disorders Alcohol, nicotine use, personality illnesses common, study shows
Psychiatric disorders are common among young adults in the United States, but few seek treatment, a new report shows.
To reach this finding, U.S. researchers analyzed data from more than 5,000 respondents, aged 19 to 25, who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
The study found that 45.8 percent of the 2,188 college students and 47.7 percent of the young adults not in college met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder, but only 25 percent of those with disorders sought treatment over a one-year period.
Among college students, the most common disorders were alcohol use (20.4 percent) and personality disorders (17.7 percent). The most common disorders among young adults not in college were personality disorders (21.6 percent) and nicotine dependence (20.7 percent).
READ MORE @ U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
To reach this finding, U.S. researchers analyzed data from more than 5,000 respondents, aged 19 to 25, who took part in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
The study found that 45.8 percent of the 2,188 college students and 47.7 percent of the young adults not in college met the criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder, but only 25 percent of those with disorders sought treatment over a one-year period.
Among college students, the most common disorders were alcohol use (20.4 percent) and personality disorders (17.7 percent). The most common disorders among young adults not in college were personality disorders (21.6 percent) and nicotine dependence (20.7 percent).
READ MORE @ U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Medication increasingly replaces psychotherapy, study finds
Fewer patients are undergoing in-depth treatment as antidepressants and other drugs are more widely used. The shift is attributed partly to insurance reimbursement policies.
Wider use of antidepressants and other prescription medications has reduced the role of psychotherapy, once the defining characteristic of psychiatric care, according to an analysis published today.
The percentage of patients who received psychotherapy fell to 28.9% in 2004-05 from 44.4% in 1996-97, the report in Archives of General Psychiatry said.
Researchers attributed the shift to insurance reimbursement policies that favor short medication visits compared with longer psychotherapy sessions, and to the introduction of a new generation of psychotropic medications with fewer side effects.
Although not a surprise to many psychiatrists, the findings were expected to intensify a debate over the increased medicalization of psychiatric care, which in part reflects an emphasis on the biology of mental illness, as opposed to the processes of the mind.
Psychotherapy is an interpersonal intervention that may involve such things as behavior modification and group discussion. It is recommended -- with or without medication -- for major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric illnesses.
READ MORE @ LOS ANGELES TIMES
Wider use of antidepressants and other prescription medications has reduced the role of psychotherapy, once the defining characteristic of psychiatric care, according to an analysis published today.
The percentage of patients who received psychotherapy fell to 28.9% in 2004-05 from 44.4% in 1996-97, the report in Archives of General Psychiatry said.
Researchers attributed the shift to insurance reimbursement policies that favor short medication visits compared with longer psychotherapy sessions, and to the introduction of a new generation of psychotropic medications with fewer side effects.
Although not a surprise to many psychiatrists, the findings were expected to intensify a debate over the increased medicalization of psychiatric care, which in part reflects an emphasis on the biology of mental illness, as opposed to the processes of the mind.
Psychotherapy is an interpersonal intervention that may involve such things as behavior modification and group discussion. It is recommended -- with or without medication -- for major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and other psychiatric illnesses.
READ MORE @ LOS ANGELES TIMES
Sunday, August 3, 2008
From Prevention to Preemption: A Paradigm Shift in Psychiatry
Universal prevention has been a focus of psychiatric research for the past 4 decades. Using a public health approach, research has shown that mitigating major risk factors, such as poverty and early life stress, and promoting protective factors can improve behavioral outcomes. In other areas of medicine, we have observed how similar preventive approaches have reduced deaths from cancer and infectious disease. By contrast, while reducing environmental stress and providing better maternal support improve general behavioral outcomes (by preventing the development of antisocial behavior, for example), there are few, if any, examples of preventive approaches in psychiatry that reduce either the morbidity or the mortality of our most disabling illnesses—such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.1,2
What can be done to improve the impact of preventive interventions in psychiatry? Do we have effective pre- ventions that are not being implemented? Or do we need new approaches
to reduce morbidity and mortality? While we certainly can do much more to implement what we already know, it may soon be time for us to consider a shift from universal prevention provided in the broad population to “preemptive” approaches. Preemptive interventions target those at greatest risk for mental illness and those with subdiagnostic signs or symptoms, and they provide what previously has been labeled “selective” and “indicated” prevention.3
READ MORE @ PSYCHIATRIC TIMES
What can be done to improve the impact of preventive interventions in psychiatry? Do we have effective pre- ventions that are not being implemented? Or do we need new approaches
to reduce morbidity and mortality? While we certainly can do much more to implement what we already know, it may soon be time for us to consider a shift from universal prevention provided in the broad population to “preemptive” approaches. Preemptive interventions target those at greatest risk for mental illness and those with subdiagnostic signs or symptoms, and they provide what previously has been labeled “selective” and “indicated” prevention.3
READ MORE @ PSYCHIATRIC TIMES
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Obesity tied to risk of psychiatric disorders
Obesity is a well known risk factor for certain physical health problems, but a new study suggests that heavy adults also have higher rates of psychiatric disorders.
Using data from a national health survey of more than 40,000 Americans, researchers found that obese adults were up to twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions as normal-weight adults.
In addition, even moderately overweight people had elevated rates of anxiety disorders, the study found.
Whether excess pounds somehow lead to mental health problems is not clear, according to the researchers. But the findings do indicate that a range of psychiatric disorders are more common among overweight people.
READ MORE @ REUTERS
Using data from a national health survey of more than 40,000 Americans, researchers found that obese adults were up to twice as likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions as normal-weight adults.
In addition, even moderately overweight people had elevated rates of anxiety disorders, the study found.
Whether excess pounds somehow lead to mental health problems is not clear, according to the researchers. But the findings do indicate that a range of psychiatric disorders are more common among overweight people.
READ MORE @ REUTERS
Monday, October 29, 2007
Decision-makers Seek Internal Balance, Not Balanced Alternatives
A researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine suggests that psychiatrists may need to approach the treatment of psychiatric patients from a new direction -- by understanding that such individuals' behavior and decision-making are based on an attempt to reach an inner equilibrium.
Martin Paulus, M.D., professor in UCSD's Department of Psychiatry, has compiled a body of growing evidence that human decision-making is inextricably linked to an individuals' need to maintain a homeostatic balance.
"This is a state of dynamic equilibrium, much like controlling body temperature," said Paulus. "How humans select a particular course of action may be in response to raising or lowering that 'set point' back to their individual comfort zone. In people with psychiatric disorders or addictions, the thermostat may be broken."
READ MORE @ SCIENCE DAILY
Martin Paulus, M.D., professor in UCSD's Department of Psychiatry, has compiled a body of growing evidence that human decision-making is inextricably linked to an individuals' need to maintain a homeostatic balance.
"This is a state of dynamic equilibrium, much like controlling body temperature," said Paulus. "How humans select a particular course of action may be in response to raising or lowering that 'set point' back to their individual comfort zone. In people with psychiatric disorders or addictions, the thermostat may be broken."
READ MORE @ SCIENCE DAILY
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Psychiatric Conditions Increase the Risk of Heart Disease
Although mortality rate among people suffering from cardiovascular diseases has declined in the United States over the past years, patients suffering from acute mental illness remain deprived of the benefits experienced by healthy individuals. These views were expressed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by a psychiatrist --John W. Newcomer at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Newcomer, who is the professor of psychiatry and psychology and of medicine and medical director of the Center for Clinical Studies at Washington University, said that people suffering from mental ailments including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and various forms of depression live 25 -30 years shorter than those with no such ailments. Though suicide remains one of the major causes of death among these individuals, but most of them die prematurely on account of cardiovascular diseases.
READ MORE @ MEDHEADLINES
Newcomer, who is the professor of psychiatry and psychology and of medicine and medical director of the Center for Clinical Studies at Washington University, said that people suffering from mental ailments including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and various forms of depression live 25 -30 years shorter than those with no such ailments. Though suicide remains one of the major causes of death among these individuals, but most of them die prematurely on account of cardiovascular diseases.
READ MORE @ MEDHEADLINES
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Mental Health Suffers in COPD Patients
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, particularly women, may be significantly more likely to suffer psychiatric disorders than the general population, researchers found.
Nearly half (49%) of the patients with COPD in a cross-sectional study had at least one psychiatric disorder. There's a 31% rate in the general population.
Nearly twice as many women in the study as men were diagnosed with a psychiatric problem despite similar COPD duration and severity (60% versus 38%, P=0.03), they reported in the July issue of the journal CHEST.
READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY
Nearly half (49%) of the patients with COPD in a cross-sectional study had at least one psychiatric disorder. There's a 31% rate in the general population.
Nearly twice as many women in the study as men were diagnosed with a psychiatric problem despite similar COPD duration and severity (60% versus 38%, P=0.03), they reported in the July issue of the journal CHEST.
READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Medicaid Recipients Have Trouble Finding Mental Health Care
Medicaid beneficiaries with substance abuse and mental disorders are less likely to use community services, even though most of the medical help for these disorders is community-based, a new study finds.
The study, which is published in the July issue of Psychiatric Services, examined where integrated treatments for co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders would be most needed for Medicaid recipients.
Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are a major problem among the Medicaid population, which has 50 percent to 100 percent more cases than the general population.
Previous research has suggested that community-based treatment for these disorders is superior to treatment in hospitals, with the continuity of treatment being weaker and costs being higher in hospital settings. Because of this, care providers have focused on providing intervention programs in community settings, such as clinics and therapists' offices.
READ MORE @ FORBES
The study, which is published in the July issue of Psychiatric Services, examined where integrated treatments for co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse disorders would be most needed for Medicaid recipients.
Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders are a major problem among the Medicaid population, which has 50 percent to 100 percent more cases than the general population.
Previous research has suggested that community-based treatment for these disorders is superior to treatment in hospitals, with the continuity of treatment being weaker and costs being higher in hospital settings. Because of this, care providers have focused on providing intervention programs in community settings, such as clinics and therapists' offices.
READ MORE @ FORBES
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