Association Between the Affordable Care Act and Emergency Department Visits for Psychiatric Disease.

Introduction: Emergency department (ED) utilization for psychiatric disease is increasing, and a lack of health insurance has been identified as a potential cause of preventable or avoidable ED use. Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), more uninsured individuals gained health insurance; however, the effects of increased health insurance coverage on ED utilization for psychiatric disease have not been examined.

Methods: We performed a longitudinal, cross-sectional analysis of data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, the largest all-payer ED database in the US, which contains data on over 25 million ED visits each year.

Long-term, open-label, safety study of once-daily ropinirole extended/prolonged release in early and advanced Parkinson's disease.

Long-term safety of once-daily ropinirole extended/prolonged release (ropinirole XL/PR) was evaluated in subjects with early and advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) in this study, 101468/248. Subjects (n = 419) who completed one of three prior studies evaluating ropinirole XL/PR for the treatment of PD were enrolled in this open-label, multicenter, extension study, and were to be followed for up to 73 months. Ropinirole XL/PR was titrated/continued, and adjusted as appropriate during the maintenance phase (maximum 24 mg/d).

Ropinirole in patients with restless legs syndrome and baseline IRLS total scores ≥ 24: efficacy and tolerability in a 26-week, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study followed by a 40-week open-label extension.

Background: As with studies of other dopamine agonists, previously reported studies of ropinirole in restless legs syndrome (RLS) recruited patients with baseline International Restless Legs Scale (IRLS) total scores ≥ 15. The reported pooled analyses of clinical trials data suggest benefits of ropinirole in patients with IRLS total scores ≥ 24, but the effects of ropinirole have not been prospectively evaluated in this patient population.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ropinirole in patients with RLS and baseline IRLS total scores ≥ 24.

Systematic evaluation of augmentation during treatment with ropinirole in restless legs syndrome (Willis-Ekbom disease): results from a prospective, multicenter study over 66 weeks.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of augmentation over 66 weeks of treatment with ropinirole in patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). Augmentation is the main complication of long-term dopaminergic treatment of RLS. Despite widespread use of ropinirole in RLS, no studies have prospectively and systematically assessed the incidence of augmentation with its use.

Long-term, open-label study of once-daily ropinirole prolonged release in early Parkinson's disease.

Long-term safety and efficacy of once-daily ropinirole prolonged release (PR) were evaluated in subjects with early Parkinson's disease (PD). Subjects (n = 83) who completed one of two studies were enrolled in this open-label, multicenter, extension study, and followed for up to 78 months. Ropinirole PR was titrated/continued, and adjusted as appropriate during the maintenance phase (maximum 24 mg/day).

Patient- and physician-rated measures demonstrate the effectiveness of ropinirole in the treatment of restless legs syndrome.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of twice-daily ropinirole in patients with early evening restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms, particularly focusing on the relationship of patient- and physician-rated assessment of treatment outcomes.

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, 12-week, flexible-dose study, patients with primary RLS, with symptom onset no earlier than 5 PM and a baseline International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale (IRLS) total score > or = 20 received ropinirole 0.5 to 6.

Seasonal affective disorder and its prevention by anticipatory treatment with bupropion XL.

Background: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can cause significant distress and impairment. No antidepressant studies have previously attempted to prevent the onset of autumn-winter depression.

Methods: Three prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled prevention trials were conducted on 1042 SAD patients, enrolled in autumn and treated while still well, across the northern US and Canada.