Creation and validation of a linear index to measure the health state of patients with depression in automated healthcare databases.

: We previously built a weighted Depressive Health State Index (DHSI) based on 29 parameters routinely collected in an automated healthcare database (AHDB). We now propose a linear DHSI (L-DHSI) which is easier to use and to replicate across AHDBs. : A historical cohort of patients with ≥1 episode of depression was identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).

Comparison of diclofenac gel, ibuprofen gel, and ibuprofen gel with levomenthol for the topical treatment of pain associated with musculoskeletal injuries.

Objective: To determine whether 3% w/w levomenthol added to ibuprofen gel (5% w/w) improves its efficacy compared with ibuprofen gel alone or diclofenac gel (1.16%) for the treatment of soft-tissue injuries.

Methods: A total of 182 patients with acute soft-tissue injuries participated in a randomised, single-blind, single-dose study to assess the efficacy and safety of three topical analgesic gels.

Results and validation of an index to measure health state of patients with depression in automated healthcare databases.

: A Depressive Health State Index (DHSI) based on 29 parameters routinely collected in an automated healthcare database (AHDB) was developed to evaluate the health state of depressive patients, and its evolution. The study objective was to describe and validate this DHSI. : A historical cohort of patients with at least one episode of depression was identified in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).

Creating an index to measure health state of depressed patients in automated healthcare databases: the methodology.

: Automated healthcare databases (AHDB) are an important data source for real life drug and healthcare use. In the filed of depression, lack of detailed clinical data requires the use of binary proxies with important limitations. The study objective was to create a Depressive Health State Index (DHSI) as a continuous health state measure for depressed patients using available data in an AHDB.

Severity and management of psoriasis within primary care.

Background: Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines stress the importance of assessing patients with psoriasis for psoriatic arthritis, comorbidities associated with severe disease and quality of life (QoL). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the primary care management of psoriasis in relation to disease severity and QoL from a patient's perspective.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of adults (≥18 years) with psoriasis managed in primary care was conducted in Scotland over 1-year (2012-2013).

Add-on prolonged-release melatonin for cognitive function and sleep in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a 6-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Purpose: A link between poor sleep quality and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has recently been suggested. Since endogenous melatonin levels are already reduced at preclinical AD stages, it is important to ask whether replenishing the missing hormone would be beneficial in AD and whether any such effects would be related to the presence of sleep disorder in patients.

Patients And Methods: The effects of add-on prolonged-release melatonin (PRM) (2 mg) to standard therapy on cognitive functioning and sleep were investigated in 80 patients (men [50.

Impact of patient selection and study characteristics on signal detection in placebo-controlled trials with antidepressants.

An increasing rate of antidepressant trials fail due to large placebo responses. This analysis aimed to identify variables influencing signal detection in clinical trials of major depressive disorder. Patient-level data of randomized patients with a duloxetine dose ≥ 60 mg/day were obtained from Lilly.

A survey of patient preferences for a placebo orodispersible tablet.

Aim: To assess the attitudes and preferences of patients currently being treated for depression or anxiety disorders with traditional oral antidepressants relative to a placebo orodispersible (ODT) formulation of escitalopram.

Methods: This was an open study collecting patient-reported outcome data from patients with anxiety or depression that were treated with oral antidepressant medication on Day 0 before and after receiving a single placebo ODT, and on Day 3 or 4 after receiving two further daily doses of placebo ODT. Patients aged 18-80 years who were currently receiving treatment with oral antidepressants were recruited from general practice and by advertising.

Efficacy and safety of prolonged-release melatonin for insomnia in middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension: a combined analysis of controlled clinical trials.

Background: Add-on prolonged-release melatonin (PRM) in antihypertensive therapy has been shown to ameliorate nocturnal hypertension. Hypertension is a major comorbidity among insomnia patients. The efficacy and safety of PRM for primary insomnia in patients aged 55 years and older who are treated with antihypertensive drugs were evaluated.

Patient reported outcome data following influenza A (H1N1p) vaccination in the 2009-2010 season: web-based and telephone evaluation.

Background: There has been worldwide interest in the safety of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1p) vaccines, although limited data are available from the vaccine recipients' perspective. This evaluation was designed to collect data from people who had received an influenza vaccination during the 2009-2010 season using a web-based data collection tool supplemented by telephone reporting (PROBE).

Methods: People scheduled to receive the influenza A (H1N1p) or seasonal influenza vaccines were recruited through media advertising and campaigns throughout the West of Scotland.

Baseline characteristics and patient reported outcome data of patients prescribed etanercept: web-based and telephone evaluation.

Background: The anti-TNF inhibitor, etanercept is administered as a once or twice weekly subcutaneous injection for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Limited data from the patients' perspective are available on the use of biologics in the treatment of these chronic conditions and this evaluation was designed to collect data from patients who had been prescribed etanercept for the first time. This manuscript describes the self-reported baseline characteristics and health-related quality of life of patients prior to treatment.

Efficacy, safety and tolerability of escitalopram in doses up to 50 mg in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): an open-label, pilot study.

Background: Escitalopram is licensed for use at doses up to 20 mg but is used clinically at higher doses. There is limited published data at higher doses and none in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

Methods: This open-label, pilot study was designed to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of escitalopram in doses up to 50 mg in MDD.

A multicentre, randomised, double-blind, single-dose study assessing the efficacy of AMC/DCBA Warm lozenge or AMC/DCBA Cool lozenge in the relief of acute sore throat.

Background: Clinically proven over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options are becoming increasingly important in the self-management of acute sore throat. The aim of this study was to determine the analgesic and sensorial benefits of two different amylmetacresol/2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol (AMC/DCBA) throat lozenge formulation variants, AMC/DCBA Warm lozenge and AMC/DCBA Cool lozenge, compared with an unflavoured, non-medicated placebo lozenge in the relief of acute sore throat due to upper respiratory tract infections.

Methods: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, single-dose study, 225 adult patients with acute sore throat were randomly assigned to receive either one AMC/DCBA Warm lozenge (n = 77), one AMC/DCBA Cool lozenge (n = 74) or one unflavoured, non-medicated lozenge (matched for size, shape and demulcency; n = 74).

The societal costs of insomnia.

Objective: Insomnia can be broadly defined as difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or sleep that is not refreshing or of poor quality with negative effect on daytime function. Insomnia can be a primary condition or comorbid to an underlying disorder. Subjective measures of insomnia used in population studies, usually based on complaints of unsatisfactory sleep, put the prevalence at about 10%.

Antidepressant treatment and cultural differences--a survey of the attitudes of physicians and patients in Sweden and Turkey.

Background: The presenting symptoms of depression can be influenced by cultural differences. This study was conducted to compare the presenting symptoms and response to antidepressant medication of patients in Sweden and Turkey, two culturally different European countries.

Methods: Recruitment was triggered when adult patients were diagnosed with a depressive or anxiety disorder by a primary care physician and prescribed an antidepressant.

Prolonged release melatonin in the treatment of primary insomnia: evaluation of the age cut-off for short- and long-term response.

Objectives: The authors recently reported on efficacy and safety of prolonged-release melatonin formulation (PRM; Circadin 2  mg) in elderly insomnia patients. The age cut-off for response to PRM and the long-term maintenance of efficacy and safety were further evaluated by looking at the total cohort (age 18-80 years) from that study and subsets of patients aged 18-54 and 55-80 years (for whom the drug is currently indicated).

Design: Randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.

Use of the internet to assist in the treatment of depression and anxiety: a systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review aims to describe the Internet's potential role in assisting patients with depression and anxiety.

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was conducted of articles published between 1998 and 2008 using the terms depression and anxiety and Internet, computers and depression and anxiety, Internet and compliance and depression, and Internet and adherence and depression.

Study Selection: Publications cited include articles concerned with the Internet in screening, supporting, educating, and treating patients with depression and anxiety.

A review of the costs associated with depression and treatment noncompliance: the potential benefits of online support.

This systematic review examines the economic and human costs of depression and the potential savings associated with improvement in patient adherence to treatment with antidepressants through the use of enhanced-care programs. A MEDLINE search was conducted for papers published on the health economics and costs of depression and compliance, adherence, and persistence. Compliance data collected through the online antidepressant compliance support website iCAN (www.

Nightly treatment of primary insomnia with prolonged release melatonin for 6 months: a randomized placebo controlled trial on age and endogenous melatonin as predictors of efficacy and safety.

Background: Melatonin is extensively used in the USA in a non-regulated manner for sleep disorders. Prolonged release melatonin (PRM) is licensed in Europe and other countries for the short term treatment of primary insomnia in patients aged 55 years and over. However, a clear definition of the target patient population and well-controlled studies of long-term efficacy and safety are lacking.

Healthcare expenditure in severely depressed patients treated with escitalopram, generic SSRIs or venlafaxine in the UK.

Objective: To retrospectively compare the 12-month healthcare utilisation and direct medical costs associated with the use of escitalopram, generic SSRIs, and venlafaxine in patients with severe depression in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: Data for this retrospective cohort study were extracted from the GPRD, a large primary care database in the UK. Data from adults with an incident prescription of escitalopram, venlafaxine, or generic SSRI were extracted.

Urinary flow and urinary symptoms in elderly males exposed to either escitalopram or duloxetine.

Objective: To profile the effects of escitalopram with duloxetine on urinary flow rate and symptoms in elderly males aged 55-75 years.

Research Design And Methods: This was an open, randomised pilot study. A total of 34 male volunteers with no existing urinary symptoms were randomised: 17 to escitalopram 10 mg once daily and 17 to duloxetine 60 mg once daily for 16 days.

Baseline severity of depression predicts antidepressant drug response relative to escitalopram.

Objective: The intent of this pooled analysis was to determine the relationship between baseline depression symptom severity and treatment response for escitalopram compared to that for other pooled antidepressant medications (citalopram, duloxetine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine).

Methods: Data were pooled from controlled clinical trials comparing escitalopram with other antidepressants for the treatment of major depression. The 15 trials meeting the inclusion criteria comprised 2,216 patients treated with escitalopram and 2,085 treated with one of the other antidepressants.

Escitalopram and duloxetine in major depressive disorder: a pharmacoeconomic comparison using UK cost data.

Background: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The allosteric SSRI escitalopram has been shown to be at least as clinically effective as the SNRIs venlafaxine and duloxetine in MDD, with a better tolerability profile. In addition, escitalopram has been shown to be cost saving compared with venlafaxine.

Escitalopram and duloxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a pooled analysis of two trials.

Pooled analyses have shown that escitalopram has superior effectiveness versus all comparators, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine. Recent studies have compared escitalopram with duloxetine. Data from two randomized, double-blind studies that compared escitalopram (10-20 mg/day) and duloxetine (60 mg/day) were pooled and analysed for all patients and for the subsample of severely depressed patients [baseline Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score > or =30].

Efficacy of prolonged release melatonin in insomnia patients aged 55-80 years: quality of sleep and next-day alertness outcomes.

Objective: Melatonin, the hormone produced nocturnally by the pineal gland, serves as a circadian time cue and sleep-anticipating signal in humans. With age, melatonin production declines and the prevalence of sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, increases. The efficacy and safety of a prolonged release melatonin formulation (PR-melatonin; Circadin* 2 mg) were examined in insomnia patients aged 55 years and older.