Anxious attachment is associated with heightened responsivity of a parietofrontal cortical network that monitors peri-personal space.

Background: Attachment, or affiliative bonding among conspecifics, is thought to involve neural mechanisms underlying behavioral responses to threat and reward-related social signals. However, attachment-oriented responses may also rely on basic sensorimotor processes. One sensorimotor system that may play a role in attachment is the parietofrontal cortical network that responds to stimuli that are near or approaching the body, the peripersonal space (PPS) monitoring system.

Elevated Amygdala Activity in Young Adults With Familial Risk for Depression: A Potential Marker of Low Resilience.

Background: Amygdala overactivity has been frequently observed in patients with depression, as well as in nondepressed relatives of patients with depression. A remaining unanswered question is whether elevated amygdala activity in those with familial risk for depression is related to the presence of subthreshold symptoms or to a trait-level vulnerability for illness.

Methods: To examine this question, functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected in nondepressed young adults with (family history [FH+]) (n = 27) or without (FH-) (n = 45) a first-degree relative with a history of depression while they viewed images of "looming" or withdrawing stimuli (faces and cars) that varied in salience by virtue of their apparent proximity to the subject.

The absence of depressive symptoms is not the presence of wellness: validation of the Clinical Positive Affect Scale.

Objective: Many patients with depression respond or remit with current treatments, but often experience persistent distress, in part because they perceive that they have not returned to their normal or premorbid state. Some continue to have a lack of subjective psychological well-being and positive affect following treatment. It would be useful to measure these deficits and explore whether interventions can improve them.

Compulsive use of alcohol among college students.

Among college students alcohol consumption is associated with other high-risk behaviors that can lead to short- and long-term negative health consequences. Identification of college students consuming alcohol who are at high risk for problems may have important public health implications. This study examines the ability of the CHQ compulsive use of alcohol item to detect high-risk behaviors relative to other screening measures and its association with different dimensions of compulsive drinking.

Prevalence of MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphisms in major depressive disorder, and their impact on response to fluoxetine treatment.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of the C677T polymorphism of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and the A2756G polymorphism of methionine synthase (MS), and their impact on antidepressant response.

Methods: We screened 224 subjects (52% female, mean age 39 ± 11 years) with SCID-diagnosed major depressive disorder (MDD), and obtained 194 genetic samples. 49 subjects (49% female, mean age 36 ± 11 years) participated in a 12-week open clinical trial of fluoxetine 20-60 mg/day.

Assessing depression and factors possibly associated with depression during the course of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Although research suggests depression is common among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), it is unclear how to best assess depression in PD (dPD). We wanted to examine the prevalence of dPD using different definitions of depression, as well as examine factors associated with dPD.

Methods: One hundred fifty-eight individuals (68% male; age 66.

Do early changes in the HAM-D-17 anxiety/somatization factor items affect the treatment outcome among depressed outpatients? Comparison of two controlled trials of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) versus a SSRI.

To assess whether early changes in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 anxiety/somatization items predict remission in two controlled studies of Hypericum perforatum (St John's wort) versus selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for major depressive disorder. The Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group (National Institute of Mental Health) randomized 340 patients to Hypericum, sertraline, or placebo for 8 weeks, whereas the Massachusetts General Hospital study randomized 135 patients to Hypericum, fluoxetine, or placebo for 12 weeks. The investigators examined whether remission was associated with early changes in anxiety/somatization symptoms.

Compulsive alcohol use and other high-risk behaviors among college students.

The association between heavy alcohol consumption and risky behaviors has been amply investigated among college students. However, less is known with regard to types of drinking behaviors associated with high-risk activities. The present study extends this area of research by examining the relationship between compulsive drinking and hazardous behaviors in this population.

Gender, depressive symptoms and patterns of alcohol use among college students.

Background: Serious alcohol-related negative consequences are associated with a number of drinking behaviors among college students. Thus, it is critical to identify students who are at greater risk for hazardous drinking. Although some studies have shown that depressive symptoms may be associated with alcohol use in this population, findings are not consistent.

Anxious depression and early changes in the HAMD-17 anxiety-somatization factor items and antidepressant treatment outcome.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between early changes in anxiety/somatization symptoms and treatment outcome among major depressive disorder patients during a 12-week trial of fluoxetine. We also examined the relationship between anxious depression and treatment response. Five hundred and ten major depressive disorder patients received 12 weeks of fluoxetine with flexible dosing [target dosages: 10 mg/day (week 1), 20 mg/day (weeks 2-4), 40 mg/day (weeks 4-8), and 60 mg/day (weeks 5-12)].

Pattern of depressive symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Depressive symptoms are common in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, it is unclear whether there are specific depressive symptom patterns in patients with PD and comorbid depression (dPD).

Objective: The goal of this study is to examine the frequency and correlates of specific depressive symptoms in PD.

Method: A sample of 158 individuals with PD completed the self-rated Harvard Department of Psychiatry/National Depression Screening Day Scale (HANDS).

A double-blind, randomized controlled trial of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate for major depressive disorder.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and tolerability of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate (EPA-E) monotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: Fifty-seven adults with DSM-IV MDD were randomly assigned from January 2003 until June 2006 to receive 1 g/d of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or placebo for 8 weeks in a double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study. Response criteria were on the basis of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17).

Differences in cognitive factors between "true drug" versus "placebo pattern" response to fluoxetine as defined by pattern analysis.

Objective: Pattern analysis has identified two types of response patterns to antidepressants: "true drug" response (TDR) and "placebo pattern" response (PPR). This study examines the relationship between cognitive factors and TDR and PPR to fluoxetine.

Methods: We assessed 310 outpatients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) who were enrolled in an 8-week open trial of fluoxetine 20 mg/day.

Gender differences in depression: findings from the STAR*D study.

Background: Epidemiologic research consistently reports gender differences in the rates and course of major depressive disorder (MDD). The STAR*D (Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression) multicenter trial provides a unique opportunity to explore gender differences in outpatients with nonpsychotic MDD.

Methods: This sample included the first 1500 outpatients with MDD who enrolled in STAR*D.

Psychiatric comorbidity as a predictor of clinical response to nortriptyline in treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.

Background: A number of studies of major depressive disorder suggest that psychiatric co-morbidity may contribute to treatment resistance. The purpose of this study was to test whether the presence of comorbid Axis I and Axis II disorders predicts clinical response to an open trial of nor-triptyline among patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Method: Ninety-two outpatients with treatment-resistant DSM-III-R major depressive disorder were enrolled in a 6-week open trial of nor-triptyline (Nov.

Early drop-outs, late drop-outs and completers: differences in the continuation phase of a clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the differences between early (EDs), late drop-outs (LDs) and completers in the continuation phase of a clinical trial.

Methods: The authors studied 119 outpatients who were treatment responders in an 8-week open trial with fluoxetine 20 mg/day, and who were then enrolled in a 26-week clinical trial comparing the efficacy of fluoxetine versus fluoxetine and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R-Axis I (SCID-Patient Edition), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the following self-rated scales: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) prior to starting the 26-week continuation phase.

Early drop-outs, late drop-outs and completers: differences in the continuation phase of a clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the differences between early and late drop-outs and completers in the continuation phase of a clinical trial.

Methods: The authors studied 119 outpatients who were treatment responders in an 8-week open trial with fluoxetine 20 mg/day, and who were then enrolled in a 26-week clinical trial comparing the efficacy of fluoxetine versus fluoxetine and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R--Axis I (SCID-Patient Edition), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the following self-rated scales: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) prior to starting the 26-week continuation phase.