Quality of web-based information on pathological gambling.

The present study aims to evaluate the quality of web-based information on gambling and to investigate potential content quality indicators. The following key words: gambling, pathological gambling, excessive gambling, gambling problem and gambling addiction were entered into two popular search engines: Google and Yahoo. Websites were assessed with a standardized proforma designed to rate sites on the basis of "accountability", "presentation", "interactivity", "readability" and "content quality".

The DEX/CRH neuroendocrine test and the prediction of depressive relapse in remitted depressed outpatients.

Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system dysfunction is the most characteristic biological alteration found in a majority of depressed patients. Accumulating evidence suggests that the combined dexamethasone (DEX)/corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) test is highly sensitive to detect HPA system abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the DEX/CRH test has a predictive value for the risk of depressive relapse in outpatients who are in clinical remission from a major depressive episode.

Partial normalization of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in remitted patients after a major depressive episode.

We had previously reported decreased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in depressed patients. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that antidepressant treatment would normalize serum BDNF levels, at least in a subgroup of patients. Major depressed patients (15 females and 11 males) diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria and healthy controls (13 females and 13 males) participated in this study.

Trazodone addition for insomnia in venlafaxine-treated, depressed inpatients: a semi-naturalistic study.

In this paper, we present the results of a prospective semi-naturalistic study of the addition of trazodone for insomnia to a 4 week, 300mg/day venlafaxine treatment in 50 depressed inpatients. The Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale was used as a rating instrument. The study is designated as semi-naturalistic due to the fact that, although the venlafaxine treatment regimen was strictly defined, the timing of the trazodone introduction and the dosage were determined by the clinicians.

Cortisol responses to combined dexamethasone/CRH test in outpatients with a major depressive episode.

The DEX/CRH test is now a well established method to test the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis for depressed patients in an inpatient setting. The aim of this study was to evaluate this test in an outpatient population suffering from major depression compared to a healthy control group. The main result is a statistically significant difference concerning the delta value for cortisol plasma value on the DEX/CRH test for depressed patients with two or more previous episodes compared to healthy controls.