The impact of depression on the academic productivity of university students.

Background: Depression is a common disorder that impacts an individual's ability to perform life activities, including those required by the workplace. Academic performance can be viewed as a direct parallel to workforce performance, with students belonging to a unique set of individuals whose ability to perform can be measured on criteria applied by an observer and by self-report. While the prevalence of depression for this group is high and preparation for entry into the workplace is critical for these individuals, this relationship has not been adequately investigated.

Cross-sectional 7-year follow-up of anxiety in primary care patients.

We describe the longitudinal patterns of anxiety symptoms and mental health treatment among patients recruited from a primary care clinic, and provide a naturalistic view of anxiety symptoms, disorders, and treatment at two time periods 7 years apart. Study participants were originally identified in a primary care setting in 1992 as positive but untreated for the presence of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms and disorders. Data were collected through telephone interviews assessing current psychological status for anxiety and depression symptoms, disorders, and general functioning and well being.

Validation of a general measure of treatment satisfaction, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), using a national panel study of chronic disease.

Background: The objective of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a general measure of patients' satisfaction with medication, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM).

Methods: The content and format of 55 initial questions were based on a formal conceptual framework, an extensive literature review, and the input from three patient focus groups. Patient interviews were used to select the most relevant questions for further evaluation (n = 31).

Prospective study designs in outcomes research: the case of migraine.

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including resource utilisation, productivity and quality of life, are important outcomes in the field of migraine. Clinical trials have begun to incorporate PROs; however, not all research questions can be answered fully within the framework of a clinical trial design. Other prospective designs, including effectiveness trials, observational studies, and study hybrids may be used to answer many of the different research questions related to PROs.

Discontinuing or switching selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors.

Objective: To describe reasons for discontinuing or switching selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) at 3 and 6 months after starting treatment, and to identify information provided to patients that may help prevent premature discontinuation of medication.

Methods: Telephone surveys were conducted at 3 and 6 months after patients (n = 672) were started on an SSRI for a new or recurrent case of depression.

Results: Significantly more patients discontinued or switched their SSRI because of an adverse effect within the first 3 months of starting (43%) compared with the second 3 months (27%; p = 0.

Cost savings in migraine associated with less chest pain on new triptan therapy.

Objectives: This article constructs an economic model to estimate cost of chest-pain-related care in migraine patients receiving almotriptan 12.5 mg compared with those receiving sumatriptan 50 mg.

Study Design: This population-based, retrospective cohort study used data from the MEDSTAT Marketscan database (Ann Arbor, Michigan) to quantify incidence and costs of chest-pain-related diagnoses and procedures.