[The importance of detection and treatment of somatic symptoms in Latin American patients with major depression].

Objective: Major depression is a disease characterized by the presence of mental and somatic symptoms, the latter affecting considerably the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the prognosis.

Method: We searched for published articles until June 2006 crossing several terms which allow us to include those articles referring to the comorbidity of major depression and somatic symptoms, the prevalence of that comorbidity in Latino Americans, and/or the impact and patterns of use of the antidepressant treatments in patients with major depression and associated somatic symptoms.

Results: Somatic symptoms in Latino Americans with major depression are common, probably more than in other populations around the world.

Outcomes for Latin American versus White patients suffering from acute mania in a randomized, double-blind trial comparing olanzapine and haloperidol.

Data from a published double-blind randomized trial comparing olanzapine versus haloperidol in acute mania were used to address the response and tolerability of Latin American patients. Primary efficacy end point was the remission rate (Young Mania Rating Scale score View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Functional status and quality of life in Latin American outpatients with schizophrenia treated with atypical or typical antipsychotics: outcomes of the 12 months schizophrenia outpatient health outcomes (IC-SOHO) Study].

Objective: Functional status and quality of life outcomes in Latin American outpatients with schizophrenia were compared after 12 months of monotherapy treatment with olanzapine, risperidone or typical antipsychotics.

Method: Both outcomes were assessed as part of a prospective, large (N= 7658), international (27 countries), observational study.

Results: from the Latin American subpopulation (N= 2671; 11 countries) are presented.