Association Study of Genotype by Depressive Response during Tryptophan Depletion in Subjects Recovered from Major Depression.

Purpose: The brief and reversible mood response to acute tryptophan (TRP) depletion (ATD) is being studied as a trait marker in subjects considered at risk for major depression (MD).

Procedures: ATD was administered to 64 subjects (54 European-Americans, and10 from other races) with personal and family history of MD. They were in remission and had been medication-free for at least three months.

Pilot Study of a Computer-Based Parental Questionnaire and Visual Profile of Obesity Risk in Healthy Preschoolers.

Purpose: This group field-tested a computer-based, parental questionnaire entitled the Childhood Obesity Risk Questionnaire 2-5 (CORQ 2-5) designed to assess obesity risk in healthy preschoolers. COR 2-5 generates a profile of seven obesity risk factors.

Results: Field studies provided good internal reliability data and evidence of discriminant validity for the CORQ 2-5.

The development and effectiveness of a health information website designed to improve parents' self-efficacy in managing risk for obesity in preschoolers.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of web-based information on parental self-efficacy in managing obesity risk in preschoolers.

Design And Methods: The project included a literature review and the development and field testing of an information website that presented information on how to manage nine obesity risk factors for childhood obesity.

Results: Parents stated that they had no problems using the website, and 69% reported improved self-efficacy on at least two risk factors.

The implications of genomics on the nursing care of adults with neuropsychiatric conditions.

Purpose: Neuropsychiatric disorders contribute substantially to disease burden and quality of life across the lifespan and the globe. The purpose of this article is to review the state of the science regarding genomic contributions to selected common neuropsychiatric conditions and to examine the consequent immediate and future implications for nursing practice and research.

Organizing Construct: Our work is guided by an ecological model that recognizes that common diseases are complex or multifactorial, meaning that multiple genomic and environmental factors contribute to their etiology.

Incorporating evidence from pharmacologic and pharmacogenetic studies of atypical antipsychotic drugs into advanced psychiatric nursing practice.

Purpose: To present a conceptual framework for incorporating pharmacologic findings and pharmacogenetic evidence related to atypical antipsychotic drugs (AADs) into advanced psychiatric nursing practice.

Conclusions: Three evidence domains lend important information about differential AAD response. These include the pharmacology of AADs, the molecular genetics of metabolizing enzymes, and the molecular genetics of neurotransmitter receptor drug targets.

Functional SNPs in genes encoding the 5-HT2A receptor modify the affinity and potency of several atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Atypical antipsychotic drugs (AADs) are the standard treatment for both the acute and long-term management of schizophrenia and an augmentation to mood stabilizers for bipolar disorder (BD). Yet many individuals who take AADs do not fully respond to them, while others experience side effects that include weight gain and metabolic disorder. This in vitro pharmacogenetic study examined whether allelic variants in the 5-hydroxytryptamine (HT)(2A) receptor alter the in vitro pharmacology of six AADs (clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole).

A comparison of the life goals program and treatment as usual for individuals with bipolar disorder.

Objective: This randomized controlled study of 164 outpatients with bipolar disorder in a community mental health center who received standardized psychoeducation (Life Goals Program [LGP]) or treatment as usual sought to determine whether there were differences between the groups in medication adherence attitudes and behaviors.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to treatment as usual (N=80) or treatment as usual plus LGP (N=84) and were assessed at baseline and at the three-, six-, and 12-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were change in score from baseline on the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) and on self-reported treatment adherence behaviors (SRTAB).

Aripiprazole: a novel atypical antipsychotic drug with a uniquely robust pharmacology.

Aripiprazole (Abilify) is an atypical antipsychotic drug that has been recently introduced for clinical use in the treatment of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole has a unique pharmacologic profile that includes partial agonism at several G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) [especially dopamine (D2) and 5-HT1A] and antagonistic action at others (especially 5-HT2A). Clinical trials indicate that aripiprazole is effective in treating the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Impact of bipolar disorder on a U.S. community sample.

Background: Bipolar disorder is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by depression and at least 1 manic or hypomanic episode during the lifetime of the illness. Bipolar symptoms have been associated with significant functional impairment. We conducted a study to determine the psychosocial impact of bipolar disorder in a U.

Screening for bipolar disorder in the community.

Background: Our goal was to estimate the rate of positive screens for bipolar I and bipolar II disorders in the general population of the United States.

Method: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), a validated screening instrument for bipolar I and II disorders, was sent to a sample of 127,800 people selected to represent the U.S.