Socioeconomic correlates of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression in primary care: the GADIS II study (Generalized Anxiety and Depression Impact Survey II).

A previous Generalized Anxiety Disorder Impact Survey (GADIS I) performed on 15,399 Belgian patients consulting their primary care physicians, revealed high prevalences of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) with important regional differences. The objective of this study (GADIS II) was to replicate previous findings and to evaluate the role of socioeconomic factors in the diagnoses of GAD and MD. A large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted in a random sample of 377 general practitioners distributed geographically over Belgium and Luxemburg.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation as a therapeutic tool in psychiatry.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a patient-friendly stimulation technique of the brain with interesting perspectives. In clinical psychiatry, limited data are available on activity in psychosis and anxiety, but much research has been done in depression. Major concerns on published papers are the inconsistency of used parameter settings, the restraint numbers of patients in randomised trials, the lack of real sham controlled studies and the quasi inexistent reproducibility of results.

Prevalence and impact of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression in primary care in Belgium and Luxemburg: the GADIS study.

Purpose: GADIS aims at determining the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) in primary care and their impact on the patient's functioning in Belgium and Luxemburg.

Method: A large scale screening program was conducted at the consultation of general practitioners to detect patients with GAD and MD according to DSM-IV criteria. We collected additional data regarding the use of hypnotic, tranquilizer, antidepressant and analgesic medications.

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on saccades in depression: a pilot study.

Therapeutic repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in depression is applied over the prefrontal cortex. This brain region is known to play an important role in the control of saccades. We wanted to investigate whether the fast rTMS procedure affected saccadic activity in depression.

Sex steroid level, androgen receptor polymorphism, and depressive symptoms in healthy elderly men.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression in a cohort of elderly men as assessed using a 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score and to describe the association between this score and sex steroids, androgen receptor (AR) polymorphism, and general health status.

Design: Observational study on the relationship between sex steroid status and health-related parameters.

Setting: Community-based.