Therapeutic effect of dynamic interpersonal group psychotherapy for taiwanese patients with depressive disorder.

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of dynamic interpersonal group psychotherapy (DIGP) for the depressed in Taiwan. A 16-session DIGP was held weekly, and participants were evaluated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF before and after DIGP. Compared with control group, the patients treated with DIGP showed significant improvement in severity of their depression, especially in the somatic subscale and quality of life regarding psychological health.

Variant GADL1 and response to lithium therapy in bipolar I disorder.

Background: Lithium has been a first-line choice for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorders to prevent relapse of mania and depression, but many patients do not have a response to lithium treatment.

Methods: We selected subgroups from a sample of 1761 patients of Han Chinese descent with bipolar I disorder who were recruited by the Taiwan Bipolar Consortium. We assessed their response to lithium treatment using the Alda scale and performed a genomewide association study on samples from one subgroup of 294 patients with bipolar I disorder who were receiving lithium treatment.

High prevalence but low awareness of hepatitis C virus infection among heroin users who received methadone maintenance therapy in Taiwan.

Background: This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among heroin dependent individuals who received methadone maintenance therapy in Taiwan. Also, we investigate users' awareness of HCV.

Methods: Participants were 773 heroin users entering the methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program at Tsaotun Psychiatric Center in Taiwan.