Early pharmacological interventions for prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals experiencing acute traumatic stress symptoms.

Background: Acute traumatic stress symptoms may develop in people who have been exposed to a traumatic event. Although they are usually self-limiting in time, some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe and debilitating condition. Pharmacological interventions have been proposed for acute symptoms to act as an indicated prevention measure for PTSD development.

Meta-analysis of the comparative efficacy of benzodiazepines and antidepressants for psychic versus somatic symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: Benzodiazepines and antidepressants are effective agents for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with the HAM-A frequently used as a primary outcome measure. The GAD literature is inconsistent regarding which medications are more effective for somatic versus psychic symptoms of GAD, and treatment guidelines do not advocate for prescribing based on subtype. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether benzodiazepines and antidepressants have a differential impact on the somatic versus psychic subscales of the HAM-A in GAD.

A systematic review of measures of ability to meet basic needs in older persons.

Background: The ability of older persons to meet their basic needs (i.e. personal, financial and housing security), as well as to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL), is crucial.

Efficacy and tolerability of pharmacotherapy for obsessive-compulsive personality disorder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Although obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is one of the most prevalent personality disorders, it is one of the least studied. There is debate as to whether pharmacotherapy is efficacious for OCPD. We aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pharmacotherapy for OCPD.

Pharmacotherapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent and disabling disorder. Evidence that PTSD is characterised by specific psychobiological dysfunctions has contributed to a growing interest in the use of medication in its treatment.

Objectives: To assess the effects of medication for reducing PTSD symptoms in adults with PTSD.

Early pharmacological interventions for universal prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe and debilitating condition. Several pharmacological interventions have been proposed with the aim to prevent or mitigate it. These interventions should balance efficacy and tolerability, given that not all individuals exposed to a traumatic event will develop PTSD.

Global Systematic Review of Common Mental Health Disorders in Adults Living with HIV.

Purpose Of The Review: By reviewing the most recent common mental health disorders (CMHD) studies in people living with HIV (PLWH) (2018-2020), this review discusses the prevalence of CMHD, factors associated with CMHD in PLWH, mental health in PLWH from vulnerable groups, the impact of CMHD on HIV disease progression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the efficacy of different treatment approaches.

Recent Findings: After screening for eligibility 142 studies were included in the final systematic review. Only 27% of studies were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa, which carries the highest burn of HIV disease globally.

Pharmacotherapy for trichotillomania.

Background: Trichotillomania (TTM; hair-pulling disorder) is a prevalent and disabling disorder characterised by recurrent hair-pulling. Here we update a previous Cochrane Review on the effects of medication for TTM.

Objectives: To assess the effects of medication for trichotillomania (TTM) in adults, children and adolescents compared with placebo or other medication.

Cognitive Differences between Men and Women with HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Although many studies report that women with HIV (WWH) are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment than men with HIV (MWH), this trend is not described consistently in the literature. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated whether the weight of evidence supports the existence of a significant sex difference in cognitive functioning among people with HIV and, if so, whether specific domains are affected.

Method: A systematic literature search retrieved 4,062 unique articles published between January 2000 and June 2019.

Pharmacological treatments for social anxiety disorder in adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this paper was to provide a systematic review and update on the pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder (SAD), including the efficacy and tolerability of these agents, the ranking of interventions, and the grading of results by quality of evidence.

Methods: The Common Mental Disorder Controlled Trial Register and two trial registries were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any pharmacological intervention or placebo in the treatment of SAD. We performed a standard pairwise meta-analysis using a random effects model and carried out a network meta-analysis (NMA) using the statistical package, R.

Risperidone versus other antipsychotics for people with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance misuse.

Background: Up to 75% of people with serious mental illness (SMI) such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have co-occurring substance use disorders (dual diagnosis). Dual diagnosis can have an adverse effect on treatment and prognosis of SMI.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of risperidone compared to treatment with other antipsychotics (first-generation and other second-generation antipsychotics) used in people with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance misuse.

A systematic review of network meta-analyses for pharmacological treatment of common mental disorders.

Question: Network meta-analyses (NMAs) of treatment efficacy across different pharmacological treatments help inform clinical decision-making, but their methodological quality may vary a lot depending also on the quality of the included primary studies. We therefore conducted a systematic review of NMAs of pharmacological treatment for common mental disorders in order to assess the methodological quality of these NMAs, and to relate study characteristics to the rankings of efficacy and tolerability.

Study Selection And Analysis: We searched three databases for NMAs of pharmacological treatment used in major depression, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and specific phobia.

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of pharmacological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Guidelines about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recommend broad categories of drugs, but uncertainty remains about what pharmacological treatment to select among all available compounds.

Methods: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials register, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, National PTSD Center Pilots database, PubMed, trial registries, and databases of pharmaceutical companies were searched until February 2016 for double-blind randomised trials comparing any pharmacological intervention or placebo as oral therapy in adults with PTSD. Initially, we performed standard pairwise meta-analyses using a random effects model.

Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAnD).

Background: Recognition is growing that social anxiety disorder (SAnD) is a chronic and disabling disorder, and data from early trials demonstrate that medication may be effective in its treatment. This systematic review is an update of an earlier review of pharmacotherapy of SAnD.

Objectives: To assess the effects of pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder in adults and identify which factors (methodological or clinical) predict response to treatment.

Plantar fascia-specific stretching exercise improves outcomes in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. A prospective clinical trial with two-year follow-up.

Background: In a previous investigation, eighty-two patients with chronic proximal plantar fasciitis for a duration of more than ten months completed a randomized, prospective clinical trial. The patients received instructions for either a plantar fascia-stretching protocol or an Achilles tendon-stretching protocol and were evaluated after eight weeks. Substantial differences were noted in favor of the group managed with the plantar fascia-stretching program.