Oxytocin in old age psychiatry: A systematic review of the safety of using intranasal oxytocin in older adults.

Objectives: To examine the literature for evidence of adverse events associated with the use of intranasal oxytocin in older adults (60+).

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken according to PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed literature was searched for studies involving intranasal oxytocin use in older populations.

Adjunctive Docosahexaenoic Acid in Residual Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid as an adjunct to ongoing pharmacological treatments in patients with residual symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Methods/procedures: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was conducted at a single private practice site. Participants were drawn from patients attending the practice.

Diagnostic agreement and concordance between consultation-liaison psychiatry and non-psychiatric (medical and surgical) doctors: changes within junior doctor's terms.

Objective: To investigate whether diagnostic agreement and concordance between non-psychiatric (medical and surgical) doctors and consultation-liaison psychiatry changes within junior doctors' terms.

Method: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of referrals from medical and surgical units to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service. Diagnostic agreement was calculated across all diagnoses and expressed as a percentage.

Desvenlafaxine in the treatment of major depression: an updated overview.

: Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains one of the most prevalent mental health conditions. It is a chronic, relapsing condition and despite multiple treatment options, many patients fail to achieve remission of symptoms. Inadequacy of treatment has stimulated the search for agents with significant therapeutic advantages.

Agomelatine for depression: expanding the horizons?

Agomelatine is an antidepressant with unique pharmacological actions; it is both a melatonin agonist and selective serotonin antagonist. Both actions combined are necessary for antidepressant efficacy. Effects on melatonin receptors enable resynchronisation of disrupted circadian rhythms with beneficial effects on sleep patterns.

5-HT2A Agonists: A Novel Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorders?

Functional neurological disorders are frequently encountered in clinical practice. They have a poor prognosis and treatment options are limited. Their etiology is unknown, but leading theories propose a disturbance of somatic self-representation: the mind perceives dysfunction of a body region despite intact motor and sensory pathways.

Impairments of spatial working memory and attention following acute psychosocial stress.

Few studies have investigated the effect of an acute psychosocial stress paradigm on impaired attention and working memory in humans. Further, the duration of any stress-related cognitive impairment remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an acute psychosocial stress paradigm, the Trier Social Stress, on cognitive function in healthy volunteers.

Agomelatine, melatonin and depressive disorder.

Alteration of nocturnal melatonin production, along with circadian rhythm disturbance, has been demonstrated in several psychiatric disorders. It has been postulated that such disturbances might be causal reflecting a more fundamental abnormality of the function of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN contains the body's master 'clock' while the pineal-SCN nexus is intricate to the nighttime production of melatonin.

Agomelatine suppresses locomotor hyperactivity in olfactory bulbectomised rats: a comparison to melatonin and to the 5-HT(2c) antagonist, S32006.

The novel melatonergic agonist/5-HT(2C) antagonist agomelatine displays robust antidepressant properties in humans and is active in pre-clinical models predictive of antidepressant effects. In this study, we investigated its potential influence on the locomotor hyperactivity displayed by olfactory bulbectomised rats, a putative measure of potential antidepressant activity. In addition, we compared the actions of agomelatine to those of melatonin and S32006, a selective antagonist at 5-HT(2C) receptors.

Duloxetine in the acute and continuation treatment of major depressive disorder.

Duloxetine is a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor with indications for use in the short term, continuation and maintenance treatment of major depression. Although clinicians currently have access to a range of medications for the treatment of depression, a significant number of patients fail to respond or remit from their illness despite adequate trials of treatment with multiple agents. A developing concept is that antidepressant strategies that combine multiple mechanisms of action may have advantages over agents with single mechanisms (i.

Dopamine D(1) receptor binding in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Functional neuroimaging studies in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest there is a hyperactivation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during provocation of symptoms and conflict-inhibition tasks. Since dopamine, acting through D(1) receptors is suggested to modulate ACC activity, we hypothesised that there would be an altered D(1) binding potential (BP) in the ACC of OCD patients. Using [(11)C]-SCH23390 and positron emission tomography, we report significantly reduced D(1) BP in seven drug-free OCD patients compared with matched healthy controls.

Continuation treatment of major depressive disorder: is there a case for duloxetine?

Duloxetine is a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor with established efficacy for the short-term treatment of major depressive disorder. Efficacy in continuation treatment (greater than six months of continuous treatment) has been established from both open and placebo-controlled relapse prevention and comparative studies. Seven published studies were available for review and showed that in both younger and older populations (aged more than 65 years) the acute efficacy of duloxetine was maintained for up to one year.

Abnormal dose-response melatonin suppression by light in bipolar type I patients compared with healthy adult subjects.

Objective: Among potential endophenotypes proposed for bipolar affective disorder focusing on circadian abnormalities associated with the illness has particularly high face validity. Melatonin sensitivity to light is one circadian endophenotype proposed as useful in bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate melatonin sensitivity to light over a range of light intensities in order to compare and contrast responses in bipolar I patients with those of healthy adult volunteers.

Treatment of cognitive dysfunction in chronic schizophrenia by augmentation of atypical antipsychotics with buspirone, a partial 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist.

Objectives: To assess effects of a semi-acute administration of buspirone in comparison to a placebo on cognitive function and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

Methods: In a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, independent groups study 18 subjects (14 males, four females) received in random order either placebo or buspirone (15-30 mg/day). A neuropsychological assessment using the Hopkins verbal learning test (HVLT) simple reaction time (SRT), choice reaction time (CRT), n-back spatial working memory task and the stroop colour and word test was performed at baseline and final visit.

The impact of a changed environment on arousal levels of patients in a secure extended rehabilitation facility.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the effect of changes of the physical ward environment on levels of arousal and aggression in long-stay patients in a secure extended rehabilitation facility.

Method: Seclusion episodes, extended seclusion episodes, staff report of aggressive incidents and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) measures of psychopathology were compared in the same group of long-stay rehabilitation patients over a period of 3 months before and 3 months after a move from a temporary, refurbished medical ward to a large, light-filled, purpose-built facility.

Results: Fifteen patients were present during both investigation periods.

Duloxetine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Duloxetine, a medication with effects on both serotonin and noradrenaline transporter molecules, has recently been approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. The evidence for its efficacy lies in a limited number of double blind, placebo controlled comparisons. Statistically significant improvements in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale from baseline were demonstrated in all studies at doses of 60 to 120 mg per day.

A comparison of the CogState Schizophrenia Battery and the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Battery in assessing cognitive impairment in chronic schizophrenia.

This study examined the criterion and construct validity of a brief computerized cognitive test battery (CogState Schizophrenia Battery) compared to a conventional cognitive test battery recommended by the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) consensus. The CogState and MATRICS batteries yielded comparable effect sizes in comparing patients with schizophrenia to healthy controls (Cohen's ds = -1.50 for both batteries).