Aripiprazole as augmentation therapy in bipolar patients with current minor or subsyndromal mood symptoms.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of aripiprazole augmentation of maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder in patients with minor or subsyndromal mood episodes while on a stable dose of a mood stabiliser and/or antidepressant.

Methods: All subjects had a diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th Edition, Text Revision). Open-label aripiprazole was given over 8 weeks initially.

Structural neuroimaging studies in late-life depression: a review.

Which patients presenting with depression in late life will progress to a dementia syndrome has been an important research question in recent times. In this paper we review selectively structural neuroimaging investigations of late-life depression (LLD) that have been performed over the past two decades. These studies indicate that there are neuroimaging changes commonly observed in LLD patients when compared to normal controls.

Is late onset depression a prodrome to dementia?

Background: Recent research suggests there are clinical and biological differences between late onset depression (LOD) and early-onset depression (EOD).

Objectives: In this paper we review clinical, epidemiological, structural neuroimaging and genetic investigations of late life depression that have been performed over the past two decades and offer evidence that LOD is often a prodromal disorder for dementia.

Results: LOD patients are more likely to have cognitive impairment and to have more deep white matter lesions (DWMLs).

Personality pathology, depression and HPA axis functioning.

Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, as measured by the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), has been extensively investigated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Evaluating DST response in MDD patients while simultaneously considering clinically relevant personality disorders may further clarify the contribution of both personality pathology and HPA axis function to depressive symptoms. The present study measured personality pathology by administering the revised version of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-II) in a sample of 25 patients diagnosed with MDD.

Antiglaucoma medication and clinical depression.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to alert the medical community to the potential risk of clinical depression following the use of antiglaucoma medication.

Method: The available literature concerning systemic side-effects of topical antiglaucoma medication and the association of these agents with clinical depression were reviewed. In addition, two cases are reported of the occurrence of clinical depression following use of topical betaxolol which only resolved completely after switching glaucoma medication.