The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from May 2002

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from May 2002

How to get informed consent from decisionally-impaired patients--and why we must. (Research Methods).
May 1, 2002... The need to obtain informed consent for participation in research presents a number of ethical, practical and legal challenges to researchers and clinicians who work with an elderly population afflicted with schizophrenia, major depression,...

Treatment-resistant patients may benefit from switching antidepressants. (Results From Largest Ever Study).
May 1, 2002... Non-response to antidepressant medication is thought to be common in approximately 40 percent of patients but numerous treatment options are available. In a recent study, Michael E. Thase, M.D., and colleagues examined the efficacy of a...

Pramipexole slows dopamine neuron degeneration. (Parkinson's Disease).
May 1, 2002... Researchers from the Parkinson Study Group used sequential single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to compare rates of dopamine neuron degeneration in patients treated with pramipexole and levodopa. The researchers note that earlier...

Diagnostic criteria for depression of Alzheimer's disease proposed.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A group of researchers specializing in late-life depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) have put forward a set of provisional diagnostic criteria for depression of AD. The criteria include both affective and behavioral criteria as well as...

Risperidone assessed for dementia. (Clinical Notes).
May 1, 2002... An eight-week, open-label trial in 34 inpatient (N=6) and outpatient (N=28) subjects was conducted to assess the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone for aggression, agitation and cognitive and psychotic symptoms in dementia. Subjects (mean...

Risk of falls with SSRIs vs. TCAs evalutated. (Clinical Notes).(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; tricyclic antidepressants)
May 1, 2002... Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered to be largely free of the psychomotor and autonomic adverse events associated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), SSRIs do not seem to have reduced the risk of falls and...

Pencil-and-paper test may predict AD. (News Updates).(Alzheimer's disease)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Researchers from California have found subtle cognitive differences in patients who were diagnosed with possible AD within a year or two of testing, when compared to patients who were symptom-free several years after the study. Specifically,...

Medicare to cover Alzheimer's disease. (News Updates).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Although it was not publicly announced, the Bush administration authorized Medicare coverage for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) late last year. Medicare carriers are now implementing the changed policy. While many Medicare carriers...

FDA issues a warning for kava. (News Updates).(risk of severe liver injury)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has issued a letter to healthcare professionals and consumers alerting them of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary...

Statins may lower risk of dementia. (News Updates).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A recently published population-based study found that older patients taking lipid-lowering medications had a lower risk of dementia--and Alzheimer's disease--compared to those not receiving the medications. Data were collected from 492...

Many AD patients do not receive AD-specific drugs. (News Updates).(Alzheimer's disease)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A survey conducted by Consumer Health Sciences found that 49 percent of those who care for relatives with Alzheimer's disease (AD) report that their loved ones use the new AD management medications Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl. A total of 24...

Psychosis possibly exacerbated by modafinil. (Case Reports).(Provigil)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... #Patients: 1 female (61 y/o) Medications: Clozapine (Clozaril); lorazepam (Ativan); modafinil (Provigil) Comments: A 61-year-old woman with a history of undifferentiated schizophrenia and neuroleptic-induced akathisia was being treated...

Phenelzine (generic) ~ Nardil (brand). (Your Medication Information).
May 1, 2002... Classification: Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Common Usage: Phenelzine is indicated for the treatment of depression. Important Side Effects: The most serious possible side effect associated with the use of phenelzine is...