The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from November 2006

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from November 2006

Neurostimulation effective for motor complications of Parkinson's Disease.(Parkinson's Disease)
November 1, 2006... precis * A six-month randomized, controlled study showed that patients with advanced Parkinson's disease who received subthalamic neurostimulation experienced clinically significant quality-of-life improvements. * Study compared...

Senate panel's hearing highlights crisis in elder MH care, role of primary care: care as usual is no longer acceptable.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2006... Participants at a recent hearing before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging shared data that speak to a crisis for older adults with mental health problems. With so few elderly individuals seeking care in the specialty mental health...

Mortality risk of antipsychotic drugs in patients with pneumonia: do the typical and atypical antipsychotics carry different levels of risk?(Adverse Events)
November 1, 2006... Literature evidence abounds regarding the mortality risk associated with numerous psychotropic medications. Examples include conduction abnormalities and sudden death from the use of tricyclic antidepressant drugs, (1) and more recently the...

Fruit, vegetable juices may help delay onset of Alzheimer's.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... precis * New study results show dietary intake of fruit and vegetable juices 2 to 3 times a week significantly lowered the risk for probable AD compared with subjects who drank juices less than once a week * Data based on participants...

Homocysteine and cognitive function in healthy elderly people.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... precis * 2-year, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 276 healthy elderly people (?65 years) with elevated homocysteine levels randomized to treatment with folate and vitamin B6 and B12 or placebo * While vitamin treatment...

Barriers to depression care for older adults.(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... With only 8% of depressed older adults choosing to visit a mental health specialist in any given year, a compelling case can be made for focusing on improved depression treatment in primary care settings. An article published in the September...

Treating dementia: a comparison of ginkgo biloba and donepezil.(News Notes)(Clinical report)
November 1, 2006... According to new study results, no significant differences in efficacy were found between ginkgo biloba, and donepezil in patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Italian researchers at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, conducted the...

Musical hallucinations precipitated by ECT in an elderly patient.(Case Reports)(electroconvulsive Therapy)
November 1, 2006... Patient: Female, 93 y/o Treatment: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), mirtazapine (Remeron) Comments: A 93-year-old British woman, living in a residential home, had been admitted several times previously for major depressive disorder...

Black-box warning for Dexedrine.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The FDA and GlaxoSmithKline notified healthcare professionals (August 4, 2006) of labeling changes to dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). The stimulant has been associated with sudden death in patients with pre-existing structural cardiac...