The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from September 2006

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from September 2006

CBT may be more effective than zopiclone for insomnia in the elderly.(Treating Chronic Primary Insomnia)(Cognitive behavioral therapy )
September 1, 2006... precis * Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be more effective than zopiclone in treating chronic primary insomnia in the elderly * Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 46 subjects (mean age 60 years) randomized to CBT,...

rTMS, fluoxetine effective in improving symptoms of depression in PD.(Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)(parkinson disease)
September 1, 2006... Despite the fact that depression substantially impacts quality of life in Parkinson disease (PD) patients, the disorder remains frequently untreated and little is know about the neural correlates associated with depression and antidepressant...

Hypothermia secondary to risperidone and paroxetine.(Adverse Events)(Clinical report)
September 1, 2006... Hypothermia is a condition in which the core body temperature falls below 35[degrees]C. While commonly caused by accidental cold exposure, it can also be precipitated by medical conditions that result in dysfunctional thermal regulation by the...

Clinicians report galantamine may improve goal attainment in AD patients.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
September 1, 2006... precis * Clinicians find goal attainment significantly greater in AD patients treated with galantamine compared with placebo, while patients and caregivers report significant improvements in both placebo and treatment groups *...

Investigators present model of "complicated grief".(News Notes)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Dutch investigators have predicted that the next edition of the DSM is likely to include the diagnosis of Complicated Grief (CG). Paul A. Boelen, M.A., a psychologist and psychotherapist from Utrecht University in The Netherlands, explained...

Quetiapine associated with NMS in dementia with Lewy bodies.(Case Report)
September 1, 2006... According to the authors, this case report is the first to describe quetiapine-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). They indicate that DLB patients who are sensitive to neuroleptics may be at high...

New drug may delay onset or slow progression of AD.(News Notes)(Alzheimer's disease)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A new drug, PBT2, appears to prevent the build-up of amyloid protein (Abeta) linked to Alzheimer's disease. A team of researchers at Australia's Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria found that the drug decreased amyloid protein in mice...

Warning: triptans with SSRIs or SNRIs.(From the FDA)(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)(selective serotonin/norepinephrine inhibitors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The FDA issued a public health advisory for combined use of triptans (used to treat migraine headaches) together with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or selective serontonin/ norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs) which may result in...

First-time approvals.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... * Novartis AG has won final approval for Exelon (rivastigimine tartrate), the first drug to receive approval for treating mild to moderate dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease. Exelon has been previously approved for treating mild to...