Clinical Psychiatry News articles from June 2004

Clinical Psychiatry News archives from June 2004

Hospital program targets homeless.(News)
June 1, 2004... For all intents and purposes, Phil looked like a hopeless case. The 43-year-old homeless man had been in and out of treatment programs in the Rochester, N.Y., area. In addition to alcohol and substance abuse problems, Phil, who has...

Older physicians' greatest sources of professional frustration.(Vital Signs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Older Physicians' Greatest Sources of Professional Frustration Note: Based on surveys of 300 physicians aged 50 years and older in 2000 and 436 physicians aged 50-65 years in 2004. Source: Merritt, Hawkins & Associates

Evidence-based Tx largely ignored in bipolar disorder: in one study, just 52% of 3,687 prescriptions written were based on data.(News)
June 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Nearly half of patients with bipolar disorder are being treated with drug regimens that lack good evidence of clinical efficacy. Dr. Andrew J. Cutler said. Improving the percentage of prescriptions that use evidence-based...

Intervene to counter weight loss in elderly: depression is usually the biggest culprit.(News)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Aggressive intervention to counter weight loss in the elderly can go a long way to improve quality of life and prevent morbidity and mortality, Dr. Jonathan T. Stewart said at a psychopharmacology update sponsored by the University of...

Manufacturer halts shipments of nefazodone: Bristol-Myers Squibb says the move is based on declining sales--not reports of liver toxicity.(News)
June 1, 2004... Shipments of the antidepressant nefazodone have been halted by the manufacturer. Bristol-Myers Squibb. The company says declining sales prompted the move. Nefazodone, marketed as Serzone, was approved in December 1994 for treatment of...

Physical contact with patients.(Fink! Still at Large)
June 1, 2004... Some patients with personality disorders might benefit from physical contact such as hugs or other non-threatening signs of support in psychodynamic psychotherapy, but such interactions have long been taboo. Is physical contact ever appropriate...

War, sanity, and asylum.(Reel Life)
June 1, 2004... The film world was diminished by the death of Sir Alan Bates in late December, shortly before his 70th birthday. Although Bates offered several turns of greater stature during a long career. I shall always vividly recall him as Charles...

Psychometric assessment.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Dr. Michael Menaster's guest editorial on the assets and limitations of psychometric tests and psychological testing in psychiatric care was informative and timely ("Psychometrics: A Valuable Tool," April 2004, p. 12). There are several...

MDs want single-payer plan.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... Two articles in the April 2004 issue appear to contradict each other: "Single-Payer System Is Not on the Horizon in U.S., Shalala Predicts" (p. 107) clearly disagrees with "Single-Payer Plan Is Supported by Mass. Physicians" (p. 116). The...

Tort reform opposition.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I read with interest the article "Coalition Mounts Aggressive Campaign for Liability Reform" (March 2004, p. 8). The article mentioned that 49 Republicans in the U.S Senate favor tort reform and 48 Democrats oppose it, implying that only...

Inmates much like us.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2004... I am a psychiatrist who works at a women's prison. I recently saw "Monster," and it has stuck with me ("A Ride on the Ferris Wheel," Reel Life, March 2004, p. 16). I agree with Dr. Roland Atkinson that Charlize Theron did an awesome job in...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2004... In the article "Comorbidities Are Common With Migraine" (CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY NEWS, April 1, 2004, p. 82) the bulleted item and the reference to the disorder beneath it should have read premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Medical Justice...

Adherence problems persist in schizophrenia.(Practical Psychopharmacology)
June 1, 2004... Nonadherence to treatment may not be unique to schizophrenia--the issue arises whenever medication is prescribed--but it has received particular attention in this context, and for good reason. For one thing, nonadherence is common in...

If one atypical antipsychotic fails, try another.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Figuring out which atypical antipsychotic will work in a patient with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder requires more art than science, Dr. Stephen M. Stahl said. Five atypical antipsychotics are approved as monotherapy for the...

Mifepristone may ease psychotic depression.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Results from the first large double-blind trials of an antiglucocorticoid agent for the treatment of psychotic depression suggest that subsets of patients may respond to mifepristone therapy, Dr. Charles DeBattista said. ...

Try augmentation to beat fatigue in depression.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Augmenting antidepressant therapy with a medication to treat fatigue may turn some patients who are partial responders into remitters. Dr. Edward Friedman said at a psychopharmacology congress sponsored by the Neuroscience...

Bipolar patients better understand value of medication, compliance with psychotherapy.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Psychotherapy can be a good way to improve medication adherence in patients with bipolar disorder. Michael Otto, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. It won't work, though, unless patients...

A quick quiz on bipolar therapy.
June 1, 2004... What works best for the treatment of bipolar disorder? Try taking this quiz. 1. Use of which of the following anticonvulsants in acute mania is supported by randomized, double-blind, controlled trials? A) Carbamazepine. B)...

The art of Lynnda Pardoe.(Visionary Art)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The use of infrared photography, whether done in black and white or color, can create haunting images. The photos often seem simultaneously grim and soulful. For the last 10 years, this has been the medium of photographer Lynnda Pardoe. ...

The artist's reflections.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... I like using infrared film, because it records heat rather than light, so anything that has heat in it--like a tree, or grass or a person--comes out very white and ghost-like. And the sky turns very black. It increases the sense of the contrast...

Psychotherapy may offer more benefits for PTSD.(Adult Psychiatry)(posttraumatic stress disorder)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- In what was described as the first direct comparison of biologic and psychosocial treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, both modalities were effective in this patient population. But patients who received psychotherapy...

Pain relievers.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... "Has anyone seen my nicotine patches"

Naltrexone and self-injurious behavior.(Evidence-Based Psychiatric Medicine)
June 1, 2004... The Patient You are working on an inpatient unit and treat a patient diagnosed with a psychotic and possible developmental disorder. After the patient takes a "fresh air" break, staff members notice that he has several cigarette burns on...

Adjunctive olanzapine for OCD.(Clinical Capsules)(obsessive-compulsive disorder )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Some patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder refractory to treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors alone may respond to adjunctive treatment with olanzapine, reported Dr. Alexander Bystritsky and his colleagues at the University of...

Prophylaxis for depression.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Patients who take sertraline to prevent a recurrence of major depression after achieving remission with a different antidepressant are less likely to have a recurrence than patients taking placebo, said Dr. Jean-Pierre Lepine of Hopital Fernand...

Treating trauma survivors.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Collaborative treatment involving mental health professionals and psychiatrists appears to keep posttraumatic stress disorder from worsening and significantly reduces alcohol abuse / dependence in severely injured hospitalized patients,...

Preventing bipolar I relapse.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Bipolar I disorder patients who achieve remission of a manic or mixed episode on olanzapine plus lithium or valproate may have a lower rate of symptomatic relapse than patients who stop taking olanzapine but continue taking a mood stabilizer,...

Postpartum disorders.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Women with a past psychiatric history who are admitted to hospital for a psychiatric illness within 6 months of giving birth are at high risk for readmittance, reported Dr. Paul Garfield of the Child. Adolescent, and Family Consultation...

PTSD: for many, different goals are needed; Focus on rehabilitation rather than remission for patients who have symptoms that prove persistent.(Adult Psychiatry)(posttraumatic stress disorder)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- About one-third of people who are exposed to trauma continue to experience persistent symptoms regardless of treatment. For that reason, goals for those patients must change from remission to rehabilitation and coping with long-term...

Consider venlafaxine for short-term PTSD treatment.(Adult Psychiatry)(posttraumatic stress disorder)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Adults with a primary diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder who were treated with venlafaxine showed significant improvement in their symptoms, compared with a placebo group, Dr. Jonathan Davidson reported in a poster...

Seven variables may predict panic disorder, agoraphobia relapse.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Seven factors may facilitate detection of relapse risk while patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia are still in remission. Dr. Matig R. Mavissakalian said at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America....

Prior miscarriage prompts new pregnancy anxiety: researchers theorize that women who grieve more will be at increased risk for clinical depression.(Adult Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Women with high levels of anxiety following a miscarriage are significantly more likely to have comorbid anxiety and depression than are those who were less anxious after miscarriage. Pamela Geller, Ph.D. and Dorothy Castille,...

Chlamydia rates rising.(Data Watch)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2004... Chlamydia Rates Rising Per 100,000 Population 1992 183.4 1994 194.5 1996 193.7 1998 236.7 2000 252.1...

Mentally ill women think menopause worsens their illness.(Adult Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- More than half of 74 women with serious mental illness perceived that menopause made their conditions worse, Dr. Martha Sajatovic reported in a poster presentation at a meeting sponsored by the International Association for...

Near-fatal asthma attacks tied to menstruation.(Adult Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Menstruation may be a contributing factor in near-fatal asthma attacks in patients with unstable asthma, reported Dr. Eva Martinez-Moragon of Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain, and her colleagues. This is the first study associating...

Approaches, perspectives on ADHD.(The Psychiatrist's Toolbox)(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )(Column)
June 1, 2004... Twenty-five years ago, a gentleman was referred to me with chief complaints of poor concentration, forgetfulness, and feelings of failure. He was a real estate broker, and when deals were being made, he said he would often focus on a "fly...

PalmPilots allow home assessments of ADHD: the interface needs to be simple to use, because the families might not be technologically sophisticated.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
June 1, 2004... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- PalmPilot technology allows real-time assessment of daily behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and avoids the recollection bias of parents, according to a presentation at a meeting of the New...

Stimulant beats nonstimulant in interim study of ADHD children.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
June 1, 2004... Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder demonstrated greater improvement in symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention with Concerta than with atomoxetine, according to interim results from the first direct...

Single dose of stimulant works better for drivers.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... Adolescents with ADHD drive much more erratically when they take three daily doses of immediate-acting methylphenidate than when they take a single dose of the long-acting formulation of the drug, according to Daniel J. Cox. Ph.D., professor of...

Early disorders often precede substance abuse.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- The emergence of a substance use disorder or cigarette smoking in adolescence or young adulthood represents "the final evolution in a long history," with many opportunities for prevention along the way, Dr. Joseph Biederman said at...

Gender, academics, social connections predict which teens will start smoking.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Key indicators such as having friends, parents, and siblings who smoke, as well as doing poorly in school, are often good predictors of which kids will take up smoking, several speakers said at the annual meeting of the...

Smoking and depression.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... BALTIMORE -- Adolescents who smoke cigarettes may experience clinical depression more often than those who don't smoke, Fred Danner, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at a meeting sponsored by the Society for Research on Adolescence. ...

ADHD, long-term use of stimulants.(Clinical Capsules)(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Stimulant use consistently improved symptoms of ADHD in children who took them for at least 5 years, said Dr. Alice Charach of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, and her associates. Given the chronic nature of ADHD, many...

Assessing bulimia.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Few differences in symptoms exist between adolescents who meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa and adolescents with fewer symptoms of disordered eating, said Daniel le Grange, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Chicago...

Premature birth and depression.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The odds of developing depressive disorder were 11 times greater among adolescents who were born prematurely or had low birth weights, compared with teens who were born at term and normal weight, said Dr. George C. Patton of the Murdoch...

Genetics and conduct disorder.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... When it comes to genetics and conduct problems, both twins behave badly, said Jane Scourfield, Ph.D., formerly of the University of Wales, Cardiff, and her colleagues The researchers used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to...

Chronic mania studied.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... The time to recovery from an episode of mania was 60.2 weeks in a prospective study of 86 children with a mean age of 6.9 years at baseline, said Dr. Barbara Geller and her associates at Washington University, St. Louis. The 4-year prospective,...

Teen compliance higher with low-carb diets.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... ST. LOUIS -- Carbohydrate-controlled diets appear to be a safe and effective method of weight loss for overweight adolescents, who respond well to this "black and white" approach to eating and to the diets' lack of emphasis on portion control....

Pediatric standards for BMI miss 2.1 million overweight teenagers.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)(body mass index )
June 1, 2004... OLD GREENWICH, CONN. -- An estimated 2.1 million teens exceed adult cutoffs for being overweight but do not meet pediatric standards and would not be diagnosed as overweight, Dr. Carolyn J. Tabak said at a meeting of the Eastern Society for...

Weight problems may be tied to anger habits.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Teenagers with problems managing anger are more likely to be overweight than those who manage anger appropriately. William H. Mueller, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at a conference on cardiovascular disease epidemiology...

Intense CBT helps treatment-refractory OCD: pediatric patients in University of Florida program saw dramatic improvements in short periods.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)(Cognitive-behavioral therapy)(obsessive-compulsive disorder)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- Intense cognitive-behavioral therapy can improve treatment-refractory obsessive compulsive disorder in pediatric patients, according to a five-case series presented at the annual conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of...

Discrimination adversely affects baseline cortisol levels.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Discrimination is associated with higher baseline levels of certain physiologic stress markers in adolescents. Elizabeth A. Job suggested in a poster at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Compared...

Depression casts shadow over three generations: grandchildren of depressed individuals have a higher rate of anxiety disorder before puberty.(Child/Adolescent Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- The children of depressed parents are at increased risk of depression themselves, with anxiety symptoms usually the earliest signs of psychopathology, often appearing before puberty, according to a multigenerational study reported...

Alzheimer's care becoming increasingly atypical.(Geriatric Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Despite the lack of Food and Drug Administration approval, atypical antipsychotics will probably become the standard of care for behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer's disease. Dr. David Naimark said at the annual...

Treat for depression before dementia.(Geriatric Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Treat for depression when you're not sure if an elderly patient has depression or early dementia, Dr. Michelle S. Eslami advised at the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians. In an elderly patient, it's often...

Drug may ease decline of Alzheimer's long term.(Geriatric Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... BAITIMORE -- Rivastigmine may prevent the progression to severe dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease, researchers reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr....

An evidence-based approach: M. officinalis and S. officinalis for Alzheimer's.(Alternative Medicine)(Melissa)(Salvia)
June 1, 2004... History of Use Two common herbs of the Labiatae family, Melissa officinalis and Salvia officinalis, have long histories of medicinal use, M. officinalis, or lemon balm, appears in the ancient "Materia Medica" and was much favored by the...

Statins may not affect hippocampal volume.(Geriatric Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... BACTIMORE -- Preliminary imaging evidence indicates that statins don't appreciably slow the shrinkage of the hippocampus that is associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a poster presented at the annual meeting of the...

Executive function test superior predictor of decline.(Geriatric Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Tests of executive function are superior to global cognition measures for identifying nondemented elderly women at increased risk for functional decline, Dr. Julene K. Johnson said at the annual meeting of the American Academy...

Try atypical neuroleptics first for dementia agitation.(Geriatric Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Atypical neuroleptics appear to be the drugs of choice for agitated behavior in patients with dementia, but other drug options do exist, Dr. Michelle S. Eslami said at the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians. ...

Dementia scoring tool uses caregiver input to assess status.(Geriatric Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- An investigational dementia scoring tool uses caregiver input to quickly and accurately assess behavior, cognition, and function in community-living dementia patients. The Dementia Severity Scale (DSS), in development...

Substance abuse, schizophrenia often coexist: brain imaging shows that alcohol abuse magnifies the grey matter deficits associated with schizophrenia.(Addiction Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Schizophrenia and substance abuse are mutually complicating disorders. Each makes the other one more difficult to treat. Dr. Richard J. Frances said at a conference on schizophrenia sponsored by Columbia University. It is...

Veterans with PTSD, schizophrenia more likely to exhibit suicidality.(Community Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Veterans with schizophrenia who also have posttraumatic stress disorder are more likely to exhibit suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior, Jennifer L. Strauss, Ph.D., of the Durham (N.C.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Duke...

Disaster research could better serve mental health.(Community Psychiatry)
June 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- A substantial amount of post-Sept. 11 medical research proceeded without attention to mental health effects. Dr. Carol S. North said at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. The early, post-Sept. 11...

Gonorrhea Tx in men who have sex with men.(Community Psychiatry)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Fluoroquinolones should no longer be used to treat Neisseria gonorrhoeae in men who have sex with men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new recommendation comes after preliminary data showed that...

Topiramate Tx effective for essential tremor.(Neuropsychiatric Medicine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Topiramate is effective both as monotherapy and add-on therapy for essential tremor, Dr. William G. Ondo said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. He reported on 233 patients, mean age 62 years, with...

Epilepsy guidelines focus on newer agents: off-label use provides equal efficacy and fewer side effects, compared with older antiepileptics.(Neuropsychiatric Medicine)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Major new evidence-based guidelines on epilepsy treatment from the American Academy of Neurology encourage physicians to make far greater off-label use of seven antiepileptic medications that have come on the market in the last...

Restless legs syndrome: new data encouraging; The FDA has been asked to grant a new RLS indication for ropinirole, a dopamine agonist.(Neuropsychiatric Medicine)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Restless legs syndrome, a common and sometimes disabling disorder that's long been below the radar of most nonneurologists, is likely to finally become a hot topic now that effective therapies have been identified in randomized...

Enhanced external counterpulsation for RLS.(Neuropsychiatric Medicine)(restless legs syndrome)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Enhanced external counterpulsation therapy appears to markedly improve the symptoms of restless legs syndrome, according to the findings of an intriguing albeit highly preliminary pilot study. The most exciting observation...

Drug for migraine prevention near approval.(Pain Medicine)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Anticipating the imminent marketing approval of topiramate for prevention of migraine, investigators presented a flood of supportive data at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. Ortho-McNeil...

Fast-dissolving sumatriptan beats placebo for migraine.(Pain Medicine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- A new rapid-release formulation of sumatriptan has proved superior to placebo at relieving migraines within 2 hours when taken early in the attack, according to the findings of a randomized, double-blind, multicenter...

Duloxetine effective for diabetic neuropathic pain.(Pain Medicine)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Duloxetine is safe and significantly more effective for diabetic neuropathic pain than is routine care, reported Dr. J.F. Wernicke in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. In...

Duloxetine benefits women with fibromyalgia: men on duloxetine fared worse on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score than men on placebo.(Pain Medicine)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Duloxetine improves fibromyalgia symptoms significantly more than placebo in women with the condition, but the dual serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake blocker appears ineffective in men. Dr. Lesley M. Arnold said at the annual...

Postop pain scores don't correlate with procedure, other variables.(Pain Medicine)(Postoperative)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Postoperative pain scores failed to correlate with procedural, demographic, or physiologic variables in 114 patients undergoing straightforward shoulder surgery, calling into question their usefulness in guiding pain...

Depressed patients and pain meds.(Pain Medicine)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Patients with comorbid pain and depression are significantly more likely to use over-the-counter and prescription pain medication than those with pain only, Bruce A. Arnow, Ph.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual...

Trans-capsaicin patch gives extended pain relief.(Pain Medicine)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- A single, hour-long application of a novel, high-concentration trans-capsaicin skin patch provided an average of 19 weeks of sustained reduction in the pain of postherpetic neuralgia, Dr. Miroslav Backonja reported at the...

Midlife cardiovascular risk bolsters dementia risk: smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were assessed in this prospective study.(Psychosomatic Medicine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- The presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factors in midlife markedly increases the risk of developing dementia late in life, Dr. Kristine Yaffe said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. This...

Panic disorder, major depression inherited separately from atopy.(Psychosomatic Medicine)
June 1, 2004... MIAMI -- People with major depressive disorder, panic disorder, or both are more likely to have allergies and asthma, according to some recent studies, but their first-degree relatives are at no higher risk, suggesting these disorders are...

Isolation, depression may worsen atherosclerosis.(Psychosomatic Medicine)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Social integration can be an important factor for maintaining cardiovascular health, according to studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. In one study of 102 women, social isolation...

Lower LDL cholesterol after coronary event: patients benefit from a high-dose statin regimen, but the cost of such treatment could be an issue.(Psychosomatic Medicine)(Low Density Lipoprotein)
June 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Aggressively lowering LDL cholesterol far below the currently recommended 100 mg/dL starting right after an acute coronary event further cuts the risk of death or major cardiac events, according to the findings of a landmark...

Sept. 11 events raised blood pressures across U.S.(Psychosomatic Medicine)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The events of Sept. 11, 2001, produced sustained elevations in systolic blood pressure of about 2.0 mm Hg in people both near to and far from the attack sites, Dr. Thomas G. Pickering reported at the annual meeting of the...

Trauma history tied to lower survival in Ca.(Psychosomatic Medicine)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A history of accidental trauma is associated with decreased survival in cancer patients. Douglas L. Delahanty, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. In a retrospective study of 311...

Prognostic factors identified in Alzheimer's.(Psychosomatic Medicine)
June 1, 2004... Severity of cognitive impairment, wandering and gait disturbances, and the presence of comorbid diabetes and cardiovascular disease are among the factors associated with a poor prognosis for patients newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease,...

Extent of New York's HIV epidemic emerging.(Across Specialties)
June 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Recent mandates to report diagnoses not only of AIDS but also of HIV infection are exposing the bulk of this iceberg of an epidemic, and it's not a pretty sight. Nearly 1% of all New York City residents are living with...