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Recent research: adolescent depression, overweight, antidepressants in pregnancy, and recovery from stroke

Norquist, G., T. G. McGuire, et al. (2008). "Cost-Effectiveness of Depression Treatment for Adolescents." Am J Psychiatry 165(5): 549-552.  [Free Full Text]  Thoughtful (and freely accessible full text) editorial discussing the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological and psychological treatments for adolescents suffering from depression.  Unfortunately different research studies suggest different conclusions, and the length of follow-up involved also seems important.
Petry, N. M., D. Barry, et al. (2008). "Overweight and Obesity Are Associated With Psychiatric Disorders: Results From the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions." Psychosom Med 70(3): 288-297.  [Abstract/Full Text]   Data from over 41,000 people in the US provide a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the association between body weight and psychiatric conditions. Increased body weight is associated with a increased risk of suffering from a series of psychiatric problems.  Interventions addressing weight loss may benefit from integrating treatment for psychiatric disorders.
Oberlander, T. F., W. Warburton, et al. (2008). "Effects of timing and duration of gestational exposure to serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants: population-based study." The British Journal of Psychiatry 192(5): 338-343.  [Abstract/Full Text]  Length of gestational SRI exposure, rather than timing (during pregnancy), increased the risk for neonatal respiratory distress, lower birth weight and reduced gestational age, even when controlling for maternal illness and medication dose. 
Paton, C. (2008). "Prescribing in pregnancy." Br J Psychiatry 192(5): 321-2.  [PubMed]  Thoughtful editorial looking at the pluses and minuses of prescribing during pregnancy.  The author states: Psychotropic drugs reduce morbidity and mortality related to maternal mental illness but may also cause harm to the foetus, the nature and magnitude of which is not completely understood. Up-to-date information should be shared as fully as possible with the pregnant woman and a treatment plan agreed jointly.
Ramos, E., M. St-Andre, et al. (2008). "Duration of antidepressant use during pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations." The British Journal of Psychiatry 192(5): 344-350.  [Abstract/Full Text]  All pregnancies run some risk of the fetus suffering from a major congenital malformation.  In this study of 2,329 women, outcomes did not support an association between duration of antidepressant use during the first trimester of pregnancy and major congenital malformations in the offspring of women with psychiatric disorders.
Ostir, G. V., I.-M. Berges, et al. (2008). "Associations Between Positive Emotion and Recovery of Functional Status Following Stroke." Psychosom Med 70(4): 404-409.  [Abstract/Full Text]   Results indicated positive emotion is associated with gains in functional status after stroke. Findings have implications for stroke recovery programs and suggest the need to include measures of positive emotion in patient assessments.
Robinson, R. G., R. E. Jorge, et al. (2008). "Escitalopram and Problem-Solving Therapy for Prevention of Poststroke Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial." JAMA 299(20): 2391-2400.  [Abstract/Full Text]  Both an antidepressant and problem solving therapy (to a lesser extent) helped prevent depression in the year following a stroke.  This is likely to have speeded functional recovery and reduced mortality.   

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