Report from the 163rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans LA, May 22-26, 2010 – The diagnostic validity of pathological Internet use has been the subject of recent debate but it remains unclear if the phenomenon is a behavioural problem, part of the spectrum of impulsive, compulsive or addictive disorders, or a separate clinical entity (see Beard & Wolf. Cyber Psychol Behav 2001; 4:377-383; Griffiths. Addict Res 2008; 8: 413-418; Young. J Contemp Psychother 2009; 39: 241-246) (For a recent comment from Canadian researchers see El-Guebaly & Mudry. World Psychiatry 2010; 9: 93-94; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911084/?tool=pubmed). Clinical data are lacking, but a Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire is currently in development (Thatcher & Goolam. S Afr J Psychol 2005; 35: 793-809).
Neurology
ECT: Response and common side effects
September 29, 2010Report from the 163rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans LA, May 22-26, 2010 – Two studies have examined the effectiveness and side effect profile of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in patients with mood disorders.
Memantine in MS: no effect on cognitive performance
September 15, 2010Memantine is an NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptor antagonist currently used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. NMDA receptors appear to mediate oligodendrocyte injury and damage to the myelin sheath, and Canadian researchers have speculated that blocking these receptors may be clinically useful in MS (Stys & Lipson. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2007; 28: 561-566).
Effect of donepezil on apathy in Alzheimer’s disease
September 15, 2010Clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease often do not include behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) as a primary outcome. A systematic review of cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) in the management of BPSD noted that evidence was limited but concluded that pharmacologic interventions were warranted (Rodda et al. Int Psychogeriatr 2009; 21: 813-824).
SCT in Parkinson’s disease
September 15, 2010A small study has found that stem-cell transplantation is feasible and appears to be safe for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, but a larger study is required to ascertain if it is effective (Venkataramana et al. Transl Res 2010; 155: 62-70).