Disease-modifying therapies used in MS appear to be generally safe after long-term use, according to 15-year results from two new studies.
Neurology
Does an early antidepressant effect predict response?
May 26, 2010A 4-year naturalistic study at 12 centres in Germany has found that a treatment response among depressed in-patients is often evident within the first two weeks of therapy and these early benefits are generally sustained (Seemuller et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2010; epublished January 21, 2010; see also Henkel et al. J Affect Disord 2009; 115: 439-449).
Poor MS symptom control associated with unemployment
May 12, 2010The main reason for loss of employment among MS patients is poor symptom control, according to new data from the Australian MS Longitudinal study (Simmons et al. J Neurol 2010; epublished January 19, 2010).
Depression common in Parkinson disease + dementia
May 12, 2010An estimated 25% of patients with Parkinson disease and dementia meet diagnostic criteria for major depression, according to the results of the German Study on Epidemiology of Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia (GEPAD) (Riedel et al. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2010; 23: 27-34).
Quetiapine vs. lithium in bipolar disorder: EMBOLDEN I results
May 12, 2010The Canadian EMBOLDEN I trial was a large randomized, double-blind trial comparing quetiapine (300 or 600 mg/day), lithium (600-1800 mg/day) or placebo in 802 patients with bipolar I or II disorder (Young et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2010; 71:150-162). The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 8 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score.