REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH IN MS (ECTRIMS), GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, OCTOBER 13-16, 2010 – “We should not be using any interventions to treat CCSVI (chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) until we can demonstrate that it has a pathological role,” stated Dr. Giancarlo Comi, Milan, Italy, at a special symposium organized by the European Charcot Foundation. “CCSVI is not a cause of MS,” he said, “and what is the evidence that it influences the MS disease process?”
Neurology
Diagnosing pathological Internet use
October 6, 2010Report 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).
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).