The U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) is a large prospective cohort study of lesbian families and their children conceived through donor insemination (www.nllfs.org). Between 1986 and 1992, 154 lesbian mothers volunteered for the study with data collected through interviews and questionnaires. Additional data were obtained from offspring at ages 10 and 17 years through interviews. questionnaires and Child Behavior Checklists completed by the mother.
Psychiatry
Trial of pramipexole for depression in PD
December 8, 2010A new study reports that the dopamine agonist pramipexole appears to have direct antidepressant effects in Parkinson’s disease patients with comorbid depression (Bxarone et al. Lancet Neurol 2010; 9: 573-580).
St. John’s wort: expectations influence response
October 6, 2010Report from the 163rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans LA, May 22-26, 2010 – Almost a decade ago, a large double-blind multicentre trial reported that the efficacy of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) extract and an active comparator (sertraline 50-100 mg/day) was not significantly different from placebo in the treatment of major depression (Hypericum Depression Trial Study Group. JAMA 2002; 287: 1807-1814; free full text athttp://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/287/14/1807). A full response occurred in 23.9% of patients in the St. John’s wort group, 24.8% in the sertraline group, and 31.9% in the placebo group.
Bipolar risk factors in depressed patients
October 6, 2010Report from the 163rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans LA, May 22-26, 2010 -A large study of patients with major depressive episode (n=5635) has identified key risk factors for bipolar disorder (Bowden et al. APA 2010, abstract NR4-14).
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: new diagnostic criteria proposed
September 29, 2010Report from the 163rd annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans LA, May 22-26, 2010 – Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is currently defined as severe muscle rigidity and elevated temperature associated with the use of neuroleptic medication, and includes >2 of the following features: diaphoresis, dysphagia, tremor, incontinence, changes in level of consciousness ranging from confusion to coma, mutism, tachycardia, elevated/labile blood pressure, leucocytosis and laboratory evidence of muscle injury (APA. DSM-IV TR, Washington DC, 2000).