Latest News

Internet-based CBT an option for social anxiety disorder

June 6, 2012

A Swedish study recently reported that cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) administered via the Internet was as effective as conventional cognitive-behavioural group therapy (CBGT) in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (Hedman et al. PLoS One 2011;6:e18001; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070741/pdf/pone.0018001.pdf).

In that study, 126 subjects with social anxiety disorder received either iCBT or CBGT for 15 weeks, then assessed with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. A total of 64% of subjects in the iCBT group and 45% in the CBGT group were classified as responders (non-inferior).

Tai chi improves balance impairments in PD

June 6, 2012

A randomized, controlled trial reports that Tai chi appears to be better than stretching exercises or resistance training in patients with Parkinson’s disease for improving balance and reducing the risk of falls (Li et al. N Engl J Med 2012;366:511-519).

Quetiapine or lithium effective for maintenance in bipolar I disorder

May 16, 2012

Patients with bipolar I disorder stabilized on quetiapine can be maintained on the drug as monotherapy or switched to lithium during the maintenance phase, according to the results of a two-year double-blind trial (Weisler et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72:1452-1464).

High cost of MS in Canada

May 16, 2012

The Treatment Experience, Burden, and Unmet Needs (TRIBUNE) study is a cross-sectional observational study of the cost of MS in Canada and five European countries. According to the Canadian estimate, the mean annual cost was $30,836 per MS patient with mild disability (EDSS < 3), $46,622 per patient with moderate disability (EDSS 4-6.5), and $77,981 per patient with severe disability (EDSS score 7-9) (Karampampa et al. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol 2012;19:e11-25; free full text at www.jptcp.com/jptcp11072e11_e25_karampampa-pdf-r180364). The estimated cost per relapse for an RRMS patient (EDSS < 5) was $10,512.

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