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Telephone-based intervention: results from the Strongest Families program

February 22, 2012

The Strongest Families (formerly Family Help) program was developed to provide mental health services to families who have difficulties accessing health care in Canada. The program is run by two research groups headed by Dr. Patrick McGrath at Dalhousie University, Halifax, and Dr. Charles Cunningham at McMaster University, Hamilton.

The intervention consists of educational materials (manuals, videotapes, audiotapes) and telephone consultations (http://crfh.ca/index.php/research-programs/current-research/sfo/).

Dopamine agonists in PD: need to explain risks of problem gambling

February 8, 2012

An estimated 6-8% of PD patients treated with a dopamine agonist develop problem gambling, according to a new review of the literature (Djamshidian et al. Mov Disord 2011; 26: 1976-1984). Patients and their families need to be informed of the risks and to report any behavioural changes during treatment.

Vitamin B in MCI: VITACOG results

February 8, 2012

A number of prospective studies have suggested that elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy), and low folate and vitamin B12 levels are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (Clarke et al. Arch Neurol 1998; 55: 1449-1455). In the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, elevated tHcy in midlife was associated with a hazard ratio of 2.1 for developing AD and 2.4 for AD with no cerebrovascular disease (Zylberstein et al. Neurobiol Aging 2011; 32: 380-386). B vitamins (folate, B6, B12) are cofactors or substrates for enzymes in homocysteine metabolism.

Expert recommendations for determining tHcy levels and assessing risk of cognitive impairment were published in 2004 (Refsum et al. Clin Chem 2004; 50: 3-32; free full text at www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/50/1/3).

Psychoactive medications effective in TSC

February 8, 2012

A majority of patients with psychiatric comorbidities secondary to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) respond to psychoactive medications, according to a single-centre analysis of clinical records (Chung et al. Ann Clin Psychiatry 2011; 23: 263-269).

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