Article
Cell Biology
Peter Nagele, Ben J. Palanca, Britt Gott, Frank Brown, Linda Barnes, Thomas Nguyen, Willa Xiong, Naji C. Salloum, Gemma D. Espejo, Christina N. Lessov-Schlaggar, Nisha Jain, Wayland W. L. Cheng, Helga Komen, Branden Yee, Jacob D. Bolzenius, Alvin Janski, Robert Gibbons, Charles F. Zorumski, Charles R. Conway
Summary: The study found that 25% nitrous oxide is comparable to 50% nitrous oxide in improving TRMD, but with fewer adverse effects.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Noortje P. Janssen, Peter Lucassen, Marcus J. H. Huibers, David Ekers, Theo Broekman, Judith E. Bosmans, Harm Van Marwijk, Jan Spijker, Richard Oude Voshaar, Gert-Jan Hendriks
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of behavioural activation (BA) by mental health nurses (MHNs) for depressed older adults in primary care. The results showed that BA was more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing depressive symptoms at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up, but not at 6- to 12-month follow-up.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alice Caldiroli, Enrico Capuzzi, Ilaria Tagliabue, Martina Capellazzi, Matteo Marcatili, Francesco Mucci, Fabrizia Colmegna, Massimo Clerici, Massimiliano Buoli, Antonios Dakanalis
Summary: Aripiprazole and lithium may be potential effective augmentative strategies in TRD, while further research is needed to draw reliable conclusions about the efficacy of other molecules.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Pasi Lampela, Antti Tanskanen, Markku Lahteenvuo, Jari Tiihonen, Heidi Taipale
Summary: The use of antipsychotics (AP) as augmentation therapy for antidepressants (AD) is common in severe depression. Factors such as the severity of depression and the initial AD medication are associated with AP augmentation. Male sex, comorbid anxiety and personality disorders, substance abuse, and self-harm/suicide attempt increase the risk of augmentation. Tricyclic antidepressants, paroxetine, and venlafaxine are associated with an increased risk, while bupropion is associated with a decreased risk of augmentation. Quetiapine and risperidone are the most commonly used APs for augmentation. In severe depression with psychotic features, sertraline is associated with AP augmentation, while fluoxetine decreases the risk.
ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Courtney M. Vecera, Alan C. Courtes, Gregory Jones, Jair C. Soares, Rodrigo Machado-Vieira
Summary: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a specific type of major depressive disorder (MDD) characterized by failures of antidepressant therapies. Imbalance between L-glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters in the central nervous system has been found to play a key role in TRD. This review evaluates investigational antidepressants targeting these systems, assessing their evidence, mechanisms, and safety profiles. Some of these drugs have obtained FDA approval, but concerns exist for certain drugs.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Sumika M. Lin, Marcus K. Borges, Alaise S. S. de Siqueira, Marina M. Biella, Wilson Jacob-Filho, Matteo Cesari, Richard C. Oude Voshaar, Ivan Aprahamian
Summary: The study found that the use of SSRI, depression, or frailty among older adults is associated with an increased risk of falls. SSRI usage is independently linked to falls, particularly in frail-depressed patients, alternative depression treatment strategies other than SSRIs should be considered.
AGING & MENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Brett D. M. Jones, Lais B. Razza, Cory R. Weissman, Jewel Karbi, Tya Vine, Louise S. Mulsant, Andre R. Brunoni, M. Ishrat Husain, Benoit H. Mulsant, Daniel M. Blumberger, Zafiris J. Daskalakis
Summary: The placebo effect in depression clinical trials plays a significant role in the efficacy of novel treatments for patients with treatment-resistant depression. This study found that the magnitude of the placebo effect did not significantly differ across different treatment modalities for TRD patients, and response and remission rates associated with placebo were comparable across modalities.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yeates Conwell, Kimberly A. Van Orden, Deborah M. Stone, Wendy LiKamWa McIntosh, Susan Messing, Jody Rowe, Carol Podgorski, Kimberly A. Kaukeinen, Xin Tu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of peer companionship provided by an aging services agency on the mental health of socially-disconnected older patients. The results showed that subjects in the TSC group had greater improvements in depression, while there were no significant differences in suicidal ideation and feelings of belonging.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebecca Strawbridge, Alzbeta Jamieson, John Hodsoll, Ian Nicol Ferrier, Richard Hamish McAllister-Williams, Timothy R. Powell, Allan H. Young, Anthony J. Cleare, Stuart Watson
Summary: This study found that in patients with TRD, three pro-inflammatory proteins (IL-6, TNF alpha, and CRP) were elevated, with high IL-6 levels associated with poorer clinical outcomes. However, there was no moderating effect of IL-6 on treatment response to metyrapone versus placebo. Other inflammatory proteins did not mediate or moderate treatment outcomes.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Adam Wlodarczyk, Alicja Dywel, Wieslaw Jerzy Cubala
Summary: This study investigates the safety of intravenous ketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression and finds a significant association between epilepsy and elevated BPRS scores.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Kathrine Bang Madsen, Oleguer Plana-Ripoll, Katherine L. Musliner, Jean-Christophe Philippe Debost, Liselotte Vogdrup Petersen, Trine Munk-Olsen
Summary: Patients with treatment-resistant depression have higher mortality rates and shorter life expectancy compared to those without treatment-resistant depression. Suicide is the leading cause of premature life years lost among these patients.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marijn Lijffijt, Nicholas Murphy, Sidra Iqbal, Charles E. Green, Tabish Iqbal, Lee C. Chang, Colin N. Haile, Lorna C. Hirsch, Nithya Ramakrishnan, Dylan A. Fall, Alan C. Swann, Rayan K. Al Jurdi, Sanjay J. Mathew
Summary: This study utilized Bayesian adaptive randomization to determine the optimal dose of ketamine for late-life treatment-resistant depression (LL-TRD), revealing that 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine was superior to midazolam in treatment response and durability. The results also demonstrated significant effects on cortical excitation/inhibition ratio, suggesting that 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine is an effective initial dose for LL-TRD.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Manish K. Jha, David J. Williamson, Ghazal Magharehabed, Ibrahim Turkoz, Ella J. Daly, Madhukar H. Trivedi
Summary: This post hoc analysis evaluated the impact of baseline irritability on the clinical outcomes of adults with treatment-resistant depression treated with oral antidepressants and esketamine nasal spray. The results showed that regardless of baseline irritability, the treatment group had better improvement in reducing depression severity and increasing treatment response.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Slawomir Murawiec, Marek Krzystanek
Summary: Despite the limited effectiveness of antidepressants, rational selection based on matching mechanisms of action to symptomatic profiles may improve treatment outcomes for individuals with depression. The effectiveness of drug-targeted symptom cluster-matching treatment (SCMT) was demonstrated in this pilot study, offering a personalized approach to antidepressant selection. Further validation in clinical trials could make SCMT a valuable tool for managing treatment-resistant depression.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Christophe Moderie, Nicolas Nunez, Allan Fielding, Stefano Comai, Gabriella Gobbi
Summary: This study found that women with TRD responded significantly better to augmentation therapy compared to men, especially in terms of symptoms like insomnia and anxiety. This highlights the importance of considering gender differences in treatment strategies for depression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Neda Rashidi-Ranjbar, Tarek K. Rajji, Colin Hawco, Sanjeev Kumar, Nathan Herrmann, Linda Mah, Alastair J. Flint, Corinne E. Fischer, Meryl A. Butters, Bruce G. Pollock, Erin W. Dickie, Christopher R. Bowie, Matan Soffer, Benoit H. Mulsant, Aristotle N. Voineskos
Summary: This study compared resting state functional connectivity in older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and found that the alterations in functional connectivity in certain brain networks were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Osnat C. Melamed, Sumeet Kalia, Rahim Moineddin, Michelle Greiver, Stefan Kloiber, Benoit H. Mulsant, Peter Selby, Braden G. O'Neill
Summary: This study aims to identify demographic, socioeconomic and medical factors associated with the initiation of antidepressant medication in adult patients with diabetes. The study found that younger age, female gender, insulin treatment, and polypharmacy were associated with higher odds of antidepressant initiation. Patients also had increased visits to primary care after antidepressant initiation.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF DIABETES
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Melissa Milanovic, Chelsea Wood-Ross, Meryl A. Butters, Corinne E. Fischer, Alastair J. Flint, Philip Gerretsen, Nathan Herrmann, Krista L. Lanctot, Linda Mah, Benoit H. Mulsant, Bruce G. Pollock, Tarek K. Rajji, Christopher R. Bowie
Summary: This study assessed the concordance between self-report and informant-report of cognitive decline, and compared them with objective cognitive and functional performance. The results showed a poor concordance between self-report and informant-report of cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Underestimators of cognitive decline had lower objective cognitive and functional performance. Cognitive performance significantly predicted functional performance in all groups, and this relationship was influenced by the discrepancy between self-report and informant-report.
Correction
Psychiatry
Tarek K. Rajji, David C. Mamo, Jason Holden, Eric Granholm, Benoit H. Mulsant
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Emma Mastrobattista, Eric J. Lenze, Charles F. Reynolds, Benoit H. Mulsant, Julie Wetherell, Gregory F. Wu, Daniel M. Blumberger, Jordan F. Karp, Meryl A. Butters, Ana Paula Mendes-Silva, Erica L. Vieira, George Tseng, Breno S. Diniz
Summary: This study assessed the levels of GDF-15 in 393 older adults, including 308 with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 85 non-depressed individuals. The results showed that older adults with MDD had significantly higher levels of GDF-15, which were associated with physical comorbidity burden, cognitive decline, and late-onset depression.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Nicholas J. Ainsworth, Hailey Wright, Ksenya Tereshchenko, Daniel M. Blumberger, Alastair J. Flint, Eric J. Lenze, Athina Perivolaris, Benoit H. Mulsant
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of online recruitment for a clinical trial of pharmacotherapy for late-life depression during COVID-19. The study found that provider referrals had a higher yield compared to Facebook self-referrals. Participants who self-referred from Facebook had higher education levels. Future research should assess the cost-effectiveness and potential barriers of online recruitment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Marie Anne Gebara, Adam Ciarleglio, Helen Lavretsky, Patrick J. Brown, Alastair J. Flint, Nuri B. Farber, Jordan F. Karp, Benoit H. Mulsant, Charles F. Reynolds, Steven P. Roose, Lei Yang, Meryl A. Butters, Eric J. Lenze
Summary: This pilot study suggests that repeated IV ketamine infusions are well-tolerated and associated with improvement in depression and executive function in older adults with TRD. These promising findings need to be confirmed and extended in a larger randomized controlled trial.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexandra J. M. Beunders, Federica Klaus, Almar A. L. Kok, Sigfried N. T. M. Schouws, Ralph W. Kupka, Hilary P. Blumberg, Farren Briggs, Lisa T. Eyler, Brent P. Forester, Orestes Forlenza, Ariel Gildengers, Esther Jimenez, Benoit H. Mulsant, Regan E. Patrick, Soham Rej, Martha Sajatovic, Kaylee Sarna, Ashley Sutherland, Joy Yala, Eduard Vieta, Luca M. Villa, Nicole C. M. Korten, Annemieke Dols
Summary: This study compared bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and bipolar II disorder (BD-II) in a large, global sample and found no significant differences between the two in terms of general functioning, cognition, and somatic burden. These findings suggest that the distinction between BD-I and BD-II may not be applicable to geriatric bipolar disorder patients.
Article
Psychiatry
Alastair J. Flint, Kathleen S. Bingham, George S. Alexopoulos, Patricia Marino, Benoit H. Mulsant, Nicholas H. Neufeld, Anthony J. Rothschild, Aristotle N. Voineskos, Ellen M. Whyte, Barnett S. Meyers
Summary: This study aimed to identify a prediction model for the risk of relapse in psychotic depression and examine if predictors moderated the effect of treatment on relapse. The number of depressive episodes, severity of residual depressive symptoms, and psychomotor disturbance predicted the risk of relapse. Multivariable models had an accuracy of 69-70% in predicting relapse. Future research is needed to determine if a combination of clinical and biological variables can improve the accuracy of predicting relapse in psychotic depression.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Brett D. M. Jones, Madeha Umer, Mary E. Kittur, Ofer Finkelstein, Siqi Xue, Mikaela K. Dimick, Abigail Ortiz, Benjamin I. Goldstein, Benoit H. Mulsant, Muhammad I. Husain
Summary: This systematic review examined the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for mood symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), finding that DBT may be effective in improving core symptoms of BD. However, limited sample sizes, heterogeneity, and high risk of bias in the included trials limit the confidence in this conclusion. Larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the effectiveness of DBT in BD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIPOLAR DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lenka Vojtila, Diana Sherifali, Rosa Dragonetti, Iqra Ashfaq, Scott Veldhuizen, Farooq Naeem, Sri Mahavir Agarwal, Osnat C. Melamed, Allison Crawford, Philip Gerretsen, Margaret Hahn, Sean Hill, Sean Kidd, Benoit Mulsant, Eva Serhal, Leah Tackaberry-Giddens, Carly Whitmore, Jennifer Marttila, Frank Tang, Seeta Ramdass, Gloria Lourido, Sanjeev Sockalingam, Peter Selby
Summary: This study aims to test the feasibility of a technology-enabled collaborative care (TECC) model for diabetes management and mental health support among adults with T2D. Thirty adults with T2D in Ontario, Canada will participate in an 8-week web-based health coaching program supported by a digital care team. The study results, expected to be available by the end of 2023, will provide valuable insights for supporting individuals with T2D and mental health challenges.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jianmeng Song, Benoit H. Mulsant, Marcos Sanches, George S. Alexopoulos, Patricia Marino, Barnett S. Meyers, Anthony J. Rothschild, Aristotle N. Voineskos, Ellen M. Whyte, Alastair J. Flint, Philip Gerretsen, STOP-PD I. I. Study Group Behalf STOP PD II Study Grp
Summary: This study examined the relationship between participant characteristics and impaired insight into delusions in remitted psychotic depression, as well as whether impaired insight is associated with risk of relapse during continuation pharmacotherapy. The results showed that the severity of psychosis before treatment initiation was the only participant characteristic associated with the change in insight. Neither change in insight nor insight at the end of stabilization treatment predicted risk of relapse.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Muhammad Ishrat Husain, Nicole Ledwos, Elise Fellows, Jenna Baer, Joshua D. Rosenblat, Daniel M. Blumberger, Benoit H. Mulsant, David J. Castle
Summary: This article reviews the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effect of serotonergic psychedelics, including their serotonin 2A agonist effects, impact on brain derived neurotrophic factor and immunomodulatory responses, and disruption of the default mode network. However, further research is needed to validate these mechanisms and determine which theories are supported by robust evidence.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
M. Ishrat Husain, Imran B. Chaudhry, Ameer B. Khoso, Tayyeba Kiran, Nawaz Khan, Farooq Ahmad, John Hodsoll, M. Omair Husain, Haider A. Naqvi, Asad T. Nizami, Nasim Chaudhry, Hazrat A. Khan, Fareed Minhas, Jeffrey H. Meyer, Moin A. Ansari, Benoit H. Mulsant, Nusrat Husain, Allan H. Young
Summary: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive simvastatin in reducing depressive symptoms in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The results showed no significant differences between the simvastatin group and the placebo group in primary and secondary outcomes, and there were also no significant differences in adverse effects between the two groups. Therefore, simvastatin did not provide additional therapeutic benefit for depressive symptoms in TRD.
Correction
Psychiatry
M. Ishrat Husain, Madeha Umer, Muqaddas Asif, Ameer B. Khoso, Tayyeba Kiran, Moin Ansari, Huma Aslam, Moti Ram Bhatia, Farasat A. Dogar, M. Omair Husain, Hazrat A. Khan, Ali A. Mufti, Benoit H. Mulsant, Farooq Naeem, Haider A. Naqvi, Claire de Oliveira, M. Sajjad Siddiqui, Asad Tamizuddin, Wei Wang, Juveria Zaheer, Nusrat Husain, Nasim Chaudhry, Imran B. Chaudhry