Review
Psychiatry
Steven L. Dubovsky, Dori Marshall
Summary: Benzodiazepines and medications acting on benzodiazepine receptors have been proven to be effective treatments for various anxiety disorders, insomnia, and withdrawal syndromes. They can also be used as adjuncts in the treatment of depression and mania, as well as for medically ill patients. While sedation and cognitive impairment may occur, recent data does not support claims that benzodiazepines increase the risk of dementia. Furthermore, benzodiazepines are not frequently misused and are not lethal in overdose on their own.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Katrin Hulme, Joanna L. Hudson, Federica Picariello, Natasha Seaton, Sam Norton, Abigail Wroe, Rona Moss-Morris
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a newly developed digital cognitive-behavioral treatment for reducing LTC-related psychological distress, compared with standard charity support.
Article
Oncology
Claire C. Villette, David Orrell, Jim Millen, Christophe Chassagnole
Summary: Most pharmaceutical products are approved based on their effect in patients who represent the average population in registrational trials, with limited room for dose reduction in case of toxicity. This article explores the evidence supporting personalized dosing in cancer treatment and demonstrates how optimizing the dose, including increasing it, can significantly improve efficacy outcomes. It also discusses the obstacles in implementing personalized dosing in real-world settings, using a personalized dosing platform for docetaxel treatment in prostate cancer as an example.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Steffen T. Simon, Masanori Mori, Magnus Ekstrom, Anne Pralong, Takashi Yamaguchi, David Hui
Summary: In summary, dyspnea is a common and distressing symptom in patients with advanced illnesses. Despite optimal management and non-pharmacologic interventions, many patients still experience chronic dyspnea, leading to the consideration of pharmacologic therapies. However, existing data suggests that benzodiazepines alone do not provide benefits for dyspnea in advanced illnesses. Concerns about potential adverse effects and recommendations against first-line use are also expressed. Selective use in patients with severe anxiety and adjunctive use in patients with severe dyspnea despite opioids may be considered. Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of benzodiazepines in these populations.
JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Julia Boberg, Viktor Kaldo, David Mataix-Cols, James J. Crowley, Bjorn Roelstraete, Matthew Halvorsen, Erik Forsell, Nils H. Isacsson, Patrick F. Sullivan, Cecilia Svanborg, Evelyn H. Andersson, Nils Lindefors, Olly Kravchenko, Manuel Mattheisen, Hilda B. Danielsdottir, Ekaterina Ivanova, Magnus Boman, Lorena Fernandez de la Cruz, John Wallert, Christian Ruck
Summary: MULTI-PSYCH is a research project aimed at improving risk stratification, outcome prediction, and secondary preventive interventions for depression and anxiety disorders through highly structured internet-based cognitive-behaviour therapy (ICBT). The project combines clinical, genetic, and nationwide register data, and includes 2668 patients with depression and anxiety who underwent 12 weeks of ICBT at an internet psychiatry clinic in Stockholm, Sweden.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Steven A. Narod
Summary: The paradigm of precision medicine suggests that breast cancer treatment should be customized based on the individual's inherent risk of recurrence and sensitivity to different chemotherapies. A recent trial of olaparib in women with BRCA1/2 mutation provides evidence for this approach, indicating that identifying genetic variants at diagnosis could benefit a growing number of patients.
NATURE REVIEWS CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Nour Waleed Alhussaini, Muhammad Riaz
Summary: This review aims to synthesize evidence of the effectiveness of different interventions for treating PTSD following childhood abuse. Bayesian network meta-analysis will be used to combine effect-size estimates, and meta-regression and subgroup analyses will be performed to explore possible sources of heterogeneity.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Atefeh Hekmati, Nazanin Mortazavi, Rahman Berdi Ozouni-Davaji, Mohammadali Vakili
Summary: Recent studies suggest that temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may be a chronic psychosomatic illness rather than solely psychological in nature. This study found that TMD patients showed higher scores in personality characteristics and anxiety levels, with the most common anxiety levels being mild state and trait anxiety. TMD cases detected by the Helkimo index demonstrate both trait and state anxiety as common findings.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Chenbing Sun, Shuliu Sang, Yunzhe Tang, Xiaodie Niu, Hwa-Seung Yoo, Ping Zhou, Hao Liu, Yabin Gong, Ling Xu
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effects of music therapy on anxiety and cytokine levels in cancer patients. A total of 60 patients with malignant tumors will be randomly assigned to either a music therapy group or a non-music therapy group. The primary outcomes include anxiety scores and cytokine levels. The findings of this study will be published and presented at conferences.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Na Wu, Xiangmei Kong, Xinghuai Sun
Summary: Anxiety and depression are common in Chinese patients with glaucoma. The self-reported VR-QoL is beneficial in assessing the psychological status of patients, while objective visual function indices provide little indication of it.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mafalda Simoes Cunha, Rita Amaral, Ana Margarida Pereira, Rute Almeida, Magna Alves-Correia, Claudia Chaves Loureiro, Cristina Lopes, Joana Carvalho, Carmelita Ribeiro, Carmen Vidal, Dario Antolin-Amerigo, Diana Pinto, Manuel Ferreira-Magalhaes, Maria Joao Vasconcelos, Carlos Lozoya, Natacha Santos, Francisca Cardia, Luis Taborda-Barata, Rosario Ferreira, Pedro Morais Silva, Tania Monteiro Ferreira, Raquel Camara, Eurico Silva, Diana Bordalo, Cristina Guimaraes, Maria Jose Calix, Sofia da Silva, Maria Luis Marques, Ana Morete, Carlos Nunes, Claudia Vieira, Rosalia Pascoa, Adelaide Alves, Jose Varanda Marques, Bruno Reis, Luis Monteiro, Rosario Monteiro, Margarida Cepa, Bruno Valentim, Daniela Sousa Coelho, Sara Fernandes, Patricia Meireles, Margarida Abreu Aguiar, Ana Rita Mourao, Joao A. Fonseca, Cristina Jacome
Summary: This study investigated the frequency of anxiety and depression in patients with persistent asthma and found that at least 1/3 of the patients experience symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of screening for these disorders in asthma patients. The HADS and EQ-5D questionnaires showed moderate agreement in identifying anxiety and depression symptoms.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Kate Wolitzky-Taylor, Larissa J. Mooney, Michael W. Otto, Allison Metts, E. Marie Parsons, Maria Hanano, Reuben Ram
Summary: The study evaluates the efficacy of combining cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a gradual reduction of benzodiazepine (BZ) use for patients concurrently using BZ and opioids. The research aims to address the high-risk population and explore the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the proposed interventions.
CONTEMPORARY CLINICAL TRIALS
(2023)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Harrison Mooers, Sonali Srivastava, Emma Garacci, Thangam Venkatesan
Summary: A retrospective study was conducted on adults with CVS to characterize their response to topiramate as prophylactic therapy. Results showed that 65% of patients responded to topiramate, with significant reductions in the number of CVS episodes, ED visits, and hospitalizations. However, 55% of patients experienced side effects, leading to medication discontinuation in 32% of cases.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Alna Carolina Mendes Paranhos, Apio Ricardo Nazareth Dias, Thalita da Rocha Bastos, Arthur Nascimento Rodrigues, Karem Harumy Yamamoto Santana, Lorena Henriete Araujo Dias, Lidiane Palheta Miranda dos Santos, Antonio Jose Cerasi, Michely Caroline Nascimento Mendes, Cleiziane Lima de Oliveira, Mariangela Moreno Domingues, Gisele Vieira Hennemann Koury, Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos, Givago Silva Souza, Juarez Antonio Simoes Quaresma, Luiz Fabio Magno Falcao
Summary: Poor sleep quality is commonly reported in patients with long COVID. Understanding the characteristics, severity, and relationship of long COVID with other neurological symptoms is crucial for prognosis and management of sleep quality.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Debra K. Katzman, Tim Guimond, Wendy Spettigue, Holly Agostino, Jennifer Couturier, Mark L. Norris
Summary: Evidence suggests that children and adolescents with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) have heterogeneous clinical presentations. This study used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify three distinct classes in pediatric patients with ARFID: Acute Medical (AM), Lack of Appetite (LOA), and Sensory (S). The findings highlight the importance of recognizing these different presentations as clinical and treatment needs vary.