Articles related to MENTAL HEALTH

Anxiety disorders are among the most common of psychiatric disorders, with estimates suggesting a lifetime prevalence in the US of approximately 32%. But development of new and effective treatments for anxiety disorders has lagged behind new treatments for other conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. This article reviews current treatment and their effectiveness, and highlights the emerging new hopefuls.

The idea that depression is brought on by decreased serotonin activity or concentrations is unsupported, according to the authors of a systematic umbrella review, who also challenge the rationale behind the high rates of antidepressant prescription. They claim that certain medical professionals continue to promote the incorrect chemical imbalance explanation of depression, and the public as a whole still accepts it. However, other medical professionals argue that antidepressants continue to be a helpful treatment option for patients in addition to other methods like talking therapy and that the idea that depression is caused by a straightforward chemical imbalance is outdated in any case.

With regard to his panel, “DSM-5 Text Revision (DSM-5-TR): What’s New and What’s Different,” which was presented at Psych Congress Elevate 2022, Michael B. First, MD, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City, and editor and co-chair of the DSM-5-TR, responds to questions in this Q&A. The updated text’s main revisions to the “Introduction” and “Use” sections are discussed by Dr. First, who also explains the new diagnoses it now includes and provides his thoughts on how the enhanced text will help psychiatrists in their daily work.

Selecting effective antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder is an imprecise practice. With remission rates of about 30% after the initial therapy selection, there is a need to uncover biomarkers able to predict treatment response. This study looked at pharmacogenomic testing for drug-gene interactions to guide treatment selection. Unfortunately, they did not find significantly improved outcomes.

Some countries have adopted the DSM-5 classification for PTSD, which currently doesn’t list a diagnosis for complex PTSD. The WHO is hoping to change that, as the group recently listed a sibling diagnosis for PTSD, the complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), which occurs after prolonged or repetitive exposure to traumatic events.

With treatment penetration rates less than 20% for those with serious addictions, this viewpoint offers up a strategic clinical approach that mimics the diabetes field, using the term preaddiction, a commonly understood, motivating term (such as prediabetes) that could engender broader clinical efforts to effect the planned strategy.