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Biomedical subjects

D L Hanks

Publications and source records attributed to D L Hanks.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Summary of the DSM-IV mood disorders field trial and issue overview.

The DSM-IV Mood Disorders Field Trial addressed several issues concerning the relationship among major depression, dysthymia, recurrent brief depression, minor depression, and depressive personality disorder. The Mood Disorders Field Trial is a naturalistic, multisite study that investigated the diagnostic criteria for dysthymia, the reliability and validity of longitudinal course modifiers, the nosology of minor and recurrent brief depression, and the relationship between depressive personality disorder and dysthymia. Research on the nosology of chronic depressive disorders will, it is hoped, contribute to a better understanding of pathophysiology, etiology, and treatment. This article presents findings from the Field Trial as well as brief reviews of the other nine articles in this issue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Anxiety symptom relief in depression treatment outcomes.

Depressive and anxiety disorders have a high lifetime prevalence--8% and 15%, respectively. Unipolar depression has a 5% lifetime prevalence, whereas the prevalence rate for all depressive disorders is between 6% to 8% at a minimum. Each disorder has also been found to have a high rate of chronicity and recurrence. It has become increasingly apparent over the past decade that within episodes of depression, anxiety symptoms often exist. Whether this phenomenon indicates two separate but comorbid illnesses or that the presence of anxiety symptoms is part of the course of depression is of particular significance for diagnosis and treatment. The author focuses on the issues of differential diagnosis, including physical and emotional manifestations of the illness. The consequences of comorbid anxiety and depression can be serious, ranging from social and physical disability to suicidal ideation and behavior. Anxiety has been found to be a predictor of suicide in depressed patients, and since anxiety symptoms respond to intervention, they can also serve as an indication of type of treatment. Antidepressants should be used in treating anxiety or panic symptoms when depression is also present. In studies comparing benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of concurrent anxiety and depression, all have some measure of success depending on the degree of depression and the type of anxiety disorder. SSRIs may have the least amount of side effects, but more long-term studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1994

The natural history and heterogeneity of depressive disorders: implications for rational antidepressant therapy.

Depression is a chronic, recurrent illness that affects approximately 8% of the U.S. population. There are several types of depressive disorders including major depression, unipolar depression, bipolar depression, double depression, and dysthymia. For those afflicted, each type of depressive disorder can cause a loss of productivity, job status, and income and can result in poor health and suicide. Depression also has a high rate of comorbidity with other disorders, especially anxiety disorders and alcoholism; yet, depression is still undertreated and underrecognized by most physicians. This is particularly unfortunate because there are many antidepressant medications currently available that are effective in treating this insidious illness. To continue to combat this dangerous illness, more clinical trials are needed to help us maximize the benefits and minimize the risks associated with current antidepressant medications.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1993

Course and outcome in panic disorder.

1. Panic disorder (PD) is an illness that can be acute or chronic and is often complicated by depression, phobias and obsessions. This illness affects at least 10% of the population. 2. Panic disorder has been recognized as a psychopathologic condition for at least 100 years. Over the last several decades, health professionals have changed their view of PD, and in 1987 the DSM-III included PD as a distinctive syndrome. 3. Several studies have shown PD to be a chronic illness with only little to no improvement in 36-40% of the subjects after 1 to 20 years of treatment. Studies also suggest that duration of illness affects the degree of impairment: subjects who had PD for more than 6 months showed more impairment that subjects who had PD for less than 6 months. 4. Several studies show that 50-75% of patients with PD have had at least one episode of major depression. Findings also indicate that subjects with both PD and secondary depression are a more severely ill group. 5. The HARP study is an ongoing 12-site naturalistic, longitudinal examination of patients with current or past PD. One of the major goals of this study is to describe the patterns of the clinical course of PD related disorders. 6. Clinical experience indicates that an estimated 40% of PD patients may need treatment for one year and between 20-40% will require continued maintenance treatment. Long-term treatment may include behavioral therapy and/or medication. 7. Anxiety disorders are common and familial and are consistently higher among women. Panic Disorder is a chronic condition frequently complicated by Axis I and II disorders. Continued long-term maintenance studies of medications and psychotherapy for anxiety disorders is critical in the treatment of this chronic illness.

Anxiety↗