Biomedical subjects

Paul E Holtzheimer

Publications and source records attributed to Paul E Holtzheimer.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Validity of the 30-item geriatric depression scale in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Depression in Parkinson's disease (dPD) is difficult to diagnose because depressive symptoms can overlap with symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Subject-rated scales such as the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) may be useful in screening for dPD. There were 57 patients (33 men, 24 women; mean age, 58.6 years [SD +/- 8.4]) enrolled in a study of pallidotomy for intractable PD who were evaluated for depression before and after surgery. Subjects were evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III (SCID), and the GDS. SCID was used to diagnose major depression with confirmation by an expert geropsychiatrist. Receiver-operating curves (ROC) were used to identify cutoff points with maximal discriminant validity for diagnosing dPD. A total of 213 evaluation time points were included for the 52 patients with time points that included a valid SCID diagnosis, GDS, and HDRS. A ROC established points of maximum specificity/sensitivity for the GDS at a cutoff of 9/10 (sensitivity = 0.809, specificity = 0.837, positive predictive value [PPV] = 0.584, negative predictive value [NPV] = 0.939) and for the HDRS at a cutoff of 12/13 (sensitivity = 0.810, specificity = 0.821, PPV = 0.580, NPV = 0.934). The GDS was moderately correlated with the HDRS (Pearson's r = 0.54; P < 0.001). The GDS is useful in screening for dPD. A cutoff score of 9/10 has acceptable discriminant validity for dPD, and the GDS has a moderate correlation with the HDRS in PD patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

The diagnosis and treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease.

Depression is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and associated with considerable morbidity, including a worsening of motor symptoms and measures of quality of life. Therefore, patients with PD should be routinely screened for depressive symptoms with rating scales such as the Geriatric Depression Scale. Patients meeting criteria should be treated using established algorithms for the management of depression and associated symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety, psychosis, and mania. The algorithm outlined in this paper describes the importance of maintaining an adequate dose of medication over a medication trial that can last up to 12 weeks. To optimally monitor patients' progress, clinicians should also consider using rating scales that measure depression severity, such as the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Advances in the treatment of depression.

SUMMARY: Depression is a highly prevalent and disabling condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Currently available treatments for depression include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, various atypical antidepressants, and electroconvulsive therapy. Although these treatments are effective, a significant number of patients do not respond or achieve sustained remission despite aggressive management. Advances in the neurobiology of depression have suggested a number of novel targets for antidepressant treatment. Based on an improved understanding of the neurobiology of depression, several novel pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions are being developed. Pharmacologic developments include CRF antagonists, glucocorticoid receptor antagonists, substance P receptor antagonists, NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists, transdermal selegiline, so-called "triple" reuptake inhibitors, and augmentation of typical antidepressant medications with atypical antipsychotics. Nonpharmacologic advances have largely involved focal brain stimulation techniques including vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, and deep brain stimulation. For the most part, the data on these treatments are preliminary, and more study is needed to clarify their potential clinical benefit. However, it is clear that further study of the neurobiology of depression will continue to provide a rationale for developing innovative targets for antidepressant therapies.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed2006

Emerging treatments for depression.

Established treatments for depression are often effective. However, a significant number of patients show limited or no response. With advancements in the explanation of the underlying neurobiology of depression, several novel therapeutic approaches have been developed. Emerging drug targets include novel monoamine oxidase inhibitors, triple monoamine re-uptake inhibitors, omega-3 fatty acids, melatoninergic agonists and receptor antagonists for corticotropin-releasing factor(1), glucocorticoid, substance-P and NMDA. Developments in therapeutic focal brain stimulation include vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy and deep brain stimulation. The role of psychotherapy, both as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy, is an active avenue of investigation. Although data on these treatments are limited, preliminary results are encouraging. A major goal that remains to be achieved is the identification of predictors of response to the various antidepressant treatments that have diverse mechanisms of action.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed2006

Future prospects in depression research.

Major depression is a common, disabling, and often difficult-to-treat illness. Decades of research into the neurobiology and treatment of depression have greatly advanced our ability to manage this disorder. However, a number of challenges remain. A substantial number of depressed patients do not achieve full remission despite optimized treatment. For patients who do achieve resolution of symptoms, depression remains a highly recurrent illness, and repeated episodes are common. Finally, little is known about how depression might be prevented, especially in individuals at increased risk. In the face of these challenges, a number of exciting research efforts are currently under way and promise to greatly expand our knowledge of the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of depression. This review highlights these future prospects for depression research with a specific focus on lines of investigation likely to generate novel, more effective treatment options.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A controlled study of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in medication-resistant major depression.

BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for depression has shown statistically significant effects, but the clinical significance of these effects has been questioned. METHODS: Patients with medication-resistant depression were randomized to receive 15 sessions of active or sham repetitive TMS delivered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 110% the estimated prefrontal cortex threshold. Each session consisted of 32 trains of 10 Hz repetitive TMS delivered in 5-second trains. The primary end point was treatment response defined as a >or=50% decrease in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score at both 1 and 2 weeks following the final repetitive TMS treatment. Remission was defined as a HDRS score < 8. RESULTS: The response rate for the TMS group was 30.6% (11/35), significantly (p = .008) greater than the 6.1% (2/33) rate in the sham group. The remission rate for the TMS group was 20% (7/35), significantly (p = .033) greater than the 3% (1/33) rate in the sham group. The HDRS scores showed a significantly (p < .002) greater decrease over time in the TMS group compared with the sham group. CONCLUSIONS: Transcranial magnetic stimulation can produce statistically and clinically significant antidepressant effects in patients with medication-resistant major depression.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on short-term clinical outcome in hospitalized patients with depression.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders but often goes unrecognized. The effects of PTSD comorbidity are unclear, especially in patients with severe mental illness. The authors assessed short-term clinical outcome in severely depressed psychiatric inpatients with and without comorbid PTSD. METHOD: From patients hospitalized between 1995 and 2000, all patients with depression and comorbid PTSD (N=587) were selected and matched with depressed patients without PTSD (N=587). Clinical outcome was assessed with a semistructured, physician-administered battery. Differences between the two groups were examined, with overall burden of psychiatric illness entered as a covariate in the analyses. RESULTS: Relative to depressed patients without PTSD, depressed patients with PTSD had, at discharge, greater psychiatric symptom severity and higher levels of depression and hostility. Depressed patients with comorbid PTSD also had a significantly higher rate of being discharged against medical advice (odds ratio=6.10, 95% CI 2.96-12.57). CONCLUSIONS: PTSD comorbidity correlates with poorer short-term clinical outcome and greater likelihood of discharge against medical advice in severely depressed psychiatric inpatients. Better recognition of PTSD comorbidity may improve overall care of these patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Shorter duration of depressive episode may predict response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

We investigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for major depression. The experimental design comprised 15 medication-free subjects with major depressive disorder who were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of active or sham 10-Hz rTMS to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 110% motor threshold. Depression severity was measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Nonresponders to sham were allowed to receive active rTMS with the same parameters. Response to treatment was analyzed using a random regression model including episode duration and number of prior antidepressant treatments as covariates. Treatment (rTMS vs. sham) did not significantly predict changes in depression severity. Shorter duration of episode and more lifetime treatment trials significantly predicted improvements in BDI but not HDRS scores. Data from all subjects who received active rTMS (n = 14) showed that those with a depressive episode duration of shorter than 4 years had a mean HDRS decrease of 52% compared to 6% in those with an episode duration longer than 10 years. Active rTMS was well tolerated and was not associated with neuropsychological decrements when compared to sham. No significant antidepressant effects were found for 2 weeks of rTMS compared to sham. Among all subjects receiving rTMS those with a shorter duration of the current episode showed a greater response. Patients may need more than 10 treatments to obtain full benefit from rTMS. The design of future rTMS studies should consider these issues.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Treatment of acute mania.

Mood stabilizers have evolved considerably over the past decade. Lithium, divalproex, and olanzapine are currently Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of acute mania. A number of new and traditional medications have also been tested and are commonly used in clinical practice. Several strategies for managing treatment-resistant mania have been suggested, but few have been rigorously tested. Emphases on rapid stabilization and fewer side effects have raised the bar for what is expected from mood stabilizers and the successful treatment of mania involves a delicate balance between swiftness, short-term tolerability, and long-term safety.

Acute Disease↗