Psychiatry - News & Articles

Risk factors for postpartum depression

As published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, risk factors for postpartum depression among abused women included age 15-19 (aOR=2.29) and > 35 years of age (aOR=2.33). In non-abused women, risk factors for postpartum depression include unemployment (aOR=1.41), foreign birth (aOR=2.04), and low income (aOR=1.68). Postpartum depression was also associated with women abused prior to pregnancy (aOR=3.28), abuse beginning postpartum (aOR=4.76), and abuse resuming postpartum (aOR=3.81).

A link between cardiovascular fitness and depression

As published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, low cardiovascular fitness at 18 years of age (n = 1,117,292; follow-up, 3-40 y) is associated with an increased risk of severe depression (HR = 1.96).

Optimal dose of amisulpride for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia

As published in Clinical Drug Investigation, an initial amisulpride dose of 800 mg (n=38) is more effective that 400 mg with dose titration (n=30) in patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. A greater number of patients in the 800 mg group than the 400 mg with dose titration group had a 30% reduction in the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale after 4 (68.4% vs. 40.0%) and 6 weeks (71.1% vs. 43.3%).