New Antidepressant Guidelines: All Work the Same, But Some Pricier Tha

news.health.com — (Health.com) — If you are feeling depressed and your physician says she knows just the medication to help you, don’t take her word for it. There is no evidence to suggest that one antidepressant is more effective than another at making you feel better, according to new guidelines released Monday by the American College of Physicians (ACP). Cost and side effects do vary, however, and should play a role when choosing a medication. The guidelines were based on an analysis—the largest of its kind to date—of more than 200 clinical trials of antidepressants that have flooded the market since the release of fluoxetine (Prozac) more than 20 years ago. read more...

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St. John's Wort effective for depression: study

news.yahoo.com — The herbal remedy St. John's Wort effectively treats symptoms of major depression, an analysis of previous studies found on Wednesday. St. John's Wort extracts tested in the different trials were better than placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants with fewer side effects, the researchers reported in the Cochrane review, a journal that analyses medical and scientific studies. "The studies came from a variety of countries, tested several different St. John's Wort extracts, and mostly included patients suffering from mild to moderately severe symptoms," Klaus Linde of the Center for Complementary Medicine in Munich, Germany wrote. read more...

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Taking Depression to Heart (HealthDay)

us.rd.yahoo.com — HealthDay - FRIDAY, Aug. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have long observed a link between depression and heart disease. Now there's research to help pinpoint the symptoms of depression that may signal cardiovascular trouble. read more...

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Acne drug linked to depression

nlm.nih.gov — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Use of isotretinoin, the active ingredient in the acne drug Accutane, apparently more than doubles the risk of depression, according to results of a study. Still, the absolute risk is probably very small, the researchers emphasize. The study is the first controlled investigation to find a statistically significant link between isotretinoin and depression, Dr. Anick Berard, from CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre in Montreal, and colleagues point out in a report in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. "Depression is likely to be a rare side effect of isotretinoin therapy," they wrote. Nonetheless, "current guidelines should possibly be modified to include psychiatric assessments of patients prior to and during isotretinoin therapy." Berard's team studied 30,496 people from Quebec, Canada, who received at least one isotretinoin prescription from 1984 through 2003. During the study period, 126 of these individuals had a depression-related diagnosis, hospitalization, or treatment. Based on previous research, the researchers focused on isotretinoin use in the 5 months prior to depression diagnosis (risk period) compared with a 5-month period a year before the diagnosis (control period). After accounting for potential factors that might influence the results, exposure to isotretinoin was associated with a greater than 2.6-fold relative risk of depression, the team found. "Because depression could have serious consequences, close monitoring of isotretinoin users is indicated," Berard and colleagues conclude. read more...

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Overtime Work Tied to Anxiety, Depression

news.yahoo.com — THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- Working overtime puts you at a higher risk for developing anxiety and depression, a new study suggests. Men who worked 40 hours a week or less had a 9 percent "possible" depression score on standard screening questionnaires, while 12.5 percent of their counterparts who worked overtime showed signs of depression and anxiety. For women, the possible depression rate increased from 7 percent to 11 percent. The results, published in the June issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, also show anxiety and depression rates were higher among less-skilled workers and those with lower incomes. The study looked at 1,350 overtime workers and 9,000 with normal work hours in Norway. Men who worked the most overtime -- nine to 60 hours a week -- showed the greatest link to anxiety and depression. These men tended to have lower work skills and education levels than others and have jobs involving heavy manual labor and shift work. While these men were at highest risk, even moderate overtime work appeared to bump up the risk of "mental distress," the authors noted. What causes working long hours to increase anxiety and depression was not explored in the study. read more...

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