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- Weight Gain From Antipsychotics Traced to Appetite-Regulating Enzyme, Receptor
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February 28, 2007
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Science Update
A likely mechanism by which antipsychotic medications trigger weight gain — with its attendant risks of heart disease, diabetes and treatment non-adherence — has been unraveled in mice by NIMH-funded scientists.
- Older Medication May Be More Cost-Effective for Some Patients with Schizophrenia
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December 1, 2006
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Press Release
A new study analyzing the economic implications of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) concludes that the older (first generation) antipsychotic medication perphenazine was less expensive and no less effective than the newer (second generation) medications used in the trial during initial treatment, suggesting that older antipsychotics still have a role in treating schizophrenia.
- New NIMH Research Strives to Understand How Antidepressants May Be Associated with Suicidal Thoughts and Actions
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November 13, 2006
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Science Update
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects that will shed light on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal thoughts and actions.
- Mouse Model May Reveal Anxiety Gene, Marker for Antidepressant Failure
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November 9, 2006
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Science Update
Studies of a new mouse model suggest that a specific gene variation plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders and in resistance to common medications for anxiety and depression.
- U.S. Youth Suicide Rates Lower in Counties with High SSRI Use
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November 8, 2006
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Science Update
For children ages five to 14, suicide rates from 1996 to 1998 were lower in areas of the country with higher rates of antidepressant prescriptions, according to an NIMH-funded study published in the November 2006 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
- Odds of Beating Depression Diminish as Additional Treatment Strategies are Needed
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November 1, 2006
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Science Update
An overall assessment of the nation's largest real-world study of treatment-resistant depression suggests that a patient with persistent depression can get well after trying several treatment strategies, but his or her odds of beating the depression diminish as additional treatment strategies are needed.
- Preschoolers with ADHD Improve with Low Doses of Medication
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October 16, 2006
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Press Release
The first long-term, large-scale study designed to determine the safety and effectiveness of treating preschoolers who have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate (Ritalin) has found that overall, low doses of this medication are effective and safe.
- Antipsychotic Medications Used to Treat Alzheimer’s Patients Found Lacking
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October 11, 2006
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Press Release
Commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications used to treat Alzheimer’s patients with delusions, aggression, hallucinations, and other similar symptoms can benefit some patients, but they appear to be no more effective than a placebo when adverse side effects are considered, according to the first phase of a large-scale clinical trial funded by NIMH.
- NIMH Researchers Discover Medication’s Antidepressant Potential
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October 2, 2006
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Science Update
A commonly used sedative and motion-sickness treatment shows promise as a fast-acting antidepressant, according to a study conducted by researchers at NIMH.
- New Schizophrenia Trial: Does Method of Administering Medication Make a Difference?
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September 5, 2006
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Science Update
A new clinical trial is testing whether an injection of a long-lasting antipsychotic medication every two weeks results in better adherence to treatment and better outcomes among people with schizophrenia than do oral medications taken daily.
