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TrkB Agonist, on Emotional Learning
Despite increasing awareness of the many important roles played by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activation of TrkB, a fuller understanding of this system and the use of potential TrkB-acting therapeutic agents has been limited by the lack of any identified small-molecule TrkB agonists that fully mimic the actions of BDNF at brain TrkB receptors in vivo. A preclinical study combined pharmacological, biochemical, and behavioral approaches examining the role of 7,8-DHF in modulating emotional memory in mice. Results suggest that 7,8-DHF may be an excellent agent for use in understanding the effects of TrkB activation in learning and memory paradigms and may be attractive for use in reversing learning and extinction deficits associated with psychopathology.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Tue, 1 March 2011
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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Children of parents with various forms of psychosis are at risk for internalizing and externalizing problems by age 7 years. This risk varies by gender of the offspring. Implications for treatment of parents with psychotic disorders and high-risk children are discussed.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Tue, 9 November 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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This review summarizes the current knowledge of the neurobiology of depression by combining insights from human clinical studies and molecular explanations from animal models. The authors provide recommendations for future research, with a focus on translating today's discoveries into improved diagnostic tests and treatments.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Tue, 2 November 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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Data suggest that, depending on how it is defined, sibling recurrence in autism spectrum disorder may exceed previously published estimates and varies as a function of family type. The results support differences in mechanisms of genetic transmission between simplex and multiplex autism and advance current understanding of the genetic epidemiology of autism spectrum conditions.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Tue, 2 November 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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Some studies, while they inform us, nonetheless raise more questions than they answer. In this issue, Baldessarini et al. present provocative information for both clinicians and researchers in their article "Illness Risk Following Rapid Versus Gradual Discontinuation of Antidepressants".
American Journal of Psychiatry - Mon, 6 September 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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Mary Zanarini and her colleagues at McLean Hospital have now followed for a decade nearly 300 former inpatients with borderline personality disorder. For their prospective study reported in this issue of the Journal, they reinterviewed these patients at 2-year intervals over 10 years in an effort to answer three highly important questions about borderline personality disorder: How many of them eventually become well? How long did their progress to remission take? And how many remained stably well without succumbing to another episode of illness?
American Journal of Psychiatry - Wed, 16 June 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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The comorbidity of alcohol use disorders and independent major depressive disorder has long been acknowledged, but treatment guidelines, in particular pharmacotherapeutic approaches for patients with both conditions, have remained unclear. Clinicians treating a depressed alcoholic patient have not had empirical data on whether antidepressant and antialcohol medications, singly or in combination, reduce the symptoms of either or both disorders.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Wed, 16 June 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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Alcoholism remains a serious cause of morbidity and mortality despite progress through neurobiological research in identifying new pharmacological strategies for its treatment. Drugs that affect neural pathways that modulate the activity of the cortico-mesolimbic dopamine system have been shown to alter drinking behavior, presumably because this dopaminergic system is closely associated with rewarding behavior. Ondansetron, naltrexone, topiramate, and baclofen are examples. Subtyping alcoholism in adults into an early-onset type, with chronic symptoms and a strong biological predisposition to the disease, and a late-onset type, typically brought on by psychosocial triggers and associated with mood symptoms, may help in the selection of optimal therapy. Emerging adults with binge drinking patterns also might be aided by selective treatments. Although preliminary work on the pharmacogenetics of alcoholism and its treatment has been promising, the assignment to treatment still depends on clinical assessment. Brief behavioral interventions that encourage the patient to set goals for a reduction in heavy drinking or abstinence also are part of optimal therapy.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Wed, 16 June 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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The relationship between depression and diabetes is of special interest in the 21st century since both conditions are major contributors to the global burden of disease.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Mon, 10 May 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/
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While the important role of psychosocial factors in the development of criminal behavior has long been acknowledged, there has been an increasing interest in the neurobiological basis of aggression and crime over the past decade, boosted by methodological advances in neuroimaging and molecular genetics . Researchers recognized the potential role of biological factors in the etiology of criminal behavior some time ago, and in this vein an intriguing result of a long-term study is reported in this issue of the Journal.
American Journal of Psychiatry - Mon, 1 February 2010
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/