Author Archives: Dr. Joris Wiggers

Alterations of serum macro-minerals and trace elements are associated with major depressive disorder: a case-control study | BMC Psychiatry | Full Text

https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-018-1685-z Fascinating article in reputable journal arguing for mineral deficiencies as a way to understand and treat depression. Might mean reconsidering supplementation studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3804335/ Another article (of several) looking at psychiatric illness and micronutrients. Seems plausible, safe, and well tolerated. This study was with children. Still I need to be clear that these results SHOULD […]
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The Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Lamotrigine in Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial: American Journal of Psychiatry: Vol 0, No 0

https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17091006?utm_campaign=email&utm_source=etoc&utm_medium=textlink&utm_content=ajp Bad news for borderline personality disorder and lamictal; this was a negative study!

Use of lithium and cancer risk in patients with bipolar disorder: population-based cohort study. – PubMed – NCBI

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27388574?dopt=Abstract Amazingly, Lithium inhibits glycogen synthase, an enzyme used in cancer; therefore, lithium lowers the risk of cancer in bipolar disorder, by an average of 25%. Not bad

Switching Antidepressants May Boost Suicide Risk in Elderly

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/894534?nlid=121554_4502&src=wnl_dne_180329_mscpedit&uac=27343DV&impID=1593604&faf=1 Outcome of this Scandanavian study is clear: over 75 year old patients need to be very very slowly switched, if at all, on their antidepressants. Plus, use of anxiety and sleep medications at the same time increased risk even further! Caution.

Lowering Antipsychotic Dose Can Improve Symptoms in Schizophrenia

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/894447?src=WNL_recnl_180402_MSCPEDIT_psych&uac=27343DV&impID=1597737&faf=1 Guideline: if stabilized in hospital on 10mg Olanzapine or Risperdal 4mg, can function well x next year on 5mg and 2mg respectively with no increase risk of relapse! Less side effects, good outcomes. Good to consider.

Future Role for Neuroimaging in Tracking Relapse in Major Depressive Disorder

This is the beginning of 21st century treatment of depression: I am hopeful we can find cortical structures that have been shrunk (i.e. in a way, injured) by a severe depression, in order to neuromodulate them (with rTMS, ECT, or TCMS) to repair it. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2675370?utm_source=undefined&utm_campaign=content-shareicons&utm_content=article_engagement&utm_medium=social&utm_term=032818#.WrxsFvRNvfI.email — This message was sent by joriswiggers@gmail.com via http://addthis.com. Please […]
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Psych News Alert: Patients With Early Psychosis May Benefit From App on How to Cope With Symptoms

http://alert.psychnews.org/2018/03/patients-with-early-psychosis-may.html

Therapy Best Treatment for Complicated Grief Due to Suicide

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/894495?nlid=121571_4502&src=wnl_dne_180328_mscpedit&uac=27343DV&impID=1592451&faf=1 For grief, therapy bests medications!

NAC for schizophrenia shows good results in a replication study; the theory and data are coming through.

Effects of 12-month, double-blind N-acetyl cysteine on symptoms, cognition and brain morphology in early phase schizophrenia spectrum disorders Schizophrenia Research — | March 28, 2018 Breier A, et al. – Given that N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) mitigates the deleterious effects oxidative stress, inflammation and glutamatergic excitotoxicity (the three pathological processes hypothesized to contribute to progressive brain […]
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Z-drugs and Risk for Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

March 27, 2018 A link to the following Medscape article was sent to you by: joris wiggers This shows that older folks at at 200% increase risk of falls (odds are 2x normal) while taking zopiclone and a 160% increase risk of a fracture. Z-drugs and Risk for Falls and Fractures in Older Adults Age […]
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