Depression Treatment: Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects of Suicide in Patients With Schizophrenia.
Clinical and epidemiological aspects of suicide in patients with schizophrenia.
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2012 Nov; 40(6): 333-45
Gómez-Durán EL, Martin-Fumadó C, Hurtado-Ruíz G
Suicide is a major cause of death among patients with schizophrenia. Suicide phenomenon’s characterization is the best available approach for improved prediction and prevention of suicide. Patients at high risk for suicide need a more intensive monitoring and intervention. The aim of this review is to characterize, from a clinical-epidemiological point of view, the phenomenon of completed suicide in schizophrenia. We performed a systematic review to identify the most relevant studies published between 1994 and 2009, by searching on the international database Medline and among previous reviews references. Patients with schizophrenia experience higher mortality rates than the general population, especially due to the suicide. Most patients with schizophrenia who commit suicide are likely to be young and males, with a higher risk around illness onset and hospitalization periods. Previous suicide attempts are an important risk factor for completed suicide. Suicide risk is associated to psychotic positive symptoms, affective symptoms, depression and substance abuse. Treatment adherence is as protective factor. Patients with schizophrenia are likely to commit suicide by violent means. Suicide prevention should focus on treating affective symptoms and syndromes, improving treatment compliance and providing intensive monitoring to those patients at high risk of suicide, specially aroung hospitalization periods. Further studies are needed to clarify differential characteristics between suicide behaviour and completed suicide. Key words: Schizophrenia, Suicide, Mortality, Causes, Risk factors.
HubMed – depression
Agomelatine in elderly – finally a patient friendly antidepressant in psychogeriatry?
Filed under: Depression Treatment
Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2012 Nov; 40(6): 304-7
Luzny J
Background: Geriatric depression is a serious psychiatric conditions with prevalence from 10–40% in community living seniors. Polymorbidity and potential vulnerability of seniors towards medication is a challenge for seeking newer, well tolerated antidepressant with good clinical efficiency and safety. Agomelatine is new promising antidepressant which could fulfill these criteria. Objective: Evaluation of effectiveness, safety and side effects of agomelatine used for treatment senior patients with major depression hospitalized in inpatient psychogeriatric ward in Mental hospital in Kromeriz (2010-2011). Methods: Psychiatric scales Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) were used initially before starting with agomelatine treatment, then after 4 and 8 weeks and finally after 12 weeks of using agomelatine. Potential side effects caused by agomelatine (side effects according AISL databasis– Automatized Information system of Registered Drugs in the Czech republic) were monitored after 12 weeks of treatment with agomelatine. Results: While treating major depression in seniors with agomelatine, decrease in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) was evident after 4 weeks of treatment and continued constantly after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Clinical remission was achieved in all studied patients. Conclusion: Agomelatine proved excellent efficiency in treating severe major depression in seniors with no serious averse effects. Key words: Agomelatine, MASSA antidepressant, Major depression, Seniors, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI), Side effects.
HubMed – depression
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