Psychosocial Aspects of Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy).

Psychosocial aspects of Hansen’s disease (leprosy).

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Indian Dermatol Online J. 2012 Sep; 3(3): 166-70
Singh GP

In general, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among people with Hansen’s disease has greatly increased to date. However, inadequate psychiatric care of people with Hansen’s disease is an area of increasing concern. Many studies have been conducted in India and abroad to find out the prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders in patients suffering from Hansen’s disease. Although efforts have been made by the government and international organizations to solve the medical problems among this group of patients, this disease still carries a number of psychosocial issues. The social stigma connected to these patients makes this disease completely different from others. Even nowadays people affected by Hansen’s disease have to leave their village and are socially isolated. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder found in these patients. Early detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders among Hansen’s disease patients is a powerful psychotherapeutic measure. Integrated healthcare strategy will be beneficial to these patients. A comprehensive MEDLINE search and review of relevant literature was carried out and the data extracted and studied with particular reference to psychosocial issues in Hansen’s disease. The focus of this research work is related to psychiatric and social aspects vis-à-vis stigma in these patients with Hansen’s disease.
HubMed – depression

Neuromodulation for treatment-resistant depression.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

F1000 Med Rep. 2012; 4: 22
Holtzheimer PE, Mayberg HS

Treatment-resistant depression affects at least 1-3% of the US population. This article reviews the current state of focal neuromodulation therapies for treatment-resistant depression, focusing on those treatments published clinical data. These include transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, direct cortical stimulation, and deep brain stimulation among others. Of these, only two (transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation) currently have US Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of depression.
HubMed – depression

Design and Rationale for a Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise for Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Filed under: Depression Treatment

Ment Health Phys Act. 2012 Dec 1; 5(2): 155-165
Abrantes AM, McLaughlin N, Greenberg BD, Strong DR, Riebe D, Mancebo M, Rasmussen S, Desaulniers J, Brown RA

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades very few advances have been made in the development of new treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While patients with OCD improve with available treatments (pharmacotherapy and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy), moderate levels of OCD symptoms often persist even with adequate doses and durations of these treatments. Building on the growing body of evidence for the efficacy of exercise in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders, interventions to increase aerobic exercise in patients with OCD represent a potentially useful yet relatively unexplored strategy in OCD. METHODS/DESIGN: One hundred and two (102) patients with clinically significant OCD symptoms despite current engagement in recommended treatments (pharmacotherapy and/or CBT) will be randomly assigned to receive either a 12-week moderate intensity aerobic exercise (AE) intervention or a health education control (HEC) intervention. Follow-up interviews will be conducted at the end of treatment and at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-intervention. They will assess OCD severity, nonspecific anxiety, depression, quality of life, cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition (executive function). DISCUSSION: If efficacy is established, patients with OCD who have clinically significant residual symptoms despite current pharmacotherapy or CBT would gain a valuable and practical treatment augmentation option.
HubMed – depression

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