In Brief: Improving Cognition in Schizophrenia by Modulating the Estrogen Receptor
This article in Psychiatric Times reviews some interesting research which suggests that drugs which modulate the estrogen receptor may improve cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia. This is the first study to show that oral adjunctive treatment with raloxifene (120 mg per day) has beneficial effects on attention/processing speed and memory for both men and women with schizophrenia. Weickert TW, Weinberg D, Lenroot R, et al. Adjunctive raloxifene treatment improves attention [...]
New Research from the CWMH: Reassuring Data from the National Pregnancy Registry of Atypical Antipsychotics
Despite the increasing use of the newer “atypical” or second-generation antipsychotic agents to treat a spectrum of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, PTSD and other anxiety disorders, we have relatively little data on the reproductive safety of these newer atypical agents. In response to this deficit, the National Pregnancy Registry for Atypical Antipsychotics was created to evaluate the safety of atypical antipsychotic medications taken by women during pregnancy. [...]
Perinatal Depression is a Heritable Illness
Perinatal depression is defined as depressive illness which emerges during pregnancy (antenatal depression) or following childbirth (postpartum depression). We have limited information regarding the genetic basis of perinatal depression, but several studies suggest that the heritable component for perinatal depression may be greater than that observed for major depressive disorder which is unrelated to pregnancy. Several studies have shown familial clustering of perinatal depression. Murphy-Eberenz and colleagues reported that the siblings [...]
![By Vera Kratochvil [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://womensmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Mother_Kissing_Baby-320x202.jpg)
Is It Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Anxiety? What’s The Difference?
Meet Christine. She is a married 30-year-old woman who just had her first baby about 3 weeks ago. While the pregnancy went smoothly, the experience of labor and delivery was difficult. After nearly 20 hours of labor, Christine had an emergency caesarean section. The baby was healthy, but he had difficulty breastfeeding. Christine was worried that she was not producing enough milk. Her baby lost more than 10% of his weight [...]
You Asked: Is There an Interaction Between Lamotrigine and Oral Contraceptives?
We get many questions about the interaction between lamotrigine (Lamictal) and oral contraceptives (OCs). While many readers raise concerns that lamotrigine may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, the primary interaction is actually in the other direction. In other words, oral contraceptives may decrease the effectiveness of lamotrigine. Studies have shown that estrogens, which are contained in most oral contraceptives, increase the clearance of lamotrigine by inducing the liver [...]
Electroacupuncture Effective for Breast Cancer Treatment-Associated Hot Flashes
A recent study examined the effectiveness of electroacupuncture, in which small electric currents are applied to traditional acupuncture needles, in women with breast cancer treatment-associated hot flashes. 120 women with hot flashes were randomized to weekly electroacupuncture, once-daily gabapentin, sham acupuncture, or placebo for 8 weeks. Hot flashes were assessed using a daily self-reported hot flash composite score. At 8 weeks, women in the electroacupuncture group experienced the greatest reduction in [...]