Dear colleagues,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the fourth and last issue of 2020.
In our first article, Rybakowski reviews the past, present and future of lithium in psychiatry. Lithium is currently the drug of choice as a mood-stabilizer for the maintenance treatment of the bipolar disorder. The second most common use of lithium is the augmentation of antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression. Although lithium has shown efficacy and favourable outcomes in mood disorders, it’s greatly underutilised. Challenging scepticism about lithium use and its long-term administration could prove most beneficial in patients with mood disorders.
Cosci and colleagues critically review the literature of the main treatment options to prevent relapse and recurrence in depression. Current methods include long-term antidepressants, intermittent antidepressants, the addition of psychotherapy to pharmacotherapy in the sequential model. The sequential model seems to be indicated in recurrent depression. The authors suggest that the clinician should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each individual case.
Vlaicu and associates review the efficacy and safety of the vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy in treatment resistant depression (TRD). The treatment does show promising results in patients with TRD with the level of evidence as an acute treatment option of only 3 but as chronic treatment with a level of 2. They conclude that the therapy should be offered as an added long-term treatment option for patients with chronic and recurrent difficulties to treat depression.
Darab et al. review the efficacy and tolerability of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The authors compared 6 SSRIs (fluoextine, citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine and fluvoxamine). With regard to response, remission and withdrawal rate, escitalopram was more effective than other defined SSRIs.
Ciharova and colleagues assessed whether demographic characteristics correlated with the total scores of the Czech version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). They found that women and individuals with lower education tended to score higher than men and those with higher education. Factor analysis revealed two factors: cognitive-affective and somatic. Their results indicate a need for the development of locally specific normative values for self-reported depression scales.
Kruisdijk et al. investigated the determinants of adherence in the Effect of Running Therapy (EFFECT-D) in a sample of major depressive disorder patients. Higher agreeableness was associated with better adherence to overall study protocol while the severity of depression was negatively associated with adherence in the intervention group. Patients with MDD need substantial personal support in adhering to a study protocol involving exercise. The authors suggest that personality traits and severity of depression as potential predictors of adherence should be considered.
Gammoh and associates screened fibromyalgia (FM), insomnia prevalence and severity in female Syrian war refugees. They found the prevalence of severe FM to be 30% and to be associated with insomnia. Treatment is suboptimal and early screening and raising awareness of FM diagnosis and treatments in highly recommended.
Saglam and colleagues assessed the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) augmentation to antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia. After ECT treatment, a decrease was detected in symptom severity in all PANSS subscales and combining ECT with antipsychotic treatment increased treatment response, which was defined as at least 25% symptom reduction. Addition of ECT treatment to antipsychotic treatment may only be beneficial in patients with antipsychotic responses below 50%.
Cotrena et al. examined the influence of modifiable and non-modifiable factors on self-reported functioning in bipolar disorder (BD). It emerged that individual functioning was influenced by cognitive performance, cognitive reserve, age, diagnosis and depressive symptoms. Interventions focussed on depressive symptoms and cognitive stimulation may aid patients in achieving functional recovery.
Estevez and associates compared differences in gambling disorder (GD) and buying-shopping disorder (BSD) while considering emotion dysregulation, coping and materialism as well as the association between those factors. The GD sample had higher values in the psychological variables investigated. Positive association between BSD severity and materialism and emotion dysregulation levels was found. Variables also impacted the severity of BSD differently based on age and sex covariates.
Garcia-Perez and colleagues reviewed the cost-effectiveness of interventions to enhance medication adherence in patients with mental health problems. The interventions factors that showed medication adherence increase were: a financial incentive when depot injection was taken by patients in psychotic disorders, a value-based benefit design policy including co-payment and counselling in a company setting and a medication treatment decision supported by a pharmacogenetic test. To conclude, interventions to improve medication adherence may be cost-effective, in particular those based on financial incentives.
Yours sincerely,
Chief Editor
[email protected]