Biological psychiatry
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Biological psychiatry · Nov 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialA controlled trial of daily left prefrontal cortex TMS for treating depression.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a new technology for noninvasively stimulating the brain. Several studies have suggested that daily stimulation of the left prefrontal cortex with TMS for 2 weeks has probable antidepressant effects. We conducted a parallel-design, double-masked, sham-controlled study to address whether 2 weeks of daily TMS over the left prefrontal cortex has antidepressant activity greater than sham. ⋯ Daily left prefrontal TMS for 2 weeks significantly reduced depression symptoms greater than did sham. The two forms of active TMS treatment did not differ significantly.
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Biological psychiatry · Jun 2000
Comparative Study Clinical TrialHippocampus and entorhinal cortex in frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease: a morphometric MRI study.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hippocampal atrophy is a sensitive but not specific method to support the clinical diagnosis of early Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently described our findings that atrophy of the entorhinal cortex (ERC) in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is equal to that found in AD but that hippocampal atrophy in FTD is less than that found in AD. The MRI volumes of these structures provide a topographic representation of the region of interest. We hypothesized that two different dementias with distinct histopathologic and clinical features might, in addition to quantitative patterns, display topographically different patterns of atrophy. ⋯ This study provides novel data on the nature of medial temporal lobe atrophy in FTD. Morphometric MRI may be a useful technique for characterizing different patterns of atrophy in primary degenerative dementias in vivo.
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Biological psychiatry · Feb 2000
ReviewVagus nerve stimulation: a new tool for brain research and therapy.
Biological psychiatry has a long history of using somatic therapies to treat neuropsychiatric illnesses and to understand brain function. These methods have included neurosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy, and, most recently, transcranial magnetic stimulation. Fourteen years ago researchers discovered that intermittent electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve produces inhibition of neural processes, which can alter brain electrical activity and terminate seizures in dogs. ⋯ We review the neurobiology and anatomy of the vagus nerve and provide an overview of the vagus nerve stimulation technique. We also describe the safety and potential utility of vagus nerve stimulation as a neuroscience research tool and as a putative treatment for psychiatric conditions. Vagus nerve stimulation appears to be a promising new somatic intervention that may improve our understanding of brain function and has promise in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Biological psychiatry · Feb 2000
Editorial CommentVagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression.
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Biological psychiatry · Feb 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAntidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.
A growing body of preclinical research suggests that brain glutamate systems may be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression and the mechanism of action of antidepressants. This is the first placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial to assess the treatment effects of a single dose of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist in patients with depression. ⋯ These results suggest a potential role for NMDA receptor-modulating drugs in the treatment of depression.