Jay M. Pomerantz, MD

March 14, 2009

Genetic studies are slowly leading to a better understanding of certain diseases as well as progress toward individualized drug therapy. Developments in DNA sequencing make it relatively simple to look for allelic (ie, alternative) versions of a gene by examining samples of a specific gene taken from different members of a population (or from a heterozygous individual). Genetic variants that appear in at least 1% of a population are called polymorphisms. With the cutoff at 1%, one does not get sidetracked by spontaneous mutations that may have occurred in-and spread by the descendants of-a single family.

February 07, 2009

When medical professionals think of the health consequences of obesity, we usually think of increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, and hypertension. If we think a bit more, osteoarthritis, gallstones, asthma, and sleep disorders come to mind.1 How many of us are aware of the connection between obesity and the increased risk of various mental illnesses and conditions?

January 02, 2009

I sometimes get depressed myself (just a little!) when I see the latest offerings from pharmaceutical manufacturers. There are many new medications, but almost all are re-workings of familiar molecules-typically launched just before patent life is about to expire on the original formulation.

December 01, 2008

Sleep disturbance, especially insomnia, is common, with up to 25% of the population in industrialized countries reporting severe chronic insomnia.1 Medications to improve sleep patterns are plentiful but are not always effective. New research on sleep disturbance focuses on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

April 01, 2008

A new FDA policy requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to examine whether study participants become suicidal during clinical trials of new medications.1 The policy derives from the belated recognition that antidepressants seem to slightly increase suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults early in the course of treatment. This is not the only news about medications linked to possible increases in suicidal ideation or behavior.

March 01, 2008

Major depression is twice as likely to develop in post-stroke patients (approximately 20%) than in nonstroke patients of the same age.1 Other psychiatric symptoms that are also more common in post-stroke patients include minor depression, anxiety, anger, and inappropriate or excessive laughing or crying (emotional incontinence).2

February 01, 2008

An analysis of data from the National Comorbidity Survey, a nationally representative sample of persons aged 15 to 54 years (N = 8098), suggests that those who exercise regularly are less likely to report being depressed or having an anxiety disorder.1 The association between regular physical activity and lower prevalence of major depression (odds ratio [OR], 0.75) is fairly specific. Dysthymia, for example, was only minimally responsive to exercise, and there was no correlation between regular exercise and reduced risk of bipolar disorder. Psychotic disorders and substance abuse also were not substantially affected by regular physical activity. However, certain anxiety disorders, particularly panic attacks and phobias, were found to be less prevalent among self-reported exercisers.