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Statins associated with decreased risk of depressive symptoms
Patients with coronary heart disease who used statins were at a decreased risk of depression; whether there is a cause-and effect relationship, however, merits further research, according to a study published online February 21 in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Patients with coronary heart disease who used statins were at a decreased risk of depression; whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship, however, merits further research, according to a study published online February 21 in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
The benefits of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are well established in the treatment of coronary artery disease as well as in reducing risk of stroke, osteoporosis, and some cancers. They are the most commonly prescribed medication world-wide; however, their effect on depressive symptoms are unknown, and whether they hold any potential psychological benefit has been the subject of controversy, stated lead author Christian Otte, MD, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, department of psychiatry and psychotherapy, and colleagues.
To evaluate the potential association between statins and depressive symptoms, the authors measured depressive symptoms annually for 6 years in 965 outpatients with stable coronary heart disease from 12 outpatient clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. A 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) was used to measure depressive symptoms.
Of the 965 patients, the authors noted that 629 used statins and were found to have lower mean ± SE PHQ depression scores than nonusers (4.8 ± 0.2 vs 5.9 ± 0.3, P<.01). They also were less likely than nonusers to have depression (PHQ score ≥10) at baseline (17% vs 24%; P= 02) and during follow-up (28% vs 40%; P<.01).
The findings raise the possibility that statins may prevent depressive symptoms in patients with cardiovascular disease, the authors stated; however, the potential mechanisms by which they exert effects are unclear and should be the subject of further study. In addition, the authors stress that the data do not demonstrate causality.
"Statins are great for cholesterol, and do not have any harmful effects on mood, but should not be used to treat depression," Dr Otte said.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
