Harvard Mental Health Letter: February 2008

A study of patients taking an injectable, long-acting form of an antipsychotic medication found that within six months of starting treatment, most patients had switched back to the oral form of the drug.

Patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be at increased risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly if they are also taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Research into the long-term effects of hormone therapy found that women who were more physically active were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those who exercised less often.

The World Health Organization found that many people worldwide are not receiving needed mental health care and services.

Researchers studying adolescents with major depression found that cognitive behavioral therapy, either on its own or in conjunction with antidepressant medication, was an effective treatment, with a low incidence of suicidal ideation.

A small study into political psychology found that those who considered themselves politically liberal responded differently to a stimulus test than did those who considered themselves conservative.

In elderly patients, symptoms of depression can be mistaken for symptoms of another medical problem, so it is important for clinicians to consider all physical problems and medications of elderly patients before making a diagnosis.

Researchers measured the biological responses of therapists and patients during therapy sessions, and found that when the patient felt the therapist was listening, their patterns of sweat production (an indicator of empathy) roughly matched.

The drug tamoxifen, which is used to treat breast cancer, may also be effective in treating mania in patients with bipolar disorder.