Mineralocorticoid receptor function in depressed patients and healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown disturbed glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in depressed patients. In contrast, only few studies targeted mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) function with inconclusive results. We examined the effects of the MR antagonist spironolactone on cortisol secretion in depressed patients and healthy individuals. METHODS: Forty-eight unmedicated depressed patients (mean age 41.6years) and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy participants (40.7years) received the MR antagonist spironolactone (300mg) or placebo with three days apart in a randomized, double-blind, within-subject cross-over design. We measured salivary cortisol before ingestion of study medication (baseline) as well as +60min, +90min, +120min, +150min and 180min after baseline. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVA for area under the curve (AUCg) cortisol revealed a treatment effect with higher cortisol after spironolactone and a treatment by group interaction. Post-hoc analyses revealed higher cortisol in depressed patients compared to healthy participants in the placebo condition. In the spironolactone condition, the cortisol levels were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Potentially, impaired MR or GR signaling could be responsible for higher cortisol levels in depressed patients in the placebo condition. However, after MR blockade that increased cortisol secretion across groups leading to higher GR occupation, we found no differences between depressed patients and healthy controls. Thus, our results argue for depression-associated alterations in MR signaling rather than disturbed GR-mediated feedback inhibition.

Comparing consultation-liaison psychiatrist's and neurologist's approaches to delirium - A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic, management, and treatment recommendations made by consultation-liaison psychiatrists (CLP) and neurologists (CLN) for suspected delirium and to investigate factors that may have influenced the choice for a particular consultation service. METHOD: In this retrospective case analysis, we screened the files of 1882 (CLP: 1112, CLN: 770) inpatients seen by CLP and CLN at the Charité - University Medicine, Berlin, Germany, in 2013. This revealed a total of 148 (CLP: 99, CLN: 49) delirium patients. Information found on the consultation form and in the patients' files was used for data collection and subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: Intensive care and surgical units preferably called CLP, while internists consulted more CLN and patients suffering from neurological or psychiatric preconditions were more often seen by the respective specialist. Despite no significant difference between psychomotor activity levels among the groups, CLP recommended significantly more pharmacological interventions (p = 0.000) and CLN ordered significantly more diagnostic procedures (p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Our results show considerable differences between CLP and CLN treatment recommendations, which may indicate a conflicting approach to delirium work-up, not accountable to unequal patient characteristics. These preliminary results are not conclusive and should be followed up by high evidence level research.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose doxepin in depressed patients suffering from insomnia: a retrospective, naturalistic case series analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Low-dose doxepin has produced favorable results in healthy adults and elderly persons with chronic or transient insomnia, while exhibiting an amenable adverse event profile. The aim of this article is to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose doxepin for insomnia in depressed patients. METHOD: In this retrospective case series analysis, the files of 17 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and comorbid insomnia between January 1, 2011, and October 1, 2012 who had received a course of off-label doxepin (< 25 mg/d) were analyzed with regard to dose, efficacy, and safety for up to 4 weeks of treatment. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) sleep item scores were used to estimate efficacy. RESULTS: Our results showed no improvement in sleep onset and sleep maintenance insomnia in patients with MDD during the 4 weeks of treatment. We found a significant improvement in insomnia between baseline and week 3 when considering all 3 HDRS sleep items (P = .058). CONCLUSION: Contrasting previous results in healthy subjects, low-dose doxepin does not seem to improve sleep onset or maintenance in patients with MDD. Further research, preferably placebo-controlled, double-blind sleep laboratory trials, is necessary to determine whether low-dose doxepin may be beneficial in this important patient subgroup.

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of existing pharmacotherapies for delusional disorder: a retrospective case series and review of the literature.

UNLABELLED: Delusional disorder is an uncommon, yet not rare, psychotic disorder. Because of the distinct lack of high-evidence-level research conducted in this area, no definitive clinical guidelines are available on its treatment. The aim of this article was to summarize the current literature on the pharmacological treatment of delusional disorder in the form of a review, as well as to analyze a series of 6 cases treated at the Department of Psychiatry at "Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin" between 2005 and 2011; in each case paying special attention to the relative efficacy and acceptability of the antipsychotics used. REVIEW: A MEDLINE search was conducted to capture all articles on the treatment of delusional disorder published since 2004. After viewing titles and abstracts, these articles were then assessed for relevance. CASE SERIES: The files of 6 cases of delusional disorder treated at the previously mentioned clinic were analyzed and information regarding the type of medication, dose, and duration of treatment as well as adverse effects was extracted and summarized. In line with previous studies, it was found that delusional disorder has a moderate prognosis when adequately treated and that noncompliance is often the reason for poor treatment results. Various novel antipsychotics as well as a combination of medication treatment and psychotherapy produced positive results. Generally, adverse effects were easily managed by a reduction in dose or a switch to another antipsychotic, and it was often necessary to try out a number of antipsychotics before arriving at a satisfactory solution.