Older people with macular degeneration are more likely to experience depression, but those who received problem-solving therapy to help them adapt to and cope with their condition were less likely to develop depression.
A review of studies on chronic fatigue syndrome found that cognitive behavioral therapy may be an effective treatment for the disorder.
People suffering from anorexia nervosa fight the body’s instinctive urge to eat. Challenges to treatment include permanent changes in the brain due to prolonged starvation, and providing treatment in a manner that is sympathetic rather than punitive.
Some people metabolize certain psychiatric medications too quickly, while others do so too slowly. Factors that can affect this include ethnicity, medical history, other medications being taken, diet, and lifestyle.
Drugs for two common conditions may increase the risk of fragile bones and fractures, new studies report. One study looked at the diabetes drugs pioglitazone and rosiglitazone. People who used one of these drugs for at least a year were more than twice as likely to break a bone. The fractures occurred with low impact, such as a simple fall. The other study included young women who took phenytoin, a drug for epilepsy. They lost bone density eight times as fast as other young women. Reuters Health reported on the diabetes drugs April 29. The study was in the Archives of Internal Medicine. HealthDay News wrote about the epilepsy drugs April 28. The study was in the journal Neurology.
Testing blood sugar at home may not help people with type 2 diabetes, a study suggests. The study included 184 people who had just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. They were divided randomly into two groups. One group was told to test blood glucose eight times each week. The other group was told not to test. Every three months, they received a blood test known as hemoglobin A1c in the doctor’s office. This is a way to measure long-term blood sugar control. The two groups had similar A1c levels. Also, people who did the home tests were more likely to become depressed than people who did not. The study was published April 17 in the British Medical Journal.
A long-term study of children with ADHD concluded that the most beneficial treatment involved medication, either alone or with behavioral therapy, but the effectiveness of medication begins to fade after about two years.
An analysis of hospital-based programs to assist smokers in quitting found that only those that followed inpatient treatment with continued counseling and support after discharge were successful.
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.
Nearly half of Americans are thriving, according to a new “well-being” index. But most of the rest are struggling. About 4% are suffering, with problems meeting their basic needs. The numbers are based on a Gallup survey of more than 100,000 people. They were asked about their lives and how well they are meeting their needs. People who are thriving mostly have higher incomes, more education and better health. The Associated Press wrote about the index April 30.