Depression Expert Chris Ballas, M.D. shares Depression management news and commentary at MyDepressionConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49 http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49 http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/32679/mental-health Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:51:00 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. The House of Representatives recently passed a Medicare bill that reduces the copay for Medicare patients from 50% to 20%, the rate it is for all other medical specialties.   That may not seem like a big deal—and if it doesn't, you probably don't have Medicare.   An even more interesting provision of this bill is that it will require all Medicare Part D pharmacy plans to cover almost all medications—and this means... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/32679/mental-health http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/27993/antidepressants Thu, 15 May 2008 18:21:00 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. Richard Friedman, MD, recently wrote an article in the New York Times about our troubled relationship with antidepressants. He opens his article by asking how antidepressants might affect a patient's psychological development and core identity.     It's an interesting question, one which some have discussed in the past, but which is worth another attempt.  Unfortunately, Friedman doesn't actually explore this question. ... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/27993/antidepressants http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/23961/drug-tricks Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:43:00 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. There is some new data concerning an old drug. Mecamylamine is an old medication originally used to treat hypertension. It had numerous side effects, such as hypotension and sedation, and thus was not often used. It had a bit of a resurgence later on as an anti-smoking drug (it is a nicotine antagonist) but the overall efficacy was poor, and the side effects made it difficult to use. It was then suggested for use as an augmentation... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/23961/drug-tricks http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21182/heart-disease Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:59:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. It isn't called a broken heart for nothing. Numerous studies have found an association between depression and cardiac problems, including arrhythmias, heart attacks, strokes, etc. Some studies have found associations between worsening outcomes in heart disease in patients who develop depression (for example, depression following a heart attack) while others have found such worsened outcomes simply if one has a history of... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21182/heart-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21151/doctors-patients Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:52:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. USA TODAY is running an article concerning direct to consumer ads about medications. Patients see the ads, and then go to the doctor requesting that or a similar medication, and the doctor feels some pressure to prescribe something. The result is that even more money is spent on medications.   There are a few points to be made. The implication is that doctors would not have prescribed the drug-- or anything-- had the patient... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21151/doctors-patients http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21083/therapy-ect-risks Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:51:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. When does a doctor recommend ECT? Unfortunately, the answer depends much more on who the doctor is than what a clearly defined hierarchy of treatment modalities might suggest.   Generally, ECT is considered to be efficacious, but with numerous limitations. It must be done in a hospital setting - an anesthesiologist is required, to prescribe a neuromuscular blocker to paralyze your muscles, and a sedative to render you both unconscious... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21083/therapy-ect-risks http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19873/with Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:52:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. A few months back I posted a blog on the decrease in the use of SSRIs. There's another aspect to the problem of "in with the new, out with the old" creep of medication usage in favor of the newer drugs. A significant number of people are prescribed Prozac and Seroquel, especially considering the fact that it's only approved for bipolar disorder (4% of the population) and schizophrenia (1%). But here's the question: is... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19873/with http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19715/review-brings Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:11:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. A New England Journal of Medicine study reviewed numerous antidepressant trials up to 2004, in an attempt to determine how well the data support their efficacy. The important difference in this study was that the reviews covered data submitted to the FDA, not data published in journal articles.   It may surprise some to learn that while the FDA requires all data to be submitted to it when reviewing a medication, there is no requirement... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19715/review-brings http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19602/slow-wave-sleep Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:22:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. The issue with poor sleep is actually poor slow wave sleep. This is the specific subtype of overall sleep that is reduced in depression, even when the individual sleeps too much.   Several studies have investigated the question, but a very recent one best illustrates the possible relationship between sleep and insulin/glucose control.   The study took "normal" non-diabetic subjects, and selectively reduced their... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/19602/slow-wave-sleep http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/17680/mitt-romney-plan Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:32:00 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D. Arguably Mitt Romney's most important success to date is the reform of the Massachusetts medical insurance system, which he hopes to expand to a nationwide effort. However, his plan does not entail expansion to the nation, as that is the exact opposite of his healthcare plan. Romney has outlined 6 steps towards more affordable and comprehensive coverage: Deregulate the insurance market. Romney reasonably shows that each state ... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/17680/mitt-romney-plan