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/49/21182/heart-disease Thu, 05 Mar 2009 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 depression-even if the... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/21182/heart-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/54818/suicide-holidays Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:43:04 -0500 Chris Ballas, M.D.   Conventional wisdom is that there are more suicides during the holidays than at other times.   I'd like to explore two questions. First, is this true? Second, as I am sure that the average person is not studying Medline for articles on suicide, why do most people think it true?   In answer to the first question, it is not true. There is a well known reduction in the suicide rate on major public holidays (including... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/54818/suicide-holidays http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/46902/unlimited-choose Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:34:00 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. If you had unlimited finances, access to every possible pharmacologic compound-including experimental ones in clinical trials, or even "drugs" that are otherwise illegal-as well as a highly motivated patient who would be willing to do anything to get better, what treatment for depression would you choose?   Assume, however, that you have to get better as soon as possible; that your job cannot suffer because of your symptoms; and that... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/46902/unlimited-choose http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/46498/suicide-rate Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:57:26 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. Recently released data shows that while the number of overall suicides in the U.S. has been stable at about 32,000 per year (11/100,000 people), the distribution of these suicides has changed.   Elderly males still have the highest rate; for those 75 and older, the rate is 38/100,000.   However, for women, the demography has shifted; not, the highest rate is among those in their 40s and 50s (7.5/100,000).  The rate increased... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/46498/suicide-rate http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/42318/funding-depression Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:15:00 -0400 Chris Ballas, M.D. There's an interesting news article making the rounds.   Amy Philo is a new mom who, like many others with postpartum depression, had feelings to harm her child and others around her. She even thought to throw the baby down the stairs. While thoughts to harm the child are not common in postpartum depression, when they are, this is, surprisingly, one of the more common ones. Since her experience, she has become something of an activist... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/49/42318/funding-depression 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/49/21151/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