Abstracts » Health

An international study of the relation between somatic symptoms and depression

Article Abstract:

Depressed people in Western countries are just as likely to report somatic symptoms as depressed people in non-Western countries. Somatic symptoms are physical symptoms such as headache, constipation, or back pain. It was thought that depressed people in non-Western countries were more likely to report somatic symptoms because of the stigma against people with mental illness. However, a study of 25,916 patients in 14 countries did not confirm this belief. Of the 1,146 people diagnosed with depression, half reported several somatic symptoms. This was just as common in Western countries as in non-Western countries.

International aspects, Somatoform disorders

---

Initial antidepressant choice in primary care: effectiveness and cost of fluoxetine vs tricyclic antidepressants

Article Abstract:

Patient and physician preference may determine which antidepressant drug is initially chosen. A total of 536 people were randomly allocated to take fluoxetine, desipramine or imipramine for depression. Initially, patients taking fluoxetine had fewer side effects and slightly better outcome, but this benefit disappeared within 3 months. Most outcomes were not significantly different among the 3 groups nor was the cost of treatment. However, patients taking the tricyclics desipramine or imipramine were more likely to switch to fluoxetine.

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Fluoxetine, Imipramine, Desipramine

---

Telephone psychotherapy and telephone care management for primary care patients starting antidepressant treatment: a randomized controlled trial

Article Abstract:

The main objective was to compare usual primary care for depression with two intervention programs namely, telephone care management and telephone care management plus telephone psychotherapy. Three-group randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment were conducted between November 2000 and May 2002.

Care and treatment, Usage, Comparative analysis, Hotlines (Counseling), Medicare, Crisis intervention (Psychiatry), Hotlines (Counselling)

Some parts © 2012 Advameg, Inc.