More evidence to suggest that central nervous stimulants are safe in the short-term for children and young people with ADHD

shutterstock_66218803

Back in February, I blogged about a cohort study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which concluded that ADHD drugs are not linked with an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events. The last few years has seen heated debate about the use of central nervous stimulants in children and young people. The lack [read the full story…]

Depression in adults with a chronic physical health problem: new update from NHS Evidence

nhs evidence eye

NICE published a clinical guideline on the treatment and management of depression in adults with chronic physical health problems in 2009. This new evidence update refreshes that guidance by searching for new systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials on the subject and summarising them in a short (16 page) document. The authors searched a range [read the full story…]

ADHD drugs do not increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events, but long-term effects remain unknown

shutterstock_28777657

A number of concerns have arisen over recent years about the safety of the various drugs used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in children and young adults. These central nervous system stimulants include methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate, dextroamphetamines, amphetamine salts, atomoxetine and pemoline. Case reports have highlighted that sudden cardiac death can be brought on [read the full story…]

Patient factors that affect successful dental implant placement

shutterstock_70163050 dental implants

The use of dental implants is expanding rapidly.  Treatment planning for their placement involves the assessment of patient-related risk factors prior to formulation of a treatment plan. The aim of this review was to assess relevant literature and provide evidence-based information on the successful surgical placement of dental implants The authors conducted a search of [read the full story…]

Middle-aged smokers with schizophrenia are significantly more likely to die from cardiac disease

Smoking man

We know from epidemiological studies that people with schizophrenia are 2-3 times more likely to smoke than the rest of the population.  We also know that schizophrenia is associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease. This retrospective cohort study carried out by researchers from the University of Maryland set out to explore the impact [read the full story…]

Depressed adults who take antidepressants for 12 weeks or more have a reduced incidence of heart attack

shutterstock_3170494 pills in heart shape

This cohort study conducted by researchers from the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center set out to answer the question: Are antidepressants associated with an increased or decreased risk of incident myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality? 93,653 patients aged 25–80 years (average age 51.5 years, 14.1% female, 77.8% White, 57.1% not married) were identified using the [read the full story…]