Background—Depression is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce this risk through attenuation of serotonin-mediated platelet activation in addition to treatment of depression itself. Methods and Results—A case-control study of first MI in smokers 30 to 65 years of age was conducted among all 68 hospitals in an 8-coun...

a case of acute extrapyramidal manifestations consisting of dystonia and akathisia following abrupt discontinuation of propranolol is reported. she responded well to oral propranolol and intramuscular diazepam. extrapyramidal symptoms have commonly been associated with acute or chronic administration of neuroleptic drugs. there have been reports of a substantial number of cases with similar cli...

In recent years, prescriptions for antidepressant agents have increased substantially. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have gradually supervened tricyclic agents as drugs of choice because of their lower toxicity and generally better tolerability. They cause less sedation with fewer anticholinergic effects and are now widely used for the treatment of many conditions including de...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex condition resulting from numerous genetic and physiologic factors. This article reviews the neurochemical mechanisms underlying MDD, summarizes recent genetic findings, and examines the efficacy of various treatments. The norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) pathways affect several areas of the nervous system that are disrupted in MDD, and agents...

T he conventional pathophysiological view of the mechanism of neurocardiogenic syncope involves the activation of peripheral baroreceptors, as occurs in the Bezold-Jarisch reflex, in which there is a reflex withdrawal of sympathetic tone and an increase in parasympathetic tone. The result of these changes is a dramatic fall in blood pressure with or without excessive bradycardia, leading to a r...

Whittington CJ, Kendall T, Fonagy P, et al. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in childhood depression: systematic review of published versus unpublished data. Lancet 2004;363:1341–5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Erythromelalgia is a painful disorder of the extremities characterized by redness, swelling, a burning sensation, and an increase in skin temperature exacerbated by exposure to heat. 1 An early description was reported by Mitchell 2 in 1878. He coined the term erythromelalgia to denote the clinical features of redness (erythros), involvement of the extremities (melos), and the symptom of pain (...