DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

DEPRESSION & ANXIETY – WHAT IS NEW?

DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY PATIENT

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PTSD

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: WHAT IS NEW?

OVERLOOKED MEDICAL COMORBIDITIES ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION

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DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

 

The depression rate among women is alarmingly high!  In fact, women experience depression at a rate of 2-3 times more than men. They also tend to be much more difficult to treat; they are much more likely than men to be treatment resistant, treatment refractory or partial responders. There are numerous reasons why women tend to experience significantly more depressive symptomatology than men.  These reasons (e.g., sociological, psychological, physiological and diet) based on compelling research data are examined in this lecture. 

Significantly more women are prescribed antidepressant medications than men! During the second half of the lecture the top prescribed antidepressant medications (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and buproprion) are compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references to the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability in women (as well as in men) are highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among antidepressant medications, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their depressed patients and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.

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DEPRESSION & ANXIETY – WHAT IS NEW?

The audience is briefly introduced to the latest, high-tech devices that researchers are currently utilizing to treat both depression and anxiety, including transcranial magnetic therapy, deep brain stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation.  Along with high-tech devices, the audience is also provided with a variety of compelling research data highlighting the significant influence that diet (i.e., what patients eat and drink) has on symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as on treatment outcomes.

There is also a thorough discussion focusing on the top prescribed antidepressant medications on the market.  These medications include sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and buproprion. In this lecture, the aforementioned antidepressant medications are objectively compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references to the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability are highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among antidepressant medications, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their depressed and anxious patients and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.

 

 

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DEPRESSION IN THE ELDERLY PATIENT

 

The elderly population (defined as adults 65 years of age and older) in America is growing dramatically!  Along with this dramatic increase in the elderly population, the number of elderly people who are experiencing depression has increased in kind.  Currently, approximately 16% of the 33 million Americans over the age of 65 suffer from clinically significant depression. Unfortunately, depression in the elderly is often underdiagnosed and undertreated.  In this lecture, health professionals will learn how to more effectively recognize, diagnose and treat depression in the elderly as a means of improving their quality of life and providing them with the ability to maintain function at the highest levels possible. 

 

Elderly patients tend to be highly sensitive to side effects and drug-to-drug interactions commonly associated with antidepressant medications.  Thus, when choosing an antidepressant medication for an elderly patient, these factors (i.e., side effects and drug-to-drug interactions) should be carefully considered. During the second half of this lecture, the top prescribed antidepressant medications (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and buproprion) are compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references to the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability in the elderly are highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among antidepressant medications, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their depressed and anxious elderly patients and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.

 

 

 

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DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PTSD

 

In this lecture, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is briefly reviewed from a historical perspective. In addition to the history of PTSD, the diagnostic criteria for establishing a diagnosis of PTSD is discussed and examined utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV. A variety of epidemiological and statistical data is presented throughout the lecture.  For example, among patients diagnosed with PTSD, between 79% and 88% have one or more additional psychiatric disorders. While PTSD symptoms usually present within the first 3 months following the traumatic event, these symptoms may persist for months or years following the traumatic event.  Approximately 50% of all cases of PTSD are chronic.

 

The top prescribed antidepressant medications utilized to treat PTSD are reviewed.  These medications include sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine and escitalopram. They are objectively compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references from the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability in PTSD patients are highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among antidepressant medications, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their PTSD patients and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.

 

 

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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: WHAT IS NEW?

 

Approximately 4 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease.  With the number of Alzheimer’s disease cases expected to dramatically increase over the next decade, hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent each year to search for better ways to prevent, predict, diagnose and treat this disease effectively.  In this lecture, the latest research studies are presented relevant to this disease.  Of special note will be the new emphasis on early detection (utilizing high-tech diagnostic devices) and prevention (with a focus on dietary interventions). The research studies presented in this lecture are compelling and tend to suggest a relatively bright and hopeful future for millions people for whom this disease has been (or may become) an issue for them during their lifetimes.

 

At the current time, there are several medications are on the market approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  In this lecture, these medications will be objectively compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references from the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability in Alzheimer’s patients will be highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among medications approved for dementia, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their patients with Alzheimer’s disease and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.

 

 

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OVERLOOKED MEDICAL COMORBIDITIES ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION

 

Research studies have shown that while the prevalence of depression within the general population is approximately 5%, the prevalence of depression in the medically ill is much higher, ranging from 10% to 40%.  According to a recent Psychiatric Times article, “Comorbid depression with major medical illnesses may be particularly dangerous, and evidence is accumulating that failure to address this depression can impede medical treatment and increase mortality.”  Several studies have suggested that nearly 65% of all visits to primary care physicians involve emotional symptoms associated with psychological problems, with depression being the most common problem. In this lecture, the most common medical comorbidities (e.g., heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and chronic back pain) associated with depression are discussed. By the conclusion of this lecture, health professionals will be able to better recognize, diagnose and treat depressed with medical comorbidities.

 

Most antidepressant medication prescriptions are written by primary care physicians for primary care patients! During the second half of this lecture, the top prescribed antidepressant medications (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and buproprion) are compared and contrasted with each other utilizing references to the latest scientific and clinical research studies.  Differences in safety, efficacy, and tolerability in primary care patients are highlighted. By becoming aware of important differences among antidepressant medications, health professionals will be able to optimize treatment for their depressed patients with medical comorbidities and achieve more successful treatment outcomes.