A new review authored by three Canadian psychiatrists aims to help primary care physicians diagnose and manage depression in adolescents. Depression is common among Canadian teenagers and often goes unnoticed. Many family doctors report feeling unprepared to identify and manage depression in these patients. “Depression is an increasingly common but treatable condition among adolescents,” the authors wrote. “General practitioners and pediatricians are well positioned to support first-line assessment and management of depression in this group, helping patients regain health and function.” The article was published on May 29 in CMJ…
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Ketamine can treat depression as effectively as electroconvulsive therapy
The “dissociative anesthetic” ketamine is looking increasingly promising as a safe and effective treatment for intractable depression. A new randomized study by researchers in the United States has shown that ketamine injections are at least as effective as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in treating nonpsychotic forms of major depression. After starting ECT or ketamine therapy, patients in the study reported an almost immediate improvement in their quality of life. Side effects such as nausea and poor memory were common for both treatments, albeit short-lived. “Statistically, it was a solid finding showing…
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