Sharon murderer blames Zoloft for '97 killing spree
By Dave Wedge
Wednesday, May 19, 2004

A Sharon double killer whose 1999 insanity bid was rejected claims he was ``involuntarily intoxicated'' by Zoloft and turned homicidal because of the anti-depressant's ``toxic'' effects.

Richard Shuman, who is serving a life sentence for the 1997 murders of his business partners, Jack Badler and Howard Librot, claims Zoloft prescribed to him eight days before the killings sent him into a ``severe drug-induced agitation'' called akathisia.
posted by Matthew Norman, M.D. at 9:40:09 PM

Long-Term Treatment With Lamictal Is Not Associated With Clinically Relevant Changes in Weight in Patients With Bipolar I Disorder Compared to Placebo
Yahoo News
Wednesday May 5, 3:00 pm ET


NEW YORK, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Results from an analysis presented today show that long-term treatment with Lamictal® (lamotrigine) is not associated with clinically relevant changes in weight when used in patients with bipolar I disorder compared to placebo. The results were presented at the 157th annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in New York, NY.

The data, presented at the meeting during Poster Session #9 on May 5th at 3:00 p.m. EDT, reports on the long-term impact of mood stabilizers on body weight. Weight gain is an area of concern for psychiatrists and patients in the long-term treatment of bipolar I disorder. It has previously been reported that side effects such as medication-related weight gain may have a negative impact on compliance. In fact, medication compliance is considered to be an essential component of the long-term management of bipolar disorder.


posted by Matthew Norman, M.D. at 9:38:34 PM

Neurotics More Prone to Depression
--Dennis Thompson
--Forbes.com


WEDNESDAY, May 12 (HealthDayNews) -- Neurotic people are more likely to suffer episodes of major depression, particularly following stressful life events, claims a study in the current issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

The study assessed 14 symptoms for major depression in 7,517 male and female twins. It found that at every level of stress exposure, neuroticism -- unresolved emotional or psychological disturbance -- increased the risk of major depression.

posted by Matthew Norman, M.D. at 9:33:43 PM