Denmark Epidemiological Data

Lithium Long Term Effects and the Danish Psychiatric Central Registry

adminGPS Leave a Comment

A series of studies providing the best data on the long term effects of lithium has been coming out of a large database of healthcare use and diagnoses called the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register. Because healthcare is nationalized in Denmark, this register covers a huge population (everyone who ever received psychiatric treatment) and it extends back to 1970. Studies …

Psychedelic Medicine Association

Psychedelic Medicine Association Member

adminAbout GPS, Other Psychiatric Disorders, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Gateway Psychiatric just joined the Psychedelic Medicine Association. This membership is a continuation of our longstanding interest in alternative treatments for depression. I have been working with Bay Psychiatric Associates and Roberto Estrada for nearly five years providing ketamine infusion and now nasal esketamine to patients with treatment resistant depression. This followed attending the 2017 Ketamine Conference which was held …

Psychotherapy is Important for Depression Prevention

Peter ForsterBest Practices, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Psychotherapies — particularly cognitive-behavioral approaches used as adjunctive treatments — can play a critical role in helping people with a history of depression avoid relapse. For many people, major depression is a chronic illness. Even when they are no longer depressed, people who have had several episodes of depression have to be concerned about a significant risk of a recurrence …

Psilocybin-Assisted Supportive Psychotherapy in the Treatment of Major Depression

Peter ForsterTreatments of Depression Leave a Comment

We have been eagerly awaiting the results of controlled studies of psilocybin treatment of depression (used along with psychotherapy). A large multi-center study is still recruiting participants. Meanwhile a great deal of interest in this topic has been stirred up by Michael Pollan and his book How to Change Your Mind. But clinicians have had very little solid science upon …

Impaired Decision Making in Depression – Treatment Implications

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Why do depressed people make choices that are unlikely to be rewarded. And why aren’t they willing to make choices that are likely to be rewarded. In fact, why are depressed people less likely than people who are not depressed to choose to take an antidepressant, or begin psychotherapy, or follow the advice of a therapist? A meta-analysis of many …

cbasp

CBASP Advanced Training and Certification for Gateway Therapists – Update

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, Best Practices, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Gateway Psychiatric was established with the belief that in order to give our patients the best care possible, it is necessary to invest heavily in training for the clinical staff. We particularly focus on evidence based practices that have been shown to address significant problems facing our patients. Since chronic depression is one of the most common problems seen in …

How Long Does It Take to Get Well with TMS

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

The most common question that people ask when they start TMS is how long it will take to get well with TMS. A recent article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry looked at the results from a six week study designed to compare theta burst and regular TMS in order to assess patterns of response over time. The authors …

Treatment Resistant Depression – More Clues to Predicting Response – VAST-D

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Clues that can help us provide more effective care for those with treatment resistant depression are urgently needed. Sidney Zisook and colleagues report an analysis of the data from a large study of veterans with chronic depression (VAST-D) and conclude that two clinical features can help predict likely response to medications changes for some patients who have failed at least …

Ketamine Short Term Treatment Strategies

Peter ForsterGPS, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

What are the best strategies for using ketamine to treat major depression in the short term? Although we know that ketamine (and, now, esketamine) can be helpful we really don’t know that much about what strategy works best. The most commonly used ketamine infusion protocol is adapted from studies using ketamine to treat chronic pain. An article in the March …

Antidepressant Diet

Antidepressant Diet Cookbook

Peter ForsterMajor Depression, Physical Conditions and Health, Self Care, Treatments of Depression Leave a Comment

Two recent studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet may be an antidepressant diet as well as the diet that reduces heart disease, inflammation, and the risk of dementia. In the SMILES trial 65 patients with depression were randomized to a Mediterranean diet based intervention (a diet support group) or a social support group. The group excluded people who were treatment …