Sertraline

Why are so many Australians taking antidepressants?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

Around one in seven Australians take antidepressants; more than 3.5 million of us had them dispensed in 2021–22.

Key Points: 
  • Around one in seven Australians take antidepressants; more than 3.5 million of us had them dispensed in 2021–22.
  • Guidelines mostly recommend antidepressants for more severe depression and anxiety but not as first-line treatment for less severe depression.
  • So why are so many Australians taking antidepressants and why are prescriptions rising?

Enter the antidepressant ‘blockbusters’

  • In the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies heavily promoted new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants, including Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram).
  • These drugs were thought to be less dangerous in overdoses and seemed to have fewer side effects than the tricyclic antidepressants they replaced.
  • Pharmaceutical companies marketed SSRIs energetically and often exaggerated their benefits, including by paying “key opinion leaders” – high-status clinicians to promote them.

Why are antidepressants prescribed?

  • GPs also prescribe antidepressants to patients experiencing distress but who don’t have a psychiatric diagnosis.
  • Another, who cried when informed she had breast cancer, was immediately offered a prescription for antidepressants.
  • Most patients believe antidepressants restore a chemical imbalance that underpins depression.
  • Antidepressants are emotional (and sexual) numbing agents – sometimes sedating, sometimes energising.
  • Around half of users have impaired sexual function and for some, this sexual dysfunction persists after stopping antidepressants.

How long do people take antidepressants?

  • Around half of patients who start antidepressants don’t like them and stop within weeks.
  • Of those who do take them for months, many continue to use them indefinitely, often for many years.
  • Read more:
    Antidepressants can cause withdrawal symptoms – here’s what you need to know

We need to adjust how we view mental distress

  • Overprescribing antidepressants is a symptom of our lack of attention to the social determinants of mental health.
  • GPs also need to ensure they discuss with their patients the potential adverse effects of antidepressants, and when and how to safely stop them.
  • But the fundamental problem is social and can only be properly addressed by meaningfully addressing inequality and changing community attitudes to distress.


Jon Jureidini receives research funding from MMRF. He is affiliated with Critical Psychiatry Network Australasia.

LASSO Expands Leadership Team and Product Suite As Live Events Market Heats Up

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The appointments continue a pattern of momentum for LASSO, which grew 450% over the past three years while expanding its product suite and catching the attention of industry watchers.

Key Points: 
  • The appointments continue a pattern of momentum for LASSO, which grew 450% over the past three years while expanding its product suite and catching the attention of industry watchers.
  • LASSO’s success is being driven by an increase in consumer spending on live events.
  • According to Emergen Research, the worldwide event management software market reached a value of $7.43 billion in 2022.
  • “We’re excited to add Julie, Christy, Danielle, Kevin and Anthony to our leadership team,” said Clay Sifford, CEO of LASSO.

Ketamine can rapidly reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression, new study finds

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 8, 2023

The drug ketamine can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and symptoms of depression in patients as early as a day after injection.

Key Points: 
  • The drug ketamine can reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and symptoms of depression in patients as early as a day after injection.
  • Patients receiving ketamine saw their PTSD symptoms reduced by about 25% both at one day and one week after therapy.
  • Ketamine might be an effective bridge to immediately reduce patients’ symptoms until trauma-focused psychotherapy and other antidepressants can kick in.
  • What still isn’t known
    The big unknown with using ketamine for PTSD and depressive symptoms is how often the injections are needed.

Zuranolone for postpartum depression: Hope, hype or both?

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 31, 2023

While mothers with postpartum depression have always faced barriers accessing the care they need, things have been particularly bad since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Points: 
  • While mothers with postpartum depression have always faced barriers accessing the care they need, things have been particularly bad since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • However, the pandemic also coincided with a period of significant innovation in treatment that may increase access to and effectiveness of care.

Medications specifically for PPD

    • It represented the first of an entirely new class of medicines for postpardum depression (PPD), which target the steep decrease in hormones after delivery.
    • Brexanolone is a synthetic version of allopregnanolone, a naturally occurring substance made from progesterone, that helps the brain regulate stress.
    • Its approval in the U.S. was especially notable for two reasons: it was the first medicine approved specifically for the treatment of PPD, and it takes effect especially quickly — within 60 hours.
    • Early studies of zuranolone suggest PPD symptom improvement can be observed as early as three days after starting the treatment.

Behind the hype

    • If approved in Canada, it would also add to the array of effective treatments that already exist.
    • These include evidence-based talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, which are first-line treatments for mild to moderate PPD.
    • Antidepressant medications like the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIS, such as sertraline and escitalopram) are also widely available and usually recommended as second-line therapies for most individuals with PPD.
    • Only individuals with more severe depression that emerged between the third trimester of pregnancy and four weeks post-delivery could be enrolled.

PPD is still underdiagnosed

    • However, it is important in this case that we not lose sight of the fact that PPD is a vastly underdetected and undertreated problem for which safe and effective treatments already exist.
    • Research into treatments for PPD and the federal government’s actions in appointing a Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and prioritizing perinatal parents are also cause for genuine optimism.
    • While zuranolone is raising awareness about PPD, it’s important to highlight the need to develop national quality standards and Canadian-specific stepped-care models and care pathways.

New Market Research Forecasts Bullish Growth for Digital Signage Software Sector

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 30, 2023

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. , Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 22Miles, a global leader in experiential 3D wayfinding and digital signage technology, has partnered with Emergen Research, a leading market research company specializing in emerging technologies, to produce a comprehensive trend analysis and forecast for the digital signage software market.

Key Points: 
  • PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. , Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 22Miles , a global leader in experiential 3D wayfinding and digital signage technology, has partnered with Emergen Research, a leading market research company specializing in emerging technologies, to produce a comprehensive trend analysis and forecast for the digital signage software market.
  • This unprecedented report presents a broad survey of the digital signage software competitive landscape from 2023 to 2032, as well as growth predictions by region and vertical market; analyses of market drivers, restraints and opportunities; and technology trends.
  • The report also explores the adoption rates of various pricing models and deployment types within the digital signage software marketplace and the market size for digital signage software support and professional services.
  • The research finds that corporate applications comprise the largest share of the digital signage software market at 21 percent.

Circular Genomics Announces Two Significant Steps Forward in Linking CircRNA to the Detection, Therapy Selection and Monitoring of Depressive Conditions

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2023

“We’re excited to announce the findings from the EMBARC study and the ways in which we expect it to shape the future of depression treatment,” said Dr. Nikolaos Mellios, co-founder and CSO of Circular Genomics.

Key Points: 
  • “We’re excited to announce the findings from the EMBARC study and the ways in which we expect it to shape the future of depression treatment,” said Dr. Nikolaos Mellios, co-founder and CSO of Circular Genomics.
  • “While DNA-based pharmacogenomic tests are available, their ability to predict drug response or therapy monitoring is lacking and market adoption has been slow.
  • With our new findings, we can work to end the guessing game mental health patients currently have to go through.
  • In further developing its robust diagnostic and prognostic tests, Circular Genomics has closed an agreement with the ANTaRES consortium (The Biomarkers of ANTidepressant RESponse: early indicators and novel targets).

Circular Genomics Announces Two Significant Steps Forward in Linking CircRNA to the Detection, Therapy Selection and Monitoring of Depressive Conditions

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2023

“We’re excited to announce the findings from the EMBARC study and the ways in which we expect it to shape the future of depression treatment,” said Dr. Nikolaos Mellios, co-founder and CSO of Circular Genomics.

Key Points: 
  • “We’re excited to announce the findings from the EMBARC study and the ways in which we expect it to shape the future of depression treatment,” said Dr. Nikolaos Mellios, co-founder and CSO of Circular Genomics.
  • “While DNA-based pharmacogenomic tests are available, their ability to predict drug response or therapy monitoring is lacking and market adoption has been slow.
  • With our new findings, we can work to end the guessing game mental health patients currently have to go through.
  • In further developing its robust diagnostic and prognostic tests, Circular Genomics has closed an agreement with the ANTaRES consortium (The Biomarkers of ANTidepressant RESponse: early indicators and novel targets).

What is Metalevel? A new Metaverse trend has arrived for investors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 3, 2023

BERLIN, April 3, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Trends come and go, but it looks like the metaverse is firmly here to stay. In crypto, we've seen a wide range of trends: DeFi, NFTs, and now, metaverse tokens. One project hoping to capitalise on the metaverse trend is Metalevel, a community-centred platform aiming at the heart of GameFi.

Key Points: 
  • One project hoping to capitalise on the metaverse trend is Metalevel, a community-centred platform aiming at the heart of GameFi.
  • One project hoping to capitalise on the metaverse trend is Metalevel, a community-centred platform aiming at the heart of GameFi.
  • The metaverse, particularly metaverse gaming, is set to become one of the fastest-growing industries in the world over the coming years.
  • Given Metalevel's epic plans for the future, it's safe to say the platform could herald in a new metaverse trend: community-run game development across the metaverse.

FDA Provides Positive Feedback to Vistagen Regarding Use of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) as an Endpoint in Phase 3 Development of Fasedienol (PH94B) for Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 30, 2023

“With positive feedback from the FDA, we’re focused on advancing a clinical study design with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale as the primary endpoint to study the real-world effects of fasedienol over time,” said Shawn Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Vistagen.

Key Points: 
  • “With positive feedback from the FDA, we’re focused on advancing a clinical study design with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale as the primary endpoint to study the real-world effects of fasedienol over time,” said Shawn Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Vistagen.
  • “This is an important step forward, especially as SAD is becoming even more prevalent in a post-COVID world.
  • Dr. Liebowitz was among the clinical investigators involved in the registrational efficacy trials for all of these drugs, and all of such registrational trials were positive.
  • Results of the AjDA study may provide support for an as-needed (PRN) fasedienol dosing approach over time as the preferred mode of treatment.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Global Market Report 2022: Increasing R&D by Key Players Bolsters Growth - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 23, 2023

The "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Market, by Drug Class, by Route of Administration, by Age Group, by Distribution Channel and by Region - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Market, by Drug Class, by Route of Administration, by Age Group, by Distribution Channel and by Region - Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that may occur in people who have witnessed a traumatic shock like natural disaster, a life threatening event, car accident, sexual abuse etc.
  • Commonly prescribed drugs for post trauma stress disorder includes antidepressants, sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and others.
  • Increasing research and development activities by the key market players for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is expected to boost the growth of the global post-traumatic stress disorder treatment market over the forecast period.