Editor’s Message and Issue Highlights: May-June 2015

In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of escitalopram on autonomic reactivity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study comprised a 12-week, Phase IV, prospective, open-label trial of escitalopram in veterans with combat-related PTSD and comorbid depression. While the authors observed a reduction in PTSD and depression symptoms and that escitalopram was generally well tolerated in their study sample, they also observed a decrease in high frequency heart rate variability and an increase in QT variability, indicating a reduction in cardiac vagal function and heightened sympathetic activation. The authors concluded that escitalopram treatment in patients with PTSD and depression can trigger changes in autonomic reactivity that may adversely impact cardiovascular health. Next, we present a case report by Rastogi et al titled, “Recurrence of Lobar Hemorrhage: A Red Flag for Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-related Inflammation?” The authors present the case of a 68-year-old woman with acute onset of confusion and a history of recurrent lobar intracerebral hemorrhage related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy. In addition to previous sequelae of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, brain imaging revealed a new lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors diagnosed the patient as having cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation and initiated corticosteroid therapy, to which she responded positively with almost complete resolution of the lesion and significant cognitive ...
Source: Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Editor's Message: Issue Highlights Neurology Psychiatry Amir Kalalli CNS drug development Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience trial methodology Source Type: research