St. John’s wort, an herb long thought to be effective for the treatment of depression, is used widely in many countries for this purpose and is available over-the-counter in the United States (but not approved by the FDA as an antidepressant). But clinical studies have sometimes yielded conflicting results, in part because of variations in study designs (such as the exact definition of depression) as well as variations in the preparation of the herbal extract and the dosages used. But a new meta-analysis has reviewed 29 separate studies involving nearly 5500 patients and found that, overall, St. John’s wort was more effective than placebo and similar in efficacy to both older antidepressants (such as those called tricyclics of which amitriptyline is typical) and newer ones (such as those called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, of which Prozac and Celexa are typical). Most of the patients studied […]
Original post by natalieb and weightlossopinions.com
Here’s an alarming statistic: on average, every day in the United States at least one doctor dies by suicide. Every year approximately 300 - 400 doctors take their own lives – roughly one a day, and more physicians commit suicide than do members of any other profession. Moreover, suicide among women physicians is especially high with a rate between 250 and 400 percent higher than females in other professions (the rate in male physicians is 70 percent higher than in other professions). And while men in the general population successfully complete suicide four times more frequently than do women, among physicians, the completion rates for the two sexes are equal. Thus, physician suicide is all too common and women are disproportionately affected.
To help address this problem, a new one hour high-definition documentary entitled Struggling in Silence: Physician Depression and Suicide is airing this month on many public […]
Original post by natalieb and weightlossopinions.com
Perhaps it’s because our readers live with chronic illnesses, perhaps it’s because we have several mental health communities, but, whatever the reasons, HealthTalk receives a disturbing number of e-mails from people discussing the possibility of their committing suicide. Did you know that suicide is the 11th most common cause of death in the U.S. and the third most common cause of death in the 15 – 24 year-old range, or that it’s often related to serious depression (including bipolar disorder), alcohol or substance abuse, chronic illness, and/or major stressful life events? People with the highest risk of suicide are white men, although women and teens report more suicide attempts.
When someone talks about suicide, it’s a serious matter, and you should listen carefully because they need help, and you may be the best person to provide it. Non-judgmental listening and offering emotional support may be critical to building trust. Suicide prevention hotlines […]
Original post by admin and weightlossopinions.com
