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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.03.005 Byline: Barbara A. Laraia, Judith B. Borja, Margaret E. Bentley Abstract: African Americans experience household food insecurity, ie, the limited availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways, at three times the rate of non-Hispanic whites. Thirty percent of all African-American children live in food-insecure households. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with household food insecurity among a high-risk postpartum population. Two-hundred six low-income, African-American mother-infant dyads were recruited through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children clinics. The six-item US Department of Agriculture food security scale was used to classify households as food secure, marginally food secure, or food insecure. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association between selected maternal/household characteristics and household food-security status. Fifty-three percent of households were food secure, 34% were marginally food secure, and 13% were food insecure. Maternal education less than college (relative risk ratio [RRR]=0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22 to 0.98) was inversely associated with marginal food security. Depressive symptoms (RRR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.16) and having the baby's father in the household (RRR=3.46; 95% CI: 1.22 to 9.82) were associated with household food insecurity, while having a grandmother in the household (RRR=0.15; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.80) was inversely associated with experiencing household food insecurity. Findings from this study suggest that young, low-income, African-American families with only one child are particularly susceptible to experiencing household food insecurity. Intergenerational support and transfer of knowledge can be a key protective attribute among low-income African-American households. Article History: Accepted 24 October 2008

A study was conducted to evaluate whether optimized antidepressant therapy in combination with pain management can successfully reduce depression among patients with musculoskeletal pain. Results indicated that the combined treatment methodologies resulted in a substantial improvement in depression and reduction in pain.

Objectives. This study examines whether the effects of neighborhood disorder on changes in levels of depression differ between the married and nonmarried, and whether these differences are because the married are less likely to experience a decrease in mastery due to neighborhood disorder. Methods. Data are derived from a longitudinal study of adults aged 65 and older in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area over a 2-year period (2001-2003). Results. Neighborhood disorder is positively related to change in depression and negatively related to change in mastery, but only for the nonmarried. Differences between the married and nonmarried in changes in mastery explain differences in effects of neighborhood disorder on change in depression. Conclusion. This research contributes to the study of aging and health by demonstrating that neighborhood conditions continue to affect mental health well into late life by shaping older adults' mastery, but a social connection to a marital partner helps mitigate these effects. Key Words: Neighborhoods--Marital status--Mental health--Perceived control--Stress.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a recently developed class-based program designed to prevent relapse or recurrence of major depression (Z. V. Segal, J. M. G. Williams, & J. Teasdale, 2002). Although research in this area is in its infancy, MBCT is generally discussed as a promising therapy in terms of clinical effectiveness. The aim of this review was to outline the evidence that contributes to this current viewpoint and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this evidence to inform future research. By systematically searching 6 electronic databases and the reference lists of retrieved articles, the authors identified 4 relevant studies: 2 randomized clinical trials, 1 study based on a subset of 1 of these trials, and 1 nonrandomized trial. The authors evaluated these trials and discussed methodological issues in the context of future research. The current evidence from the randomized trials suggests that, for patients with 3 or more previous depressive episodes, MBCT has an additive benefit to usual care. However, because of the nature of the control groups, these findings cannot be attributed to MBCT-specific effects. Further research is necessary to clarify whether MBCT does have any specific effects. Keywords: mindfulness, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), depression, treatment studies

Statistical analysis of hazardous drinking by veterans of the Royal Australian Navy after returning from action in 1991 Gulf war, to identify problems of depression and posttraumatic disorders, is presented.

Results of three studies on depression have revealed several clinical opportunities for reducing the intergenerational transmission of depression. Treating maternal depression as well as treatment of depressed fathers has been shown to benefit children and limit the chances of it spreading to the next generation.

CPT makes it clear that a physician doesn't have to be a psychiatrist to use psychiatric codes: It is important to recognize that the listing of a service or procedure [...]

Not all of us feel joyous during the holiday season. For some, this special time for festivities, feasting, and family reunions can generate overwhelming stress: Instead of peace and joy, [...]

Jul 16 In a small clinical trial, deep brain stimulation caused notable improvement in 60% of individuals with severe depression, lifting half of that group into full remission (Biol. Psychiatry, [...]

Although there is abundant evidence for a major role of dopamine and its receptors in affective disorders such as depression, details of the modulatory cascade by which dopamine receptors act [...]