The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of utilizing a pharmacogenomic testing report to guide the selection and dosing of psychotropic medications in an outpatient psychiatric practice. The non-randomized, open label, prospective cohort study was conducted from September 2009 to July 2010. In the first cohort, depressed patients were treated without the benefit of pharmacogenomic testing (the unguided group). A DNA sample was obtained from patients in the unguided group, but the results were not shared with either the physicians or patients until the end of the 8-week study period. In the second cohort (the guided group), testing results were provided at the beginning of the 8-week treatment period. Depression ratings were collected at baseline and after 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Clinician Rated (QIDS-C16) and the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17). Clinician and patient satisfaction was also assessed. The reduction in depressive symptoms achieved within the guided treatment group was greater than the reduction of depressive symptoms in the unguided treatment group using either the QIDS-C16 (P=0.002) or HAM-D17 (P=0.04). We concluded that a rapidly available pharmacogenomic interpretive report provided clinical guidance that was associated with improved clinical outcomes for depressed patients treated in an outpatient psychiatric clinic setting.
Live kidney donation is increasing rapidly. Increases of blood pressure and proteinuria but no accelerated loss of renal function in kidney donors have been described. The credibility of this research is hampered by retrieval rates of only 50-70% of donors.We studied renal function, blood pressure, proteinuria, parathyroid hormone, 1,25(OH) 2 cholecalciferol and calcium and phosphate excretion in a live kidney donor cohort with a 93% retrieval rate. A comprehensive physical and laboratory examination including 24-h urine collection was conducted. None of the 152 donors had renal failure. Mean time after uninephrectomy was 11 ± 7 (range: 1-28) years. GFR had declined by 25%. Blood pressure had increased from 125 ± 15/79 ± 11 to 134 ± 19/81 ± 9 mmHg (p < 0.01) but remained significantly below normal. Fifty six percent of donors developed proteinuria (>150 mg/day), but only 10% had albuminuria. Nineteen percent had increased PTH, 30% had a decreased tubular reabsorption rate of phosphate. Regarding risk factors for a higher loss of GFR, greater increases in blood pressure or proteinuria no consistent picture emerged. Because of the high incidence of proteinuria and possible changes in bone metabolism inclusion of kidney donors in registries appears worthwhile.
Psychosocial risk factors like low socio-economic status, chronic family or work stress, social isolation, negative emotions (e.g., chronic depression or acute anxiety), and negative personality patterns such as Type-D-pattern or hostility, may contribute significantly to the development and adverse outcome of coronary heart disease. Therefore, systematic screening for psychosocial risk factors in cardiological practice is recommended in order to initiate adequate intervention strategies, e.g., to involve additional psychosocial counselling or treatment. Reliable methods to assess psychosocial risk factors are: (1) standardized, structured interviews; (2) standardized questionnaires, and (3) 'single-item' questions to be included into the cardiologists' clinical interviews. While structured interviews should be restricted to trained professionals, questionnaires are easily to administer, and have frequently been used in the field of cardiology. 'Single item' questions are sufficiently reliable and the most timesaving way to screen for psychosocial factors. For clinical practice, a two-step evaluation is recommended: firstly, cardiologists should include 'single-item' questions into their routine interview and/or use questionnaires in order to screen for a potential problem. Secondly, if problems are indicated, patients should be passed to qualified professionals for structured clinical interview. Instruments of all three methods are briefly presented, and implications for further treatment are discussed.
The Type D personality pattern, consisting of negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been shown by Denollet et al. to predict adverse prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease. For measuring the Type D characteristics, Denollet has devised the 14 item Type D scale (DS14). In the present study, this instrument was translated into German. The validity, reliability and adequacy of the German DS14 were then tested in 2421 persons, including cardiological and psychosomatic patients as well as healthy factory workers. The results document sound psychometric properties of the scale. Cronbach's alpha was 0.87 for the negative affectivity subscale and 0.86 for social inhibition. The two-factor structure of the original instrument could be clearly replicated. The prevalence rates of the Type D pattern were lowest in cardiological patients (25 %) and highest in psychosomatic patients (62 %). The prevalence in this German sample of cardiology patients was also lower than the one observed in healthy factory workers (32.5 %) and in CHD samples reported in the literature. These group differences could not be accounted for by differences in age and sex distribution. In conclusion, the DS14 is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used for an economic evaluation of the Type D characteristics in patients and healthy persons. The possible meaningfulness of the low Type D prevalence in cardiac patients and the prognostic relevance of this pattern require further study.
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