Posted by ace on May 29, 2008, at 1:43:35
In reply to Re: Clonidine Contributing to Depression? » ace, posted by SLS on May 28, 2008, at 5:28:48
> > I personally just don't like to discount any drug as a possible treatment, especially when dealing with refractory illness.
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> Yes, sir. Definitely.
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> > > What was the case profile of these folks. Does anything stick out in your mind as a commonality among individuals with depression whom respond favorably to clonidine?
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> > Very much so- the vast majority were diagnosed with ADHD or ADHD type symptoms. Although I have seen anecdotes on 'normal' depression (without co-morbidity) responding to it favourably. I believe I have some on trials on it too- for OCD, ADHD- always with depression as a co-morbid problem.
>
> The ADHD I knew about. Not the OCD. Interesting. I guess that makes sense if NE pathways to the frontal cortex are overactive.I know there are definitely some articles on it's use for OCD at PubMed (It's often been used as an augmentative agent) Basically, as to be expected, the results were not unequivocal by any means. I believe in some a defect in noradrenaline function was posted to be a viable explanation of their OCD sx. I(n others a different mechanism was posed.....One study, which I really want to find, documents a case where 20+ patients recieved great benefit when IV Clonidine was administered....
I think, for OCD, it is worth a shot- but certainly not a first-liner. With depression I would certainly leave it until a plethora of other treatments have been tried.
> > > Of course. However, I do not believe that inprecision is a de facto property of psychopharmacological treatment.
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> > At this point in time I would think it so. What would suggest otherwise to you at the present?
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> I don't think we are that far away from using microarray techniques to assess gene activity. Pinpointing which genes are over- or under- expressed might allow for the selection of specific drugs to an individual.
I have seen data on this- and am looking at some now as I type this, and it does look promising...I guess the most fundamental, and trenchant question is how far away is 'not too far away'?
Have you seen this article?
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/8/29
> About choosing medicine as a profession, you would not be the only physician to have a mental illness. I guess if Kay Redfield Jamison can do it, so can you.
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> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Redfield_Jamison
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> Good luck.
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> - Scott
I understand, and I checked out the link- thanks for that. You must of heard that statement Jung made about a physician 'washing his hands first' (before treating others)Would you say, per se, it would be unethical for a psychiatrist to be on the very medications he prescribes? I do feel a certain unethic inherent in this, although, negating this feeling is the fact that experiencing mental illness (and subsequently being pharcologically treated for it) would enhance ones capacity to empathise with 'patients'.
I do know many psychiatrists (on a personal level) (Also, my uncle is a psychiatrist) who certainly suffer mental illness, and a myriad of "Axis II" disorders. And I have noted (what I feel) is improper behaviour, due, to what I feel is their own psychiatric problems.
Maybe my whole anxiety about this is a manifestation of my own mental illness, I'm not sure?
Give me your thoughts!
Stay positive,
Andrew
poster:ace
thread:829199
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/831838.html