ECNP Report
Poster Highlights From the 2006 ECNP Meeting in Paris

October 16, 2006

The Single-Voxel Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Recurrent Depression — a Pilot Study

Dr. Silczuk and colleagues used single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HMRS) to compare the brains of patients with moderate or severe depression to those of healthy patients. Particular attention was paid to bilateral biochemical changes in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Depressed patients had higher Cho/Cr ratios in the hippocampus and mI/Cr ratios than healthy patients. P.1.e.012

Non-Invasive Measurement of Vagus Activity in the Brainstem — a Methodological Progress Towards Earlier Diagnosis of Dementias?

Dr. Fallgatter and colleagues hoped to shorten the time between onset and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. By using a non-invasive method to record evoked potentials following “electrical stimulation of the cutaneous representation of the vague nerve in the external auditory channel,” researchers found that latencies were significantly longer for patients with dementias versus healthy patients. P.1.b.003

The Efficacy of the Oestrogen Substitution Associated With Antidepressants in the Treatment of Menopausal Depression

Dr. Dan and colleagues augmented an anti-depressant (venlafaxine) with an estrogen substitute (medroxyprogesteron acetat) in women with menopausal depression. The mean HAM-A and CGI-I scores of these women improved favorably, and, after 3 months of treatment, indicated a significant improvement in personal interactions and sexual activity over women treated solely with venlafaxine. P.2.c.020

RAPSODY Registry of Patients With Painful Symptoms and Observation of Depression and Anxiety

Dr. Mignon and colleagues performed a cross sectional observational study of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic or acute pain. Out of 659 patients suffering from chronic or acute pain, 37.8% met criteria for depression, 25.2% met criteria for an anxiety disorder, and 14.9% met criteria for both depression and an anxiety disorder. Depression was also positively associated with female gender, marriage, lack of diploma, and “blue collar” employment. Anxiety disorders were more prevalent in females, the retired, and those with “blue collar” employment. P.2.a.034

Driving Ability in Adults With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Significantly Improves When Treated With Methylphenidate

Dr. Verster and colleagues examined the positive effect of methylphenidate on the driving ability of adult ADHD patients. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients in the methylphenidate group showed significant improvement in driving ability over the placebo group based on both objective measurements and subjective self-reports. P.8.a.039

Elaboration on the Association Between Urbanicity and Schizophrenia

By examining data on 376,623 Israeli-born males ages 16–17, Dr. Shmushkevitz and colleagues found that high-density urban dwellers are more susceptible to later schizophrenia, especially when combined with either poor social functioning and/or genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia. P.3.a.015