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EXPANDED TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4 APRIL 2001
TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS
SUICIDALITY
Patients with cluster B personality disorders who have a history of self-mutilation are found to underestimate the lethality of their suicide attempts.

OBESITY
Internet technology is found to be effective in the delivery of a behavioral weight loss program.

DEPRESSION
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) that achieves a reduction of symptoms of depression is associated with a high rate of relapse within 6 months. Continuation pharmacotherapy using a combination of nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor) and lithium following ECT is found to lower the rate of relapse.

DEPRESSION
Poor marital adjustment at the end of treatment for depression is found to be associated with greater severity of depression for an extended period of time after the end of treatment.

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Gabapentin (Neurontin) may be effective in the treatment of cocaine dependence.

OF NOTE
Concerns linking autism with the mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are not supported by a large-scale study.

An advisory on Internet gambling and addiction was recently issued by the American Psychiatric Association.

Drinking onset prior to the age of 21 is associated with subsequent alcohol-related injuries, based on survey data on 42,862 adults.

PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY NOTE
A study of admissions to a psychiatric inpatient unit found that a significant proportion of psychiatric hospitalizations had occurred due to apparent antidepressant-associated manic or psychotic symptoms.

PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG COMPARISON STUDY
DEPRESSION: venlafaxine (Effexor) vs selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

FDA NEWS AND REVIEW
Approval: Buspirone (BuSpar) tablet is now available in generic form. Mylan (a manufacturer of generic buspirone) gained approval for generic buspirone on March 28, 2001 after taking its case to court. Buspirone is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.

ASSESSMENT
Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC-2L)

RESOURCES
Each issue presents descriptions of clinical resources (eg, professional materials, patient handouts) and information on how to receive those materials.