PsychBabel

A new study is reporting that descendants of people with a history of depression displayed large expanses of cortical thinning across the lateral surface of the right cerebral hemisphere. Tests on the participants showed that those with more thinning had greater difficulty with arousal, attention, and visual memory for social stimuli. Could cognitive problems lead to a greater chance for depression? Or is the thinning tied to a predisposition for depression in other ways?

See U.S. News & World Report – Health.

Just a quick note/reminder. Valproic acid can cause an increase in the concentration of phenobarbital and should be used with caution in those already on phenobarbital.

The use of valproic acid with other antiepileptic medications can also cause a decrease in the level of valproic acid itself because enzyme-inducing antiepileptic medications, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and primidone, will increase the metabolism of valproate.