Baylor out

From WTVQ 36 in Lexington comes this tidbit:

Doctors at Baylor College of Medicine are testing the use of electroencephalography (EEG) as a potential measure of treatment response in depression. Laura Marangell, M.D., Psychiatrist says in patients with depression, the front areas of the brain aren’t working properly. Medications help the brain to “wake up” and regain more normal function. EEG is a measure of brain activity. In theory, if a medication has any effect on the brain, doctors should be able to measure the response with an EEG. Once medication is started, the EEG can detect the brain changes within a few days (versus several weeks for observational changes).

Researchers are testing EEG with two FDA-approved medications: Lexapro® or Wellbutrin XL®. Patients will receive one or a combination of the two drugs. If EEG proves to be a good prediction tool for medication response, patients will be able to avoid long, fruitless trials of medication and get effective treatments faster. In addition to Baylor College of Medicine, the study is also taking place at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Texas Southwestern, UCLA and University of California San Diego.

I like how the doctor is called Laura Marangell, M.D., Psychiatrist. Errant capitalization, yes, but fun.

liz | 11:04 AM | Uncategorized