Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) do not increase the risk of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder relative to those not treated with AEDs or lithium, according to a study published in the December 2009 Archives of General Psychiatry. In addition, AED use reduces the rates of suicide attempts both relative to patients not receiving psychotropic medication and relative to their pretreatment levels. Researchers conducted a pharmacoepidemiologic study in which rates of suicide attempts were compared before and after treatment, and against a medication-free control group. “Overall, there was no significant difference in suicide attempt rates for patients treated with an AED (13 per 1,000 person-years) versus patients not treated with an AED or lithium (13 per 1,000 person-years),” the investigators stated. “In AED-treated subjects, the rate of suicide attempts was significantly higher before treatment (72 per 1,000 person-years) than after (13 per 1,000 person-years).”

Multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms may be controlled by a combination of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) extracts, according to a report in the December 4, 2009, online BMC Neurology. Investigators systematically reviewed six studies for treatment dosage and duration, objective and subjective measures of spasticity, and reports of adverse events. “Although there was variation in the outcome measures reported in these studies, a trend of reduced spasticity in treated patients was noted,” the investigators stated. “Although some objective measures of spasticity noted improvement trends, there were no changes found to be significant in posttreatment assessments,” stated the researchers. “However, subjective assessment of symptom relief did often show significant improvement posttreatment.”

People born in the US stroke belt have an elevated stroke mortality, per a study in the December 1, 2009, Neurology. Those who also live in a stroke belt state (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, or Alabama) during adulthood have an increased risk. Researchers observed stroke mortality rates for US born black and white people (ages 30 to 80) for 1980, 1990, and 2000 for strata defined by birth state and state of adult residence. “Compared to those living outside the stroke belt at birth and adulthood, odds ratios for stroke belt residence at birth and adulthood for black subjects were 1.55 in 1980, 1.47 in 1990, and 1.34 in 2000,” the investigators stated. “Comparable odds ratios for white subjects were 1.45, 1.29, and 1.34.”

—Laura Sassano

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