• Cannabis preparation licensed for spasticity in multiple sclerosis
• Published on Jul 20, 2010

An oral mucosal spray formulation of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (Sativex), derived from extracts of the cannabis sativa plant, has been launched in the UK for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.

• Botulinum toxin licensed for chronic migraine
• Published on Jul 20, 2010

Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) has received a UK licence from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the prophylaxis of headache in adults with chronic migraine, defined as headaches on at least 15 days of the month, of which at least eight are with migraine.

• Loss of brain volume in anorexia is reversible
• Published on Jun 09, 2010

A team of US psychologists and neuroscientists have found that adult brain volume, which can be reduced by anorexia nervosa, can be regained. The research, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, revealed that through specialist treatment patients with this eating disorder can reverse this symptom and regain grey matter volume.

• People with schizophrenia have better diabetes treatment adherence
• Published on Jun 09, 2010

People with schizophrenia who have diabetes are better at taking their oral hypoglycaemic drugs than people with diabetes and no co-morbidity, according to a US analysis of a prescription database involving over 20 000 patients (Schizophrenia Bull 2010;36:428-35).

• Genes regulating HPA activity may influence antidepressant response
• Published on Jun 09, 2010

Depression is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adreno cortical (HPA) hyperactivity and remission occurs with normalisation of this system. This, say researchers in the USA, China and Europe, raises the possibility that genes regulating HPA activity might influence the response to antidepressant treatment (Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010;67:369-79).