The Johns Hopkins
Depression and Anxiety Bulletin

Board of Advisors

Yours to keep without obligation!

Dear Friend:

More than 19 million Americans suffer from clinical depression — a serious and debilitating health challenge that is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and can be difficult to treat. If you or a loved one are among them, I’m delighted to bring you some very reassuring news:

Johns Hopkins Medicine is introducing a first-of-its-kind resource devoted exclusively to depression and related mood disorders — and this is your invitation to become a Charter Subscriber.

The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin is a unique, in-depth quarterly review of the latest findings and information on depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. It's an indispensable resource for anyone who has ever experienced depression or has a family history of mood disorders—and for the family members and caregivers they depend on.

Johns Hopkins is one of the leading medical institutions in the world for treatment of depression and mood disorders. The Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center continues our long tradition of pioneering research in the field of mental health, and provides exceptional clinical care to thousands of patients with depression and anxiety disorders each year. As the Director of Clinical Programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center, I’m proud of the reputation we’ve earned. But I take even greater pride in making the successful therapies used by our Johns Hopkins experts available to patients and their loved ones worldwide.

If you suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, or an anxiety condition such as panic attacks or obsessive-compulsive disorder… if you have a family history of mental illness that may require familiarity with preventive strategies… if a loved one is presently experiencing the isolation of depression or anxiety…even if you have been successfully treated for a mood disorder and simply want to stay on top of the latest research… The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin will serve as an essential resource in optimizing your health care regimen.

In fact, the information in The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin is so fresh and important, quarterly issues are sent via Priority Mail to ensure their timely delivery.

To help you start your subscription with the latest findings on a wide range of depression-related medical issues, we’re including five Johns Hopkins Special Reports absolutely FREE, as both instant downloads you can access right now, and in the mail with your first issue. They’re yours to keep even if you decide not to continue with your subscription to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin. More about your FREE Special Reports in just a moment. First…

Decisions about mental health care require great expertise and depth of knowledge. With so much information — and misinformation — about mental health disorders being reported in the media, even your own doctor or therapist may not be able to guide you to the most up-to-date treatment strategies — strategies that can make an enormous difference in your health and well-being.

The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin delivers practical insights from a team of Johns Hopkins experts, to help you improve your medical outlook, and reclaim your quality of life. Each quarterly issue includes:

• The Medical Editor’s Letter. Your personal briefing on the latest research into depression and anxiety disorders: first-hand reports from medical conferences; breaking news of promising therapies and medications; announcements of clinical trials in which you may wish to participate — and more.

• In-Depth Reports. Each issue will include one or more In-Depth Reports on topics that can have a major impact on your course of treatment: optimal combination therapies that are improving success rates in treating depression; promising non-drug therapies; investigational studies that may offer breakthroughs in the coming years; plus disorder-specific reports delivering the very latest options for treating anxiety disorders, treatment-resistant depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, and much more.

• Grand Rounds. An unprecedented opportunity to pose your personal questions about depression and anxiety to our Johns Hopkins specialists. As a valued subscriber, you’re invited to join an exceptional forum in which readers can gain valuable medical knowledge from a free exchange of information with leading experts in their respective fields.

There’s no better way to appreciate the value of your quarterly issue of The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin than to sample its information. In issue after issue, you’ll benefit from meticulously researched, evidence-based facts about medication breakthroughs, new treatments for depressive illnesses, important trends in psychotherapy, off-label medication practices, behavioral interventions, combination therapies — and much, much more. Here’s a brief review of what we've published recently:

• Are prescription drugs the source of your depression? See our list of commonly prescribed medications that can trigger episodes of mania, depression, and other mood disorders.

• A remarkable new treatment for treatment-resistant forms of depression that some scientists now believe will make a major change in the way mood disorders are diagnosed and treated.

• Why researchers are taking a closer look at light therapy: according to recent studies, it’s not only as effective as Prozac for treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — but for combating other mood disorders as well.

• New FDA approved drug patch for depression.

• Botox for depression? Researchers are looking into an intriguing link between Botox injections — and a dramatic decline in symptoms of depression.

• How a common B vitamin may improve response to drug therapy for some patients.

• Best types of fitness activities for easing depression and anxiety. New evidence suggests that exercise can relieve and perhaps even prevent depression.

• Type of food associated with lower levels of depression in global population studies.

• Best resources for finding a qualified mental health care professional. The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin provides Web sites and toll-free phone numbers to help you get started.

• The astonishing mood-improving effects of pets — and how to benefit from them.

• Physical symptom to watch out for after childbirth — it’s the most accurate sign of developing postpartum depression.

• Special form of therapy that may be of particular benefit to those prone to compulsive hoarding — a mental disorder that affects an estimated one million Americans.

• 8 critical steps to help a loved one suffering from depression.

• How a new form of electrical stimulation may help people suffering from major depression — as well as those with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

• Simple visualization technique that can be used to stop a panic attack in its tracks.

• Investigational therapy that appears to halt many cases of depression — without drugs.

• Is your teenager depressed — or bipolar? Average length of time until a correct diagnosis is made: 10 years! The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin helps you identify symptoms — and access the support you need to find a qualified professional to help your loved ones.

• Antidepressant least likely to cause sexual dysfunction (some patients actually report pro-sexual effects).

• How a new brain imaging technique helps to determine which depressed patients can be treated successfully with cognitive behavioral therapy.

• The surprising link between depression and hormones.

• Skin sensitivity? It could be your antidepressant. Our guide to side effects has the facts.

• How an innovative therapy first developed for Parkinson’s patients may hold the key to alleviating severe cases of depression.

• Commonly-prescribed antidepressant that may increase the risks of birth defects if taken during the first trimester.

• A frequently overlooked non-drug treatment option that has proven as effective against mental disorders as antidepressant medications.

• New pharmaceutical options for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

• A little-known mood disorder sometimes misdiagnosed as depression. Serious problems can result when it is treated with antidepressants.

• Why switching antidepressants — or adding a second antidepressant to your treatment — may be the key to relieving depression.

• 7 essential questions to ask before choosing a doctor to treat depression or anxiety.

• Short-term talk therapy that relieves depression by helping patients make small changes in the way they think. Doctors are now reevaluating it for a variety of conditions from obsessive compulsive disorder and depression to panic attacks.

• Antidepressant medication that requires regular blood pressure monitoring.

• A simple lifestyle change that can help alleviate depressive symptoms.

• Commonly overlooked health conditions that may result in depression or anxiety.

• New insights into COBAD Syndrome — a combination of childhood-onset bipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder that afflicts adults later in life.

• Do-it-yourself techniques that can help you prevent, reduce, or recover from depression.

• Hidden risks of depression. According to a new Swedish study, depression increases the risk of coronary heart disease — especially in younger people. Find out about a new medical protocol that may prevent future problems.

• Chocolate for depression? Despite the media hype, it may not be a good idea. New evidence suggests that a chocolate binge may actually exacerbate depression in those with clinical symptoms.

• A commonly prescribed antidepressant medication that also appears to significantly reduce anxiety — as well as the painful physical symptoms that sometimes accompany it.

• Are generic antidepressants as effective as their brand name equivalents? Maybe not, according to recent findings. Each issue of The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin includes urgent health alerts you’ll want to share with your physician.

• How an anti-epilepsy medication is being used to combat sexual dysfunction in patients being treated for anxiety disorder.

• Why depression is often undiagnosed in the elderly.

• Late-onset bipolar disorder: special cautions for senior citizens.

• Should cardiac patients be treated with antidepressants? A surprising new study offers evidence that it might prevent future heart attacks!

• Are drugs the best treatment for depression? According to a recent study, a specific form of talk therapy may work just as well — with lower relapse rates for some types of depression.

• Type of antidepressant medication that poses the greatest risk of death from overdose.

• What to do when antidepressants fail to alleviate depression — the latest medical options for treatment-resistant depression.

You can expect this kind of cutting edge information in every issue of your subscription to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin. But that's not all!

FREE Report #1: A Guide to Antidepressants. Physicians now have a growing array of options to consider in prescribing antidepressant drugs — including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics, tetracyclics, dopamine reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Our Special Report will help you understand the pros and cons of different drug therapies — and find out why many patients benefit from switching or combining medications. Essential reading for anyone considering, or being treated with, antidepressants.

FREE Report #2: Psychotherapy: Understanding Your Options. What are the advantages and disadvantages of psychotherapy — and which type of talk therapy is right for you? Psychotherapy has proven effective in treating mild and moderate forms of depression — and can be combined with drug therapy to treat severe depression as well as bipolar disorder. Our Special Report explains the different types of psychotherapy and offers practical advice on finding a therapist.

FREE Report #3: Getting Relief from Light Therapy. In a major research review commissioned by the American Psychiatric Association, light therapy was found to be effective in treating both seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and non-seasonal depression. But the range of light treatment options is growing, and now includes dawn simulators, light boxes, lamps, and sun visors. Our Special Report gives you an up-to-the-minute medical assessment of available devices — along with some important cautions regarding bright-light therapy.

FREE Report #4: The Johns Hopkins Supplemental Mood Prescription. Johns Hopkins experts offer research-proven techniques for alleviating common physical symptoms associated with depression. Discover practical tips for preventing and combating depression and anxiety with improved nutrition, moderate exercise, and better sleep habits. It adds up to a state-of-the-art prescription for improving your mood, based on findings from the latest research studies.

FREE Report #5: Is It Normal Worrying — or Anxiety Disorder? If you’ve ever wondered whether your levels of anxiety are beyond the norm, don’t miss this revealing Special Report. A clear, easy-to-read checklist helps you determine whether you’re responding normally to life’s challenges, or suffering from an anxiety disorder. Find out about the five primary types of anxiety disorders… how to distinguish a heart attack from a panic attack… and much more.

In addition to this special discounted rate, all five Special Reports are also yours FREE without obligation, as both instant electronic downloads as soon as you place your order, and printed copies which will arrive with your first issue of The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin. Keep them with our compliments and best wishes, even if you decide not to continue with your subscription to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin.

As a friend of Johns Hopkins, you’re invited to accept a subscription to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin on a risk-FREE basis — so you can see for yourself how valuable its information can be in optimizing treatment of depression and anxiety. The Charter Subscription cost is just $149 for four quarterly issues — a savings of $46 off the regular subscription price. Your satisfaction is unconditionally guaranteed: if you’re dissatisfied in any way, simply notify us that you wish to cancel. You’ll receive a prompt refund of your entire subscription cost, no questions asked. Keep the five Special Reports with our compliments, just for looking over The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin.

Subscribing to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin is a small proactive step you can take right now that can make an enormous difference in your medical outlook.

Start your subscription today! It could be one of the smartest health decisions you'll ever make.

Sincerely,

Karen L. Swartz, M.D.
Director of Clinical Programs, Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Medical Editor, The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin

P.S. You don’t have to face the challenges of depression or anxiety disorder alone. Let our team of Johns Hopkins experts help you and your physician find the optimal course of treatment for your unique situation. Order your risk-FREE introductory issue to The Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin and five FREE Special Reports today.

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Johns Hopkins introduces The Depression and Anxiety Bulletin: Up-to-the-minute, scientically validated information to help you make better informed medical decisions.

Information on depression and mood disorders so fresh, we deliver your Bulletin to your door by Priority Mail every three months.

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Karen L. Swartz, M.D.,
Director of Clinical Programs,
Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center

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