Articles in chronological order
Below is a list of all the current articles published on Behind the Medical Headlines, in the order they were published, most recent item first. If you are looking for something in particular, you can either search, or look through the articles in alphabetical order.
The pros and cons of SSRI antidepressants
The new generation of anti-depressants, SSRIs, were hailed as wonder drugs when they were first developed, but, in recent years, there has been much concern about possible withdrawal symptoms and a possible link between SSRI use and an increase in suicidal thoughts. How concerned should we be about SSRIs? Dr George Masterton reviews the evidence. Read…
Challenges in Ensuring Drug Safety
In recent years concerns have been expressed about the safety of some commonly used drugs. How safe are the drugs which we use? What systems are in place to monitor and review their safety, once on the market, and are such safeguards sufficient? Dr Keith Beard and Dr Patrick Waller review the evidence. Read…
Diabetes and Pregnancy
Diabetes has been reported as increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy including foetal abnormalities and infant death. How great are these risks and what can women with diabetes do to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications? Dr Robbie Lindsay and Dr Fiona Mackenzie review the evidence. Read…
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most misunderstood medical conditions. Despite a plethora of scientific evidence, it is still being regarded by some as a diagnostic excuse for appalling childhood behaviour due to inadequate or inappropriate parenting. In this article Dr Fiona Forbes, an expert in child and adolescent psychiatry, provides an overview to aid the diagnosis and treatment of this much misperceived condition. Read…
Statin therapy: pharmacology, current uses and widening potential
Cholesterol–lowering statins have become one of the most-widely used, and expensive, drugs of our time. Research has suggested that their use may go beyond that of preventing cardiovascular disease to providing benefit in a host of other disease areas. In this article Dr Simon Constable and Prof Munir Pirmohamed provide an overview on the current uses and widening potential of statins. Read…
