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A study was conducted to investigate and describe the major depressive disorder (MDD) rates, predictors, clinical outcomes and treatment methodologies during the first year following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Results indicated that 53.1% of patients with TBI had MDD during the first year and was an independent predictor of poorer quality of life.

A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 6 gms of estradiol therapy as a form of treatment for women with hormone receptor-positive, aromatase inhibitor-resistant advanced breast cancer. Results indicated that a dosage of 6 mg was as effective as that of 30 mg and was better as it had fewer serious adverse events.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of antidepressants in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Results indicated that antidepressants improved health-related quality of life in patients with FMS, along with reducing pain and sleep disturbances.

The quality of life in both women and men appears to improve substantially after coronary artery bypass surgery. Researchers surveyed 240 men and 66 women six months after their surgery and asked them about their ability to function physically, socially and mentally. The women were older on average than the men, had more severe angina and were more likely to have had a heart attack. Mortality rates immediately after surgery were higher in the women, but this was due to other factors rather than gender. Both women and men reported substantial improvements in their quality of life after surgery and the gains were approximately equal., Objective.--To assess whether physical and psychosocial functioning differs between women and men after coronary artery bypass surgery. Design.--Observational cohort study. Setting.--Major teaching hospital. Patients.--A total of 454 consecutive patients who received coronary artery bypass surgery from June 1989 through March 1990. Main Outcome Measures.--Nurse reviewers collected data on the severity of coronary artery disease and coexisting illnesses from medical records. A mailed survey measuring instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), social activities, mental health, and vitality was completed by 306 (70.2%) of 436 patients who were alive 6 months after surgery. Functioning on each scale was adjusted for age, marital status, education, severity of angina, recent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and coexisting illnesses at the time of surgery. Results.--Before surgery, women were much more likely than men to have had class IV angina (50.9% vs 30.4%), a recent myocardial infarction (32.1% vs 18.0%), and congestive heart failure (34.0% vs 17.6%) (all P.20). Women reported similar or greater adjusted improvements than men for IDALs (27.2 vs 19.6, P=.08), social activities (20.8 vs 8.0, P=.002), mental health (11.2 vs 5.7, P=.05), and vitality (22.2 vs 12.9, P=.04). Conclusions.--Women were more severely ill than men at the time of coronary artery bypass surgery, but women and men reported similar physical and psychosocial functioning 6 months after surgery. These findings demonstrate important functional benefits of this procedure among both women and men.

The quality of life for many elderly people during their last year of life has improved. Researchers analyzed reports from next of kin on the last year of life of 9,179 elderly people in 1986 and 6,735 elderly people in 1993. Both women and men used no more health care services in 1993 than in 1986 and women actually used fewer services in 1993. This was true even in those 85 years or older. In women aged 65 to 84, the number with impairments in at least 2 activities of daily living increased.

Weight loss can significantly improve the quality of life for many women. In a study of 40,098 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study, 39% maintained their weight over a 4-year period, 38% gained weight, and 17% lost weight. Weight gain led to decreased physical function and vitality and increased body pain. These effects were reversed in women who lost weight. This was true even in elderly women. The average body weight of adult Americans has increased 7.6 pounds since the mid-1980s.

Researchers and clinicians discussed the challenges to improving quality of life and long-term care of cancer survivors at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The health status of adult survivors of childhood cancers is assess by the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and found that, compared with a healthy sibling, an individual treated for cancer in the 1970s or 1980s was four times more likely to have a moderate, severe, life-threatening disabling, or fatal health problem.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have a negative impact on many women, particularly those who have heart disease. It also isn't clear that HRT can prevent heart disease in women who don't have it, and it may even increase their risk of blood clots, gallbladder disease, and breast cancer.

Much research is still needed on the effectiveness of neonatal intensive care for extremely low-birth-weight babies. A 1996 study that followed a group of low-birth-weight babies until they were teenagers found that many of the teens scored equally well on measures of quality of life as teens who had a normal birth weight. However, this does not prove that intensive care is effective, since it was not commonly used at the time they were born. In addition, the results of the study may not be applicable to other groups of premature infants.