Lithium Favored in Treatment Effectiveness Study

Topics: Antipsychotics | Research Update

Review of: Lahteenvuo M et al, JAMA Psychiatry 2018;75(4):347–355 A new study from Finland shows that lithium may be more effective than other treatments in reducing the risk of psychiatric rehospitalization in patients with bipolar disorder. Using a nationwide Finnish database, the authors examined the risk of rehospitalization for 18,000 patient

Metformin to Control Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain in Children

Topics: Antipsychotics | Child Psychiatry | Pharmacology Tips

Metformin has been used off-label for weight loss in psychiatry for many years, much of it for help with adult weight gain as a side effect of atypical antipsychotics. However, most trials of metformin for weight loss were actually conducted on the child and adolescent population. This article will look at the quality of the data in our pediatric pop

Note From the Editor-in-Chief

Topics: Antipsychotics

We publish an issue on antipsychotics at least once a year, and it’s always a challenge to decide what to cover. There are dozens of antipsychotics, and most of them are approved for mood disorders as well as psychosis. I was lucky to be able to speak with Dr. Thomas Schwartz, whose wealth of clinical knowledge on neuroleptic use is astounding. He has

Clozapine: A Fresh Look

Topics: Antipsychotics | Free Articles | Pharmacology Tips | Practice Tools and Tips

Several trials show it to be a superior treatment option, yet clozapine remains the “red-headed stepchild” of antipsychotics. Even though large studies reveal clozapine has impressive efficacy, particularly with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, many of us are reluctant to use it. According to one study, of the 30% of patients who have treatment

Abilify MyCite: Patient Care Breakthrough or Patent Extender?

Topics: Antipsychotics | Free Articles | Pharmacology Tips | Practice Tools and Tips

You’ve probably heard about a new “digital pill” called Abilify MyCite. The product, which was FDA approved in November 2017, is the first drug in the U.S. with a digital ingestion tracking system. MyCite consists of an aripiprazole pill that contains an embedded tiny sensing device (about the size of a grain of sand) called the ingestible even

Prescribing and Managing Antipsychotics

Topics: Antipsychotics | Pharmacology Tips | Practice Tools and Tips | Registered Articles

TCPR: Dr. Schwartz, there are so many antipsychotics available. How do you choose in your own practice? Dr. Schwartz: Any drugs that have an FDA indication for a particular diagnosis are likely to be effective. I especially like to use those that have less risk of metabolic complications, such as ziprasidone, lurasidone, etc. If we are discussing eff

Estrogen Modulator Raloxifene Not Helpful for Schizophrenic Women

Topics: Antipsychotics | Research Update | Women's Issues in Psychiatry

Review of: Weiser M et al, J Clin Psychiatry 2017;78:e758–e765 Since estrogen can affect neurotransmitter functioning, there has been some interest in using estrogen modulators to treat psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) with some preliminary evidence for effectiveness in wo

Cannabidiol Could Alleviate Psychotic Symptoms in Schizophrenia

Topics: Antipsychotics | Research Update

REVIEW OF: Leweke FM et al, Transl Psychiatry 2012;2:e94 Research has shown that heavy cannabis use is associated with new-onset psychosis, so a study exploring the drug’s use as a treatment for schizophrenia is surprising, to say the least. Recall that cannabis is composed of more than 100 compounds, and that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is

Treatment of First Episode Psychosis in College Students: It Takes a Team

Topics: Antipsychotics | Child Psychiatry | Depressive Disorder

You are a psychiatrist working in a college student healthcare center when Anna, a junior, comes to your office escorted by her resident advisor. Anna describes feeling severely depressed. Sleeping excessively, she has missed most of her classes over the last two weeks. For the past week, she has heard voices telling her she is worthless and will never

Evaluating Psychosis in Children

Topics: Antipsychotics | Child Psychiatry | Depressive Disorder

CCPR: First of all, how common is psychosis in children? Dr. Cepeda: It depends on what population you are talking about. It is quite uncommon among all kids who show up at a primary care provider’s office. But in a child psychiatric practice, about 3%–5% of children have psychosis, and among children needing hospitalization, the rates are much

Take The CME Post-Test for Psychosis in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, August 2017

Topics: Antipsychotics | Child Psychiatry | Depressive Disorder

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only (December 31, 2017). By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 1 CME credit. Click here to take your CME test. Note: All of the CME tests are available in the “My Account” section of the site when you are logged

Large Study Finds Antipsychotic Use During First Trimester Does Not Increase Risk of Malformations

Topics: Antipsychotics | Research Updates

Metformin Use in Autistic Children Taking Atypical Antipsychotics

Topics: Antipsychotics | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Updates

Review of: Anagnostou E, Aman MG, Handen BL, et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2016;73:928–937. STUDY TYPE: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial Atypical antipsychotics are commonly used to reduce irritability and agitation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although effective, these medications lead to weight gain

Psychopharmacology in Jails: An Introduction [Free Article]

Topics: Antidepressants | Antipsychotics | Anxiety Disorder | Free Articles | Gender & Sexuality | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips

Metoclopramide Helps Clozapine-Related Drooling

Topics: Antipsychotics

Second-Generation Antipsychotics Do Not Raise Risk of Major Malformations

Topics: Antipsychotics | Psychopharmacology Tips | Research Updates

The Experience of Correctional Psychiatry

Topics: Antidepressants | Antipsychotics | Anxiety Disorder | Gender & Sexuality | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips | PTSD

Psychopharmacology in Jails: An Introduction

Topics: Antidepressants | Antipsychotics | Anxiety Disorder | Gender & Sexuality | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips

If you are interested in part-time correctional work, the best place to start is often the local jail—as opposed to a prison. What’s the difference between the two? A jail is a criminal justice facility operated by a city or county. It houses people who are awaiting trial or who have received short sentences, typically one year or less. In c

Psychopharmacology in Jails: An Introduction

Topics: Antidepressants | Antipsychotics | Anxiety Disorder | Gender & Sexuality | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips

If you are interested in part-time correctional work, the best place to start is often the local jail—as opposed to a prison. What’s the difference between the two? A jail is a criminal justice facility operated by a city or county. It houses people who are awaiting trial or who have received short sentences, typically one year or less. In contrast,

The Experience of Correctional Psychiatry

Topics: Antidepressants | Antipsychotics | Anxiety Disorder | Gender & Sexuality | Practice Tools and Tips | Psychopharmacology Tips | PTSD

TCPR: Dr. Gariety, please tell us a bit about your background. Dr. Gariety: I’ve been in practice for 23 years, starting out in community mental health, followed by 13 years in the federal bureau of prisons. Currently I work for a large regional medical group in the private sector. TCPR: Tell me a bit more about the correctional setting. D