Mood stabilizers protect against suicide and all-cause mortality in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), including natural mortality, with lithium emerging as the most protective agent, new research suggests. Investigators led by Pao-Huan Chen, MD, of the Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, evaluated the association between the use of mood stabilizers and the … Read more
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released updated and expanded recommendations for prescribing opioids for adults with acute and chronic pain not related to cancer, sickle cell disease, or palliative/end-of-life care. The 2022 Clinical Practice Guideline provides guidance on determining whether to initiate opioids for pain; selecting opioids and determining opioid … Read more
Long-awaited global transgender care guidelines have dropped, with no recommendations regarding age limits for treatment and surgery in teenagers but acknowledging the complexity of dealing with such adolescents amid lack of longitudinal research on the impact of transitioning gender. The World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) published its latest standards of care (SOC) 8 … Read more
GLASGOW — Dermatologists do not feel confident in independently prescribing antipsychotic medications for patients with delusional infestation, shows a UK survey that also indicated there is a clear demand for training in prescribing these drugs. Delusional infestation is a rare disorder characterized by an individual’s belief that his or her skin, body, or immediate environment … Read more
A large meta-analysis sheds light on the best antipsychotic maintenance strategy to prevent relapse in clinically-stable schizophrenia — with some unexpected results that have potential implications for changes to current guidelines. Consistent with the researchers’ hypothesis, continuing antipsychotic treatment at the standard dose, switching to another antipsychotic, and reducing the dose were all significantly more … Read more
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina ― Psychiatrists should prescribe metformin early to patients who experience rapid weight gain after they begin taking antipsychotic drugs, according to a new evidence-based Irish guideline for the management of this common complication in adults with psychoses who are taking medications. The document was discussed during one of the sessions of … Read more
Editor’s note: Find the latest COVID-19 news and guidance in Medscape’s Coronavirus Resource Center. Misinformation about nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (PaxlovidPfizer) for treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in patients at high risk for severe disease is feeding misunderstanding among prescribers and patients, two experts from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) said on Friday. They briefed reporters on potential … Read more
The use of isotretinoin to treat acne was not associated with an increase in adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes, compared with the use of oral antibiotics, in a large retrospective cohort study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. Although severe neuropsychiatric effects associated with isotretinoin therapy in patients with acne have been reported, “the evidence base…is … Read more
According to estimates by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 3 million people have already fled from Ukraine. As of March 18, around 200,000 of these refugees had fled to Germany, according to information from that country’s police force. They are escaping from bombs, tanks, and the destroyed infrastructure of their … Read more
The first comprehensive guidelines to manage pregnant women with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been released. Pregnant women with AN are at greater risk of poor outcomes including stillbirth, underweight infant, or pre-term birth, yet there are no clear guidelines on the management of the condition. “Anorexia in pregnancy has been overlooked area of clinical care … Read more
