Kenneth J. Bender, PharmD, MA

A refined rTMS protocol, the Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy for major depressive disorder, shows promise in bipolar disorder.

Reports of suicidality with GLP-1RA antiobesity medication are supported by analysis of WHO data, but no association is found in large population cohort study or analysis of clinical trials.

Antidepressants posed "negligible" risk of inducing mania in bipolar depression, in a target trial emulation with a larger cohort than in RCTs that have assessed this effect.

Phase 2 trials suggest extended-release oral ketamine formulations could be alternative to clinic-administered treatment for resistant depression.

A review and meta-analysis of antipsychotic dose-response literature prompts a proposal for lower maximum target doses.

Esmethadone missed primary efficacy measure in phase 3 clinical trial after robust results in phase 2, possibly more to differences in the cohorts than the compound.

SSRI and SNRI antidepressants were deemed the safest classes of antidepressants in the event of excess dosing in an assessment of 14 antidepressants prescribed in the United States on 3 safety indices.

Guidelines from the World Health Organization's Mental Health Gap Action Program support nonspecialist health workers providing evidence-based treatments in underresourced regions.

Recent research sheds light on which antidepressants should be preferred as a first option for long-term use.

Investigational agent KarXT is a first-in-class muscarinic receptor agonist demonstrating antipsychotic efficacy and safety in short- and long-term clinical trials.

Antidepressants are differentiated by long-term response in a 2-year cohort study of patients with MDD.

“If we can show that serotonin loss over time is directly involved in the transition from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer disease, recently developed antidepressant medications may be an effective way to improve memory deficits and depressive symptoms and, thus, may be a powerful way forward to slow disease progression.”

Clinical trial compares outcomes with behavioral activation psychotherapy or antidepressant medication for depression in patients with heart failure.

A new study correlates reduced serotonin transporter and increased amyloid-ß deposition with cognitive deficits in mild cognitive impairment, suggesting a role for serotonergics in early Alzheimer disease.

RADAR trial finds more relapses when reducing than maintaining antipsychotic, but no difference in social functioning at 2 years.

The Psymatic Treatment Optimizer facilitates selecting agents ranked by adverse-effect profile with consideration of patient preference and tolerance.

TMS for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with long COVID appeared to improve their cognitive function and symptoms of depression.

Suicidal individuals with depression likely have diminished capacity to provide informed consent for treatment as well as low perceived need for help.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment appeared to lessen some neuropsychiatric symptoms of long COVID in an open-label pilot study.

Emergency department records reveal that youth experiencing disrupted sleep are at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

A study of treatment tolerance and therapeutic response in children and adolescents with OCD.

An overview of the largest study to examine persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) exposed to antidepressants late in pregnancy.

Progress in identifying and effectively treating first-episode schizophrenia was marked by the simultaneous publication of a report on a 6-year study and on the 10-year follow-up of a large-scale trial.

Patients with severe depression are more likely to have symptom remission with a combination of cognitive therapy and antidepressant medication than those with less severe or more chronic illness.

A recent meta-analysis supports evidence of the effectiveness of the fixed olanzapine/fluoxetine combination (Symbyax) in treating the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. Response was ranked higher, but with no more adverse effects, than with treatment with olanzapine alone.

In a new study, "as needed" use of an opioid antagonist for heightened alcohol craving appeared to reduce the number of heavy drinking days and total amount of alcohol consumed.

Results of a 10-week prospective study, recently reported at the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, offered no conclusive evidence about the mortality risk of elderly patients with Alzheimer disease who were treated with antipsychotics.

Given the likelihood that insufficient numbers of patients will be available for a randomized controlled trial of MAOIs in refractory depression or atypical depression, we must still rely on consensus guidelines and expert opinion.

The FDA Neurological Devices Panel met to consider the Agency’s proposal to reclassify cranial electrotherapy stimulator (CES) devices to Class III with premarket approval.

Much could be gained if an agreed minimum set of appropriate and important outcomes was measured and reported in all clinical trials in a particular area.