Psychopharmacology

Research on a new kind of cannabis treatment prepares to move forward.

As physicians first, psychiatrists must consider the big picture, without reflexive and thoughtless prescriptions for psychotropics—even if many, including medical professionals, assume that is all we do.

Nearly half of the prescriptions for benzodiazepine among older adults are potentially inappropriate, so how best to do no harm?

As our knowledge about herbal cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and cannabinoid pharmacology expands, should psychiatrists discuss these issues with their patients?

Although botulinum toxin does not have regulatory approval for the treatment of depression in the United States, some reports indicate neurotoxin treatment may mitigate symptoms.

Be on the lookout for these novel psychoactive substances.

When we finally open a trap door to explain or further understand a hypothesis, the answer often includes a house full of hallways.

How can the best insights of mainstream and critical psychiatry be brought together?

There is much to look forward to in the realm of improved treatments for patients with psychiatric illness.

Findings bring us closer to understanding schizophrenia that may enable clinicians to target symptoms.

Sildenafil and trazodone were inadvertently bottled together, posing serious health risks to consumers.

When switching to this long-acting injectable antipsychotic, how long should an oral pre-switch antipsychotic be continued? Find out in this quiz.

Drug-drug interactions are complicating COVID-19 treatment. Read what you need to know to keep yourself and your patients safe before and during COVID infection.

These techniques may help promote self-efficacy and elicit patients’ commitment to resolve ambivalence about treatment.

Which pharmacotherapeutic approach is most effective for cognitive enhancement? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

Although they may have been the result of good intentions, these mistakes could adversely impact mother and baby.

Two examples described here underscore the importance of understanding the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system

There are some off-label proposed uses for topiramate in comorbidities that are common in patients with bipolar disorder. What does the evidence say?

Sometimes our best intentions lead us down the wrong road. By reconsidering a few seemingly harmless questions, this psychiatrist was able to make the most of his medication-check visits with his patients.

Taken with an oral antidepressant, esketamine is now approved to treat symptoms of MDD in patients with acute suicidal ideation or behaviors.

Clinicians should keep in mind the risk-to-benefit ratio considerations before initiating polypharmacy, especially if they have patients with prescriptions inherited from several sources. Here: A summary of recommendations about the use of polypharmacy in psychotic disorders.

When is an adverse drug reaction actually a drug interaction? And vice versa? More in this video.

This innovative program at Massachusetts General Hospital addresses postoperative pain while preventing relapse in patients a history of opioid use disorder.

What are the benefits of using LAI antipsychotics? What are the major obstacles to adherence? Those questions and more in this podcast.

After receiving complaints, the FDA’s Office of Prescription Drug Promotion rebukes the pharmaceutical company for misleading advertising.

Psychotic violence is associated with primary psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. While it may be that psychotic violence is the least common type of violence in inpatient environments, it is also the most treatable.

Drug companies are investing more to study psychiatric disorders, and there may be novel treatments in the near future.

Do you need help persuading patients to try lithium?

Although multiple interventions exist for major depressive disorder (MDD), only partial response is achieved in many patients and recurrence is common. Combining medication and psychotherapy may enable more effective treatment of MDD.

The mixed bag of emotions described here should be familiar to any clinician, especially to a psychiatrist.