Care, Concern, and Cautions

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FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Hippocrates is quoted as saying, “As to diseases, make a habit of 2 things—to help, or at least to do no harm.” In this issue of Psychiatric Times^TM, we aim to help you do just that. Our coverage of the Annual Psychiatric Times^TM World CME Conference^TM brings you the highlights and clinical pearls to help you better understand psychiatric illnesses and develop effective treatments for your patients. From the psychopharmacological wisdom of Sheldon H. Preskorn, MD, our Educator of the Year, to guidance in caring for members of special populations—and even yourself—the esteemed faculty shared their tips for providing top quality care.

That theme resonates in this issue, as experts share cautions and concerns to prevent negative outcomes. For example, Steve Adelman, MD, shares his thoughts on prescribing caution in the case of benzodiazepines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were almost 70,000 deaths attributable to opioids in 2020. Adelman further notes that concurrent use of benzodiazepine and opioids may occur in as many as 50% of opioid overdose deaths. In exploring the relationship between benzodiazepines and opioid use, he shares his concern and cautions for prescribing this class of medication.

Similarly, caution may be warranted in some cases when prescribing other psychotropic medications. Because some agents may trigger torsades de pointes, Margo C. Funk, MD, MA, and Junyang Lou, MD, PhD, share tips for understanding the fundamentals of QTc. With this knowledge and guidance, you will be better prepared to identify potential pitfalls and prevent problems.

Care, concern, and cautions are also discussed throughout our Geriatric Psychiatry Special Report. Chaired by Rajesh Tampi, MD, MS, DFAPA, the section discusses issues in sleep, posttraumatic stress disorder, and issues surrounding COVID-19. As the US population ages, it becomes more important to be aware of the unique concerns impacting older adults, and this Special Report aims to support those endeavors.

From cover to cover, we hope this issue of Psychiatric Times^TM provides you with the tools, tips, and insights to follow in Hippocrates’ footsteps and help you help patients. ❒