The Week in Review: April 17-21

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This week, Psychiatric Times® covered a wide variety of psychiatric issues and industry updates, from eating disorders in entertainment to early intervention for schizophrenia. Here are some highlights from the week.

Progress Made Toward the Approval of Treatment of Agitation Associated With Alzheimer Dementia

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A Joint Meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was held to discuss the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) of Rexulti (brexpiprazole) for the treatment of agitation associated with Alzheimer dementia.

Announced by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc and Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals LLC, the meeting included discussion of the results from 2 positive clinical phase III studies, Study 331-12-283 and Study 331-13-213, which were included in the sNDA. The committee voted 9 to 1 that Otsuka and Lundbeck had provided data sufficient to allow the identification of a population that is experiencing greater benefit than risk when being treated with Rexulti for agitation associated with Alzheimer dementia. Continue Reading

Early Intervention for Schizophrenia on the Horizon: Implications for Clinicians and Patients

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Schizophrenia is one of the most recognized yet least understood chronic brain disorders. The estimates of the international prevalence of schizophrenia among noninstitutionalized individuals are 0.33% to 0.75%. Schizophrenia is complex and characterized by substantial biological and clinical heterogeneity that varies significantly from person to person, leading to missed diagnosis and conflation with other diseases or drug use.

For instance, psychosis is a hallmark trait of schizophrenia but it may also be present in other clinical conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, certain personality disorders, and delusional disorders. Furthermore, stimulant and cannabis use as well as psychedelics can cause individuals to have temporary psychosis-like symptoms. Continue Reading

A Different March Madness: College Mental Health

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As the NCAA “March Madness” basketball tournament reached its emotional peak, thousands of high school students and parents experienced a March madness of their own as they awaited college acceptance decisions—and ultimately decided upon a school. This is a process that is by turns demanding and emotional, exhilarating and frightening, affirming and deflating.

What college a student ultimately attends will indelibly influence their future, personally and professionally—so as University Admissions Officers pore over reams of applications, student applicants and their parents engage in a vetting process of their own. They will carefully research and weigh several factors in their decision: the university’s reputation, tuition cost, curriculum quality, campus environment, social life—even the caliber of the sports teams. Continue Reading

Eating Disorder Exploitation in Entertainment: Helping the Artists and Their Fans

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In the biopsychosocial assessment model of eating disorders (EDs), social factors influencing these diagnoses often involve considering the patient’s relationship with media. This may range from pro-ED content on social media platforms, to songs, movies, or TV shows about living with an ED. It is important to understand the positive and negative influences of ED-related media in a patient’s life, especially if these influences are perpetuating factors for the disorder. A key factor for ED recovery may involve engaging with patients to limit influences which appear to worsen ED symptoms.

Many artists who have struggled with an ED are generating content that is promoted by the entertainment industry. When these conditions go unaddressed, the artists’ content has the potential to influence its consumers. Continue Reading

See more recent coverage from Psychiatric Times here. And be sure to stay up-to-date by subscribing to the Psychiatric Times E-newsletter.

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