Antipsychotic News and Research

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Antipsychotics are medicines used to treat the symptoms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic-depressive illness), anxiety disorders, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sometimes medications are used with other treatments such as psychotherapy.

Unnecessary transitions can lead to increased health problems in older adults with dementia

A transition is a physical move from one location to another with a stay of at least one night. For older adults, especially those with dementia, some transitions may be unavoidable and necessary. However, unnecessary transitions are linked to problems such as medication errors, hospital readmissions, and increased risk of death.

23 Mar 2016

Antipsychotic medications may not be effective in preventing delirium in hospitalized patients

A recent review of the medical literature does not support the use of antipsychotic medications for preventing or treating delirium in hospitalized patients.

23 Mar 2016

Warning of increased mortality risk for PD patients taking antipsychotics

Researchers have found a more than twofold increase in the risk of death among patients with Parkinson's disease who take antipsychotics, particularly typical antipsychotics.

23 Mar 2016

Antipsychotic drugs may do significantly more harm to Parkinson's disease patients

At least half of Parkinson's disease patients experience psychosis at some point during the course of their illness, and physicians commonly prescribe antipsychotic drugs, such as quetiapine, to treat the condition. However, a new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan Medical School, and the Philadelphia and Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and suggests that these drugs may do significantly more harm in a subset of patients.

21 Mar 2016

Could prebiotics benefit early life brain development? An interview with Dr Phil Burnet

Galacto-oligosaccharides are essentially sugar or saccharide molecules that have been joined together into short polymer chains.

16 Mar 2016

Immune-suppressing drug can improve cognitive ability of patients with schizophrenia

A recent study of a handful of patients supports mounting evidence that targeted suppression of inflammation packaged with standard therapy can improve the cognitive ability of patients with schizophrenia, physician-scientists report.

25 Feb 2016

Understanding the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder

Advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and analyses over the last two decades have enabled the identification of neuroanatomical abnormalities in a range of mental disorders, however one question which has consistently surfaced is the extent to which the medications used to treat such disorders may accentuate or ameliorate these abnormalities.

17 Feb 2016

Coordinated specialty care more cost-effective for young people with first episode psychosis

New analysis from a mental health care study shows that "coordinated specialty care" (CSC) for young people with first episode psychosis is more cost-effective than typical community care. Cost-effectiveness analysis in health care is a way to compare the costs and benefits of two or more treatment options.

2 Feb 2016

Add-on lamotrigine enhances bipolar depression treatment

Combining lamotrigine with quetiapine improves the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder, with the benefits maintained for at least a year, show findings from the CEQUEL trial.

23 Dec 2015

Unhealthy microbiome shifts can lead to weight gain, obesity

The link between the gut microbiome and obesity seems clear, but just how changes to gut bacteria can cause weight gain is not.

14 Dec 2015

New drug therapies that target glutamate pathway may be effective for subgroups of patient with schizophrenia

Mounting evidence indicates that disturbances in the brain's glutamate pathway contribute to symptoms of schizophrenia. Thus, the glutamate pathway has become the target of a number of new drug therapies. Findings published in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggest that at least one of these drugs may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early course of the illness.

9 Dec 2015

Mylan releases Clozapine Orally Disintegrating Tablets in U.S.

Mylan N.V. today announced the U.S. launch of Clozapine Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 25 mg and 100 mg, the generic version of Jazz Pharmaceutical's FazaClo.

24 Nov 2015

Atypical antipsychotic shows bipolar I depression efficacy

The atypical antipsychotic cariprazine may be effective for the treatment of bipolar I depression, phase II study findings show.

20 Nov 2015

Study explores diabetes screening for patients with severe mental illness

A study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine examines diabetes screening for patients with severe mental illness, who are two to three times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than the general population. More than seven million Americans in the United States have severe mental illness, and there are many factors contributing to their increased risk of getting diabetes, including treatment with antipsychotic medication.

13 Nov 2015

New study compares effectiveness of clozapine with standard antipsychotics in adults with schizophrenia

In real-world settings, patients with schizophrenia whose symptoms do not respond to standard antipsychotic medications have better outcomes if they are switched to clozapine instead of another standard antipsychotic. They have fewer hospitalizations, stay on the new medication longer, and are less likely to need to use additional antipsychotics.

6 Nov 2015

Misleading symptoms confuse management of older patients with post-HSE relapse

Research shows that teenagers and adults with immune-mediated relapse after herpes simplex encephalitis rarely display the symptoms typically seen in children, delaying the initiation of vital immunotherapy.

3 Nov 2015

Team-based, coordinated specialty care approach produces better outcomes for people with first episode psychosis

New research shows that treating people with first episode psychosis with a team-based, coordinated specialty care approach produces better clinical and functional outcomes than typical community care. Investigators also found that treatment is most effective for people who receive care soon after psychotic symptoms begin.

20 Oct 2015

Antipsychotic drugs more frequently used in Alzheimer's disease patients, new study finds

Antipsychotic drugs are initiated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) more frequently than in the general population - already 2-3 years before the Alzheimer's diagnosis, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland.

14 Oct 2015

Antipsychotics initiated frequently and used for long term in Alzheimer's patients

Antipsychotic drugs are initiated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) more frequently than in the general population – already 2–3 years before the Alzheimer's diagnosis, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Most commonly, antipsychotics were initiated during the six months following the Alzheimer's diagnosis; however, the incidence of new antipsychotic users was high also later on. The results were published in British Journal of Psychiatry.

14 Oct 2015

Lithium can be safe, effective for children suffering from bipolar disorder

A multicenter study of young patients with bipolar disorder provides what may be the most scientifically rigorous demonstration to date that lithium -- a drug used successfully for decades to treat adults with the condition -- can also be safe and effective for children suffering from it.

12 Oct 2015

Antipsychotic News and Research

Unnecessary transitions can lead to increased health problems in older adults with dementia

Antipsychotic medications may not be effective in preventing delirium in hospitalized patients

Warning of increased mortality risk for PD patients taking antipsychotics

Antipsychotic drugs may do significantly more harm to Parkinson's disease patients

Could prebiotics benefit early life brain development? An interview with Dr Phil Burnet

Immune-suppressing drug can improve cognitive ability of patients with schizophrenia

Understanding the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder

Coordinated specialty care more cost-effective for young people with first episode psychosis

Add-on lamotrigine enhances bipolar depression treatment

Unhealthy microbiome shifts can lead to weight gain, obesity

New drug therapies that target glutamate pathway may be effective for subgroups of patient with schizophrenia

Mylan releases Clozapine Orally Disintegrating Tablets in U.S.

Atypical antipsychotic shows bipolar I depression efficacy

Study explores diabetes screening for patients with severe mental illness

New study compares effectiveness of clozapine with standard antipsychotics in adults with schizophrenia

Misleading symptoms confuse management of older patients with post-HSE relapse

Team-based, coordinated specialty care approach produces better outcomes for people with first episode psychosis

Antipsychotic drugs more frequently used in Alzheimer's disease patients, new study finds

Antipsychotics initiated frequently and used for long term in Alzheimer's patients

Lithium can be safe, effective for children suffering from bipolar disorder

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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