Smoking contributes to excess mortality in seriously mentally ill patients as a result of such tobacco-related illnesses as heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. Overall improvement in mental health as well as physical health is seen when a patient stops smoking. All nicotine replacement products are effective, but patients often don’t use them long enough or correctly. Robert M. Anthenelli, MD, University of California, San Diego, said to begin sustained-release bupropion 1 or 2 weeks before quit date; maintain the dosage for 1 to 12 weeks after quit date and consider maintenance therapy for as long as 6 months. Varenicline is superior to placebo and bupropion, but is known to have gastrointestinal (GI) and sleep disturbance adverse effects. Quitting smoking can increase the blood level of some psychotropics, meaning that you might need to reduce their dosage. It is best to begin smoking cessation when patients are mentally stable, when motivated, and stable on their medications.
In discussing trends in substance abuse, Dr. Anthenelli
faddish. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogues are 100 times more powerful than morphine; ingestion of even a minuscule dose can be fatal. Synthetic cannabinoids primarily are a problem among adolescents; they are more dangerous than marijuana and are associated with aggressive and suicidal behaviors. A standard toxicology screen will not detect synthetic cannabinoids.
E-cigarettes are considered by users to be safer than tobacco cigarettes—and probably are—but they still put patients at risk of nicotine addiction. There are no safety data on e-cigarettes; the devices might contain potentially harmful chemicals and potentially toxic nicotine levels. Dr. Anthenelli reported that topiramate is “the best medication I’ve used” for alcohol abuse disorder. The drug is not FDA-approved for this use, but has been used in a number of studies with positive outcomes.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015
MORNING SESSION
Psychiatrists are well positioned to help patients with mental illness lose weight because of their psychotherapeutic background. Best treatment strategy is diet plus exercise plus behavioral modification. Robert M. McCarron, DO, University of California, Davis, recommends keeping it simple and telling patients to only consider calories of foods, and not to worry about sodium or fat content. Ask patients “How many minutes a day of exercise can you do?” but recommend that patients walk for 30 minutes a day at 4 mph, 5 days per week, which will help patients lose 1% to 3% of body weight. For treatment-refractory obese patients, consider medications such as bupropion, orlistat, lorcaserin, topiramate, or metformin; for those with a BMI ≥40, recommend bariatric surgery.
George T. Grossberg, MD, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, reviewed the evidence for anxiety disorders in older adults, including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Older patients with cardiovascular disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, GI disorders, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at high risk of anxiety symptoms. In a study of centenarians, predictors of anxiety are worse health perception, financial concerns related to medical expenses, higher number of medical conditions, and loneliness. Secondary anxiety is prevalent in Alzheimer’s disease; the condition can present as fidgeting, pacing, anger, or agitation, and can be prompted by a change in routine. Acute, new-onset anxiety symptoms should trigger a complete medical evaluation, including a review of medications, supplements, and substance use. In geriatric patients, minimize use of benzodiazepines and avoid anticholinergics.
Overall, psychiatry patients do not receive optimal preventive and primary medical care, leading to decreased life expectancy, often as a result of cardiovascular disease. Psychiatric patients have a high rate of dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, and obesity. Psychiatrists often don’t treat these conditions, but they need to be aware of changing standard practices in preventive medicine; be able to recognize a potential problem; and make referrals when appropriate. Dr. McCarron reviewed age-based screening recommendations for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes from the book Preventive Medical Care in Psychiatry, which he co-edited. He recommends using online cardiovascular risk calculators to determine which patients need to be screened.
AFTERNOON SESSION
Some older patients who abuse substances took drugs as young adults and never gave them up; others have rediscovered drugs in later life. Potential indicators of alcohol abuse in older patients are changes in cognition, mood, memory, hygiene, or sleep. Substance abuse in older adults frequently is comorbid with depression or bereavement, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. Dr. Grossberg recommends addressing the topic directly with patients. Although there are few data to guide treatment, prompt detection and appropriate treatment can improve the quality of life of older adults and their family.
