Bipolar Disorder
Conference Coverage
Lithium lowers osteoporosis risk in bipolar patients…and orthopedists take notice
Patients with bipolar disorder treated with lithium show significant reductions in osteoporosis, suggesting a protective effect on bone loss.
From the Journals
Multiple mental health woes? Blame it on genetics
The results could lead to the development of treatments that address multiple psychiatric disorders at once.
From the Journals
Neuropsychiatric risks of COVID-19: New data
“Neuropsychological sequelae need to be considered after all severe respiratory infections, rather than only following severe COVID-19,” said Dr....
From the Journals
Do psychotropic meds raise or lower COVID risk in psych patients?
The researchers analyzed data from adults who were continuously hospitalized with serious mental illness in 2020.
Commentary
Mood instability in childhood as a precursor to bipolar disorder
Clinicians should include measurement of the severity and psychosocial determinants of persistent mood shifts in youth under their care.
From the Journals
Higher ‘chemical restraint’ rates in Black psych patients in the ED
Black patients presenting with a psychiatric disorder were significantly more likely to receive chemical sedation than White patients presenting...
Cases That Test Your Skills
The woman who kept passing out
After becoming unresponsive, Ms. B, age 44, is admitted, sedated, and intubated. She has had 3 similar episodes, and each time left the hospital...
Pearls
Managing bipolar disorder in women who are pregnant
Psychiatrists who treat women of childbearing age should consider that those women may become pregnant, and that women with psychiatric illness...
Conference Coverage
High antipsychotic switch rates suggest ‘suboptimal’ prescribing for first-episode psychosis
Researchers found the most common first treatment switch, in 17.9% of patients, was from olanzapine to aripiprazole.
Conference Coverage
New combination med for severe mental illness tied to less weight gain
Results of a 12-week study showed a significant difference in percent change in body weight from baseline between two treatment groups.
FDA/CDC
FDA okays first sublingual med for agitation in serious mental illness
With a demonstrated onset of action as early as 20 minutes, dexmedetomidine shows a high response rate in patients at both 120-mcg and 180-mcg...