Psychopharmacology_tips - Articles - Page 8

Managing Psychotropic Treatment with Foster Children

September 1, 2015

Joshua Feder, MD

In response to the rising use of psychotropic medications in Medicaid and foster care populations, some states, including California, have implemented specific guidelines. This article covers those guidelines with case examples.

EXPERT Q&A

What Psychiatrists Should Know About Sleep Medicine

September 1, 2015

Robert S. Rosenberg, DO, FCCP

Robert S. Rosenberg, DO, FCCP

Medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Prescott Valley, AZ, and author of Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day (Demos Medical Publishing, 201

Dr. Rosenberg has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

What basic questions should we be asking our patients who complain of sleep problems? We talk to Robert S. Rosenberg, DO, FCCP, to get his insight on sleep disorders, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, sleep studies, and benzodiazepines.

Beyond Medications: Psychosocial Methods for Helping Challenging Kids

September 1, 2015

George H. Stewart, MD

Foster children tend to be over-medicated. Surveys show that foster youth receive 5 times the number of psychotropic medications, frequently three or four simultaneously, as privately insured children. What else, beside medications, can we offer foster children who are often struggling with psychiatric issues and difficult and unfamiliar family environments?

Should We Add Stimulants to SSRIs to Treat Geriatric Depression?

September 1, 2015

Geriatric depression often presents with apathy, low energy and motivation, and cognitive decline, so theoretically stimulants are a natural choice. Past studies of combining stimulants with antidepressants have been mainly small open trials, with mostly positive results. But we haven’t seen the kind of rigorous double-blind methodology we’d like. A new study fills that gap.

The Politics of Medicating Children: Problems and Solutions

September 1, 2015

Investigative journalist Karen de Sá wrote a series for the San Jose Mercury News called “Drugging Our Kids” about medication treatment of foster children. She found that almost one in four foster children between 12 and 17 were receiving a psychotropic of some kind, and 62% were receiving an antipsychotic. Her reporting spurred the California legislature to pass several laws designed to discourage the excessive use of psychotropics in foster children.

Medication Strategies for Helping People with Autism Spectrum Disorders

July 1, 2015

Joshua Feder, MD

Getting meds just right is challenging in autism. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes it doesn't work out so well. No two people with Autism Spectrum Disorder are alike, meaning that our medication choices have to be individualized even more so than in most other psychiatric syndromes.

Evaluating and Treating Autism: Practical Issues

July 1, 2015

Alex Kolevzon, MD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY Dr. Kolevzon has disclosed payments for research support from Neuren Pharmaceuticals for NNZ-2566 (an investigational drug for Rett Syndrome) and Hoffman-La Roche for RO5285119 (an investigational drug for autism). Dr. Carlat has reviewed this interview and found no evidence of bias in this educational activity.

Dr. Kolevzon shares his clinical strategies for treating autism spectrum disorder in child patients, including diagnostic behaviors and communicating with parents.

Binge Eating Disorder: Should You Use Vyvanse?

June 1, 2015

Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP and Daniel Carlat, MD

Talia Puzantian, PharmD, BCPP Clinical psychopharmacology consultant in private practice, Los Angeles, CA. www.taliapuzantian.com Dr. Puzantian has disclosed that she has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial company pertaining to this educational activity. Daniel Carlat, MD

Editor-in-Chief, Publisher, The Carlat Report.

Dr. Carlat has disclosed that he has no relevant relationships or financial interests in any commercial company pertaining to this educational activity.

In January of this year, the FDA approved the stimulant lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) as the first drug with an indication for binge eating disorder (BED). Patients are hearing the buzz and may be asking you to prescribe it, but you may have some questions first.

The New Three-Month Version of Injectable Paliperidone: Should You Use It?

June 1, 2015

Michael Posternak, MD

Michael Posternak, MD Psychiatrist in private practice in Boston, MA

Patients with schizophrenia often stop taking their medications, so long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are potentially good ways to make sure these patients have some medication in their systems over the long term.

Medications for Childhood PTSD: It’s All Off-Label

May 1, 2015

Elizabeth Tien, MD

Elizabeth Tien, MD. Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist with Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. Tien has declared that she has no relevant financial or other interest in any commercial companies pertaining to this activity.

In 2011, we wrote a review of medications for PTSD in children and found, unfortunately, that data to inform true evidence-based practice was scant. There are still no psychotropic medications that have been proven effective in randomized controlled trials for children with PTSD and there are no FDA approved medications for this population.