Prazosin is often used as a second-line option for a broad array of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress dis¬order (PTSD). It is a high blood pressure medication that also modulates the stress-response system through noradrenergic effects, blocking alpha-1 receptors in the brain. Since stress is a common trigger for excessive drinking, this study set out to test whether prazosin could improve so¬briety in alcohol use disorders.

Antidepressants are part of the first-line treatment for severe childhood anxiety disorders when removal of stressors and psychotherapy are not enough, but are all antidepressants created equal in this situation?

In this pilot study, investigators evaluated the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD), which is one of the two main active components of marijuana (the other being THC), for the treatment of ­schizophrenia.

Ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects have now been demonstrated in over two dozen double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, but how it works is less clear. For many years, NMDA receptor antagonism was thought responsible, but other NMDA antagonists have not worked well in depression.

Adolescence is a time of high risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB), and rates are rising. In those ages 15–29, suicide is the second leading cause of death globally. A recent article published some interesting survey data, giving us a clearer picture of how common STB is and what some of the causes are.

We are in the middle of an opioid crisis in the US, with many lives lost daily to opioid-related deaths. Pharmacotherapy with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone represents an important tool for clinicians during this crisis. But just how good are these medications in saving lives? A recent retrospective cohort study evaluated the effects of methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone on all-cause and opioid-related mortality in the 12 months after an opioid overdose.

Probiotics, the so-called “good” bacteria in the gut flora, have become popular as a natural treatment for various disorders. They are taken as capsules or through food sources like yogurt, vinegar, and fermented foods.

Clozapine is often used as a last resort in schizophrenia, even though practice guidelines recommend a trial of this medication after failing 2 antipsychotics. The current study set out to test a treatment algorithm based on those guidelines in patients with first-episode psychosis.