The field of smoking cessation has been abuzz since the FDA approved Chantix (varenicline) in 2006. Pfizer’s studies showed better efficacy for Chantix than bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban), and the mechanism of action is fascinating. But several controversial issues have arisen to muddy the waters.

The NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) has recently posted a practical guide for professionals interested in improving their skills in evaluating and treating patients with alcohol problems. Here are some useful tips for treating alcoholism, adapted both from the NIAAA and other sources.

The current issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry carries a meta-analysis of different psychosocial interventions for the treatment of substance abuse (Dutra L et al., Am J Psychiatry 2008 165: 179-187). This review focuses specifically on techniques for treating abusers of cannabis, cocaine, and opiates. What works the best, and what techniques can you bring into your practice.

Psychostimulants are commonly added to antidepressants in order to augment their effects, but most of the clinical trials have been either open or small controlled trials. In what may be the largest trial done to
date, these investigators (who received funding from Janssen-Ortho, the maker of Concerta) randomized 145 depressed patients...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned healthcare professionals that patients taking antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have twice the risk of suicidal behavior or ideation compared with those taking placebo.

Dr. Willenbring, there are now several medications with evidence for treating alcohol problems. It gets confusing to know which ones to use in which situations.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

In this article, we’ll review the clinical data on three of the most frequently used of the novel anticonvulsants: Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), Topamax (topiramate), and Neurontin (gabapentin). We cover Lamictal in this month’s expert interview with Nassir Ghaemi.

Over the past couple of decades, psychiatry has adopted a number of anticonvulsants that effectively treat psychiatric conditions. The “kindling hypothesis” has provided a rationale for their increasing use, but what is the evidence behind this theory, and is it actually applicable for psychiatric practice?

In a ruling certain to make psychiatrists and their patients happy, the DEA has finally said that doctors may give patients 90 days worth of prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances, which includes stimulants and narcotics.