Benzo prescriptions have risen 34% during COVID-19, particularly in women. People are also getting benzos outside of prescriptions. Drs. Islam and Choudhry discussed the emerging trend in a commentary in Clinical Psychiatry News. Specifically, they are concerned that people will obtain benzos over the internet, and that this casual use can...

Trintellix claims to improve cognition in depression, but what does this effect look like in patient’s lives? We speak with Tom Gualtieri about the cognitive side of antidepressants, and show you how to use a 3 minute cognitive test that reveals a lot about how your patients are functioning.Published On:...

A special edition for patients. Lithium is one of the most effective medications for bipolar and depression, but many of its marvels have remained obscure. Lithium has never benefited from a pharmaceutical ad (because it’s a mineral, not a medicine), so we’ve stepped in to fill that gap.Published On: 10/5/20Duration:...

When it comes to PTSD, pharmacotherapy is second-line and psychotherapy has the more robust evidence. The effect size for therapy is in the large range, while medications are in the small, with one exception…. In studies where patients are allowed to choose their preferred mode of treatment, those who prefer...

How did the rate of depression triple over a single month in 2020? In this episode you’ll learn how to distinguish clinical depression from normal stress, so you’re better prepared to take care of the 1 in 3 U.S. adults who are currently endorsing the DSM criteria. [Study Link]Published On:...

In September 2020 the APA updated their schizophrenia practice guidelines. Here’s how things have changed since the 2004 edition. [Link]Date Published: 9/26/2020Duration: 4 minutes, 27 secondsTranscript: In September 2020 the APA updated their schizophrenia practice guidelines. Here’s how things have changed since the 2004 edition.Clozapine expanded. The new guidelines recommend a...

When it comes to weight gain on antipsychotics, most of what we know is from industry sponsored trials, and most of them were done on Caucasian patients. Few of those studies compare the antipsychotics side by side, which leaves us guessing as to how they compare across side effects. This study...

Half a dozen research papers suggest that lithium’s anti-viral properties may extend to the coronavirus. But the idea is far from tested, and patients with coronavirus are also at higher risk for lithium toxicity. We also touch on a safer and simpler way to prevent COVID-19: Vitamin D. How to...

We often worry about sleep meds in the medically ill, and there’s plenty of cause to: falls, respiratory suppression, and confusion. On the other hand, sleep disruption is a major risk factor for delirium, and there’s growing evidence that some sleep meds – ramelteon, melatonin, but not the benzos or...

Air pollution, including particulate matter from forest fires, is a leading cause of health problems globally. It is also linked to psychiatric problems in children and adolescents. We take a closer look at the evidence and clinical implications in this episode. Published On: 9/17/2020 Duration: 14 minutes, 51 seconds Related Article: "Air...