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Federal survey shows increasing SMI among young adults
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) for 2016 was released this month, and it shows that for 18–25‐year‐olds, serious mental illness is increasing. It also shows that for most substances, misuse has leveled off, but that the treatment gap still exists. In addition, the face‐to‐face survey, which has been conducted since 1990 for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), does not include people who are incarcerated, in treatment programs, or homeless. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - September 25, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Database effect: Antipsychotics and antidepressants and diabetes risk
The increase in the use of antipsychotics for young people is driven partly by regulatory broadening, but mostly by increased off‐label prescribing, according to an editorial in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. In particular, aggression is the main reason for the prescription of antipsychotics. Consequently, antipsychotic‐related side effects — in particular, weight gain and type 2 diabetes, raise concerns. Youth more than adults are particularly vulnerable to these adverse effects. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - September 25, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Generic Suboxone film on the horizon in the U.S.
Last month's news that a Delaware court is allowing Dr. Reddy's, a huge supplier of generic drugs based in India, to produce a generic version of buprenorphine‐naloxone film resulted in an immediate response from Indivior, which makes Suboxone (buprenorphine‐naloxone film) and has enjoyed a monopoly on it. Reckitt Benckiser (which Indivior spun off from in 2014) aroused outrage in the treatment field when generic versions of its Suboxone tablet came on the market and it responded by pulling the tablets, making only its patented film available. Now, Indivior will appeal the court ruling. (Source: The Brown University Ch...
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - September 25, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: News Source Type: research

Quetiapine ‐ER vs. aripiprazole in psychosis in children and adolescents
Adult studies do not necessarily help determine which antipsychotic medications work for children and adolescents, so research is needed to help guide clinicians treating young patients. In this head‐to‐head trial, they compared the efficacy and safety of quetiapine‐extended release (quetiapine‐ER) with aripiprazole. They found that there were no significant differences in psychopathology severity after 12 weeks of treatment. In terms of adverse events, there were more metabolic problems with quetiapine‐ER and more initial akathisia and sedation with aripiprazole. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescen...
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Schizophrenia Source Type: research

Prescription opioid medications for cough in children under evaluation
Last month, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., issued the following statement. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: From the FDA Source Type: research

Research Roundup
Antipsychotic treatment “double‐edged sword” Suicide rates for teens on the rise College students' academic performance hurt by marijuana use: Study (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Research Roundup Source Type: research

Opioid overdoses up among teens ages 15 –19
Teens aged 15 to 19 are dying at increased rates from opioid drug overdoses, the National Vital Statistics System, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported last month. The death rate more than doubled from 1999 (1.6 per 100,000) to 2007 (4.2), declined mainly among males by 26% from 2007 to 2014 (3.1), and then increased in 2015 (3.7). The majority of these overdoses were unintentional, and in 2015 were highest for opioids—in particular, heroin. In 2015, there were 772 drug overdose deaths in this age group; of these, 80.4% were unintentional, 13.5% were suicide, 5.2% were of undetermined intent, ...
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: News Source Type: research

Ketamine treatment for depression in an adolescent
Ketamine has been used effectively for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), studies have found. Although results of the medication, which is administered via infusion, only last a few days, some research suggests that treatments three times a week may prolong the effects. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Case Study Source Type: research

12 ‐Step Facilitation reduces damage from substance use in youths
A pilot study helps to fill a gap in research on 12‐Step‐oriented approaches in treatment, finding that 12‐Step Facilitation (TSF) helped to reduce consequences related to substance use in young people ages 14 to 21. A significant aspect of the study, beyond being the first to test TSF in an adolescent population, is that the intervention overall compared favorably against a motivational enhancement therapy (MET)/cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach that researchers referred to in their paper as “gold‐standard” outpatient treatment for youths. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Aripiprazole found safe, tolerable, and effective in placebo ‐controlled maintenance study
Researchers conducted a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized trial of aripiprazole to study the medication's effectiveness as a maintenance medication. The point was to see if long‐term maintenance on the medication would be safe, tolerable, and effective for adolescents. The medication is already approved for treating teens 13 and older. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - August 28, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Schizophrenia Source Type: research

Opioid treatment programs: How they can help young people with opioid use disorders
Known as “methadone clinics,” although they do much more than provide medication, opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are increasing in number, slowly but surely. The stigma against methadone is enormous, mainly from politicians but even in some medical circles. But neighborhoods that for so many years said “not in my back yard” — or NIMBY — to treatment programs for people with opioid use disorders are finally realizing that their back yard is exactly where these programs are needed. Their own loved ones are dying from overdoses. OTPs provide medication‐assisted treatment (MAT) — which includes not only the m...
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - July 26, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Substance Use Disorders Source Type: research

Precision medicine has encouraging future
The Food and Drug Administration is bringing precision medicine — in the form of targeted therapies — to people living with diseases that have specific genetic features, the FDA's director of the Center for Drug Evaluation Research, Janet Woodcock, M.D., wrote last month. Below is what she blogged. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - July 26, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: From the FDA Source Type: research

Research Roundup
Virginia law requires mental health training for school counselors FBI charges rehab operator with health care fraud (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - July 26, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Research Roundup Source Type: research

AAP: Marijuana not safe for teens
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued clear guidance to clinicians and their patients that marijuana is not safe for teens. In the March issue of Pediatrics, the AAP's Committee on Substance Use and Prevention published a report titled “Counseling Parents and Teens About Marijuana Use in the Era of Legalization of Marijuana,” which gives specific content to be shared with parents and teen patients. (Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - July 26, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: News Source Type: research

NAS: FDA should consider public health impact of opioid pain medications
Many young people get their introduction to opioids legitimately — via pain medication after an injury. The next step may be obtaining “diverted” medications originally prescribed for someone else — even just taking them from their family medicine cabinet. Finally, they may get them from a friend or acquaintance. Ultimately, this path can lead to buying from the street, including heroin and fentanyl. Along the way, what could have helped them the most was treatment, which is still hard to find for young people with opioid use disorders. Abstinence‐based treatment is often a failure, which is why medication‐assi...
Source: The Brown University Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Update - July 26, 2017 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research