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Research Roundup
Benzodiazepine prescribing, overdoses have been on the rise Stimulant use trends do not match prescribing patterns Report for primary care ranks antidepressants and CBT equally Risk associated with discontinuing antidepressants after cognitive therapy SNRI use late in pregnancy linked to hemorrhage risk Review makes case for more recognition of antibiotic‐associated encephalopathy (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Research Roundup Source Type: research

Proton pump inhibitor use in elderly linked to incident dementia
Elderly patients using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat gastrointestinal illness face an increased risk of developing dementia, suggests a prospective cohort study that used a large German health insurer database. Study authors suggest that avoidance of PPIs in this population might serve as an important preventive strategy against dementia. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Testosterone in older men assists mainly with sexual function
Three trials involving men ages 65 and older with low testosterone levels have found that testosterone treatment improved sexual function to a greater degree than it affected physical activity or vitality. The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between testosterone and placebo groups, although study authors said the sample size was too small to reach definitive conclusions about risks associated with testosterone treatment. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Risk of antidepressant‐associated mortality
It is not unusual for patients to exhibit depressive symptoms after suffering a stroke. Although effective in managing depression, some antidepressants are believed to carry a risk of additional adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects, as well as the potential for drug‐drug interaction. Such adverse effects include conduction abnormalities and sudden death from the use of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs, and the possibility of sudden cardiac death associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).1, 2 In addition, there are conflicting data in the literature regarding the association between...
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research

Venlafaxine study makes case for antidepressants in bipolar II depression
Practice guidelines for the treatment of bipolar depression generally avoid recommending antidepressants because of concerns about inducing manic switching, but a new study comparing venlafaxine with lithium suggests that antidepressants can be safe and effective for a subgroup of patients. The study of patients with bipolar II depression found greater response and remission rates with venlafaxine compared with lithium, and no significant differences in the onset of manic symptoms between the two treatments. Study results were published online Feb. 18 in The British Journal of Psychiatry. (Source: The Brown University Psyc...
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - May 24, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Bipolar Disorder Treatment Source Type: research

Study finds no association between benzodiazepine use, dementia
A population‐based study of benzodiazepine users ages 65 and older has found no evidence for a causal link between use of the drug and risk for dementia. Contrary to the researchers' expectations, the highest levels of benzodiazepine exposure in the study were associated with a lesser prevalence of rapid cognitive decline. Results were published online Feb. 2 in BMJ. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Geriatric Psychiatry Source Type: research

Research Roundup
Metformin improves dyslipidemia induced by antipsychotics Few differences seen in study of smoking cessation treatments Antagonist drug available for opioid‐induced constipation Adding metyrapone to antidepressant fails in treatment‐resistant cases Bipolar disorder patients show poor overall medication adherence Some with non‐remitting depression benefit from insulin‐sensitizing agent (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Research Roundup Source Type: research

Incomplete data inhibit analysis of risks from antidepressants
Shortcomings in available data from prior research on the possible link between two categories of antidepressants and suicidality make it impossible to assess accurately the risks associated with the drugs, authors of a systematic review and meta‐analyses have concluded. They stated that inconsistencies in study design and reporting likely mean that harms have been generally underreported. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Study identifies predictors of treatment response to citalopram for agitation
A multivariate analysis using outcome data from the Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer Disease (CitAD) study identified several variables that predicted effectiveness of the antidepressant in reducing symptoms of agitation. Patients most likely to have positive outcomes with citalopram included those with milder cognitive impairment and a moderate level of baseline agitation, while patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment and more severe baseline agitation were less likely to see improvement with the antidepressant. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research

Rhabdomyolysis associated with risperidone and escitalopram
Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life‐threatening syndrome. Destruction of muscle fibers secondary to disruption of calcium homeostasis in muscle cells allows leakage of toxic cellular contents into the systemic circulation, resulting in fiber necrosis. Significant elevation of serum creatine kinase usually occurs in patients with rhabdomyolysis. This case report describes a patient who developed rhabdomyolysis after receiving concurrent risperidone and escitalopram. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research

Youth antipsychotic treatment heightens risk of diabetes, meta‐analysis finds
A meta‐analysis of 13 studies has found that youths exposed to antipsychotics have a significantly higher risk and prevalence of type 2 diabetes than healthy youths or youths with psychiatric illness but no antipsychotic exposure. Multivariable analyses examining individual second‐generation antipsychotics (SGAs) found that higher risk of type 2 diabetes was associated with a longer duration of follow‐up, prescription of olanzapine, and male gender. Results were published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Psychiatry. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - April 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Adverse Events Source Type: research

Low dose of buprenorphine shows promising results for suicidal ideation
A very low dose of the partial opioid agonist buprenorphine over 4 weeks led to decreased suicidal ideation in a group of severely suicidal patients who did not have a substance abuse problem, a new study has found. Study authors suggest that additional research with longer follow‐up periods is needed to determine definitively whether buprenorphine is safe and effective in this population and how it should be administered. Study results were published online Dec. 18, 2015, in the American Journal of Psychiatry. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - March 22, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Suicide Source Type: research

Approvals
(Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - March 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: From the FDA Source Type: research

Research Roundup
High‐dose exposure to benzodiazepines linked to greater mortality risk Phosphatidylcholine improves behavior in children susceptible to mental illness Patients with depression susceptible to both weight gain and loss Thyroid hormone enhances response to risperidone in schizophrenia Omega‐3 supplementation promising for first‐episode schizophrenia (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - March 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Research Roundup Source Type: research

Antidepressant use in second, third trimester increases risk of autism
Use of an antidepressant in the second or third trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders in the mother's child, a population‐based cohort study has found. This risk was significant when mothers used a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), the researchers reported. (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - March 21, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: What's New in Research Source Type: research