Parents of kids with ADHD often ask about the role of diet and nutrition in their child’s symptoms, and research has uncovered some interesting possibilities. For example, there is some evidence that concentrations of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs, which includes omega-3 fatty acids) may be lower in people with ADHD.

Why would an antibiotic be helpful in psychiatry? Minocycline crosses the blood-brain barrier and may have neuroprotective effects. A recent study tested whether minocycline might be useful as an adjunct to risperidone for ASD.

Although studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of contingency management (CM) for illicit drug use, there’s less evidence for treatment of alcoholism—in part because a standard breathalyzer has a short detection window of 12 hours, meaning patients must only abstain from drinking since the previous night to pass the test.

Diagnosing ADHD continues to be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Having an “objective,” valid test for ADHD would be of value to clinicians and families alike. Continuous performance tests (CPT) are gaining popularity as a complement to clinical examination, rating scales, and interviews with parents and teachers.

Naltrexone is an opioid blocker that is FDA-approved for the treatment of alcoholism. However, it is also effective off-label for treating opioid use disorder. The medication comes in two forms: an oral pill (brand name ReVia) and an injectable version (XR naltrexone, or Vivitrol). XR naltrexone is composed of 380 mg of naltrexone, given as an intramuscular injection once a month. During that month, patients who try to use opioids will feel little if any high. This works well to prevent relapse if patients keep getting the shot.

We’ve all seen the ads from companies such as Lumosity implying that fun, computer-based learning games will help your mind work better. Such methods are called computerized cognitive training (CCT), and past systematic reviews have had weaknesses, such as combining CCT with other interventions or including studies that were not randomized controlled trials. These researchers performed a systematic review that was more rigorous.

Do antidepressants cause bipolar II patients to switch from depression to hypomania? It’s a controversial question, and you’ll find academic psychiatrists who will argue passionately that antidepressants are either safe or dangerous in these patients. The latest study appears to endorse the “safe” camp.

Patients receiving buprenorphine for opioid use disorder are typically also referred for psychotherapy, either individual or group. However, several studies have failed to show that therapy improves outcomes in buprenorphine treatment program

Complementary and alternative medicine is gradually becoming more mainstream, and we covered some of these treatments in a recent issue of TCPR, but we didn’t cover yoga and meditation. Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY) is a meditation technique that combines yoga poses, sitting meditation, and breathing exercises.

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers only. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits.