In the May 2018 issue of TCPR, we wrote about using benzodiazepines for anxiety and other disorders, and we got some reader feedback that we did not provide a thorough enough review of medication risks. So, in a follow-up article this month, I will focus on two groups where benzos pose the greatest risks: opioid users and the elderly.

When I work with an agitated patient, I start by saying, “Hi, I’m Dr. Fishkind. My job is to keep you safe today.” Your first job should be to take away any possibility that the person thinks you’re dangerous or that you’re there to cause harm. So, start by identifying who you are, what you do, and that you are there to help.

Dear Dr. Aiken: Can you tell us more about hyponatremia? Which medications can cause hyponatremia, who’s at risk, and how we should manage this condition?

In 2006, the FDA issued a warning that patients using either selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs or SNRIs) together with triptan antimigraine drugs might be at a heightened risk for serotonin syndrome.

Medications are the first-line treatment for adult ADHD, and the efficacy of psychosocial therapies is less well-defined. Mindfulness-based therapy showed promise for adult ADHD in a recent meta-analysis, but there were flaws and significant differences between the included studies.

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 1 CME credit.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

We’re pleased to introduce Chris Aiken, MD, as the new editor-in-chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report. Dr. Aiken is a clinician, researcher, and writer. He is the director of the Mood Treatment Center in North Carolina, where he maintains a private practice combining medication and therapy along with evidence-based complementary and alternative treatments.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has a fairly low barrier of entry. Failure of 2 full antidepressant trials—lasting 6 weeks at a minimally effective dose—is enough to qualify. In this month’s issue of TCPR, we’ll highlight pharmacologic advances that are underutilized and debunk a few that are unlikely to be effective for TRD.