Atypical antipsychotics are widely prescribed for a number of psychiatric diagnoses, but their real-world effectiveness has rarely been evaluated in anything other than short-term trials. A recently published study finds that four commonly used antipsychotics (aripiprazole [Abilify], olanzapine [Zyprexa], quetiapine [Seroquel], and risperidone [Risperdal]), when used in patients over age 40 with schizophrenia or psychosis associated with other conditions, may not be effective—and cause frequent side effects.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Today there are many scales to choose from. Psychiatrists familiar with these tools will be better able to interpret clinical trial results and to employ them in assessing patients’ clinical progress. Here we review the most commonly used depression rating scales, as well as some newer web-based tools.

You greet a new patient who complains of difficulty concentrating at work and is unable to “keep up” since making partner at a law firm or becoming an attending physician at a hospital. Is this an authentic case of a high-functioning person with undiagnosed adult ADHD, a subtle request for performance enhancement, or something altogether different?

PTDS is one of the greatest mental health concerns in veterans, but there is a stigma, among veterans, on issues related to seeking mental health services. Dr. Kean discusses effective screening methods, current findings and treatment options.

Do you know what other medications your depressed patients are taking? You should. If they’re taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), they may be less likely to respond to SSRIs.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Chronic pain is typically defined as pain lasting longer than three months, resulting from either a disease process or bodily injury that has not resolved as expected. It is a major and complex public health reality for almost one-third of the US population.

How often are you faced with patients who come to you with “I’m exhausted,” “I have no energy,” “I’m dragging,” or “I can’t stay awake”? If you’re like most psychiatrists, you see this often, and at times simply giving a sleep aid is an unsatisfying or ineffective solution.

Since our feature article on “New Antidepressants” in the May 2012 TCPR, you may have heard some buzz about yet another new antidepressant undergoing clinical trials, this one with the less-than-sexy name ALKS-5461. Some news outlets have promoted it as “revolutionary.” What exactly is it?