Second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) are used for a variety of psychiatric conditions, but even though they’ve been around for 20 years, we know little about what impact they have on the developing fetus. These medications are widely considered to be relatively safe during pregnancy, but this assumption is based on scant evidence. In this paper, researchers tapped into the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) National Pregnancy Registry of Atypical Antipsychotics and reported some reassuring results.

...

Since 2011, 3 new antidepressants have been approved by the FDA, and another (ketamine) has been generating buzz as a potential off-label medication for depression. In this article, we’ll take a step back and review the data on vilazodone (Viibryd), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), vortioxetine (Brintellix), and ketamine.

Dr. Bodkin discusses methods for approaching treatment resistant depression and his perspective on depressive illness as a final common pathway for a number of different brain problems.

Once you have read the issue, you can take this post-test to earn CME credit.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Many studies have shown that light therapy works for seasonal affective disorder, but does it work for non-seasonal major depression? That’s less clear. Systematic reviews have yielded inconclusive results, in part because prior studies have had methodological weaknesses. A new study with a robust design was just published.

Are you burnt out? This seemingly casual question may not be as easy to answer as you might think. Being burnt out can easily be mistaken for feeling tired, stressed, or depressed. But according to a growing body of research on physicians, recognizing and addressing this work-related syndrome may help protect your well-being, along with that of your patients and colleagues.

As psychiatrists, we don’t want to become overly attached to all our clients, because that can be draining and lead to burnout. On the other hand, we don’t want to distance ourselves, because the essence of healing occurs within the caring relationship. Dr. Skovholt discusses striking this delicate balance in this interview.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…