How does ECT change the brain? A systemic review offers up some answers.

Psychotic depression and bipolar disorder are sometimes lumped together as the “affective psychoses.” Among the mood disorders, these two have a stronger biological basis, although environmental causes still contribute to their risk.

SSRIs are often used to reduce irritability, but questions about they can cause violence have loomed over these antidepressants since the early 1990’s. This new study, with 700,000 patients followed over 7 years, suggests they can.

Delusional disorder may be in the psychotic chapter, but it doesn’t respond to antipsychotics like we’d expect. Joseph Pierre reviews how to use them, which ones to avoid, and how to enhance your therapeutic relationship with this population.

Research tells us how to start meds, but rarely when to stop them. This study brings some needed answers on discontinuing antipsychotics after recovery from psychotic depression.