Pain management considerations in patients living with both pain syndromes and cardiovascular diseases and disorders.

Concomitant pain syndromes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and disorders are associated with significant morbidity, impaired quality of life, and neuropsychiatric disorders. There is an interplay between the mechanisms of pathophysiology of both CVD and pain syndromes. Patients with CVD (and/or disorders) as well as pain syndromes have an increased propensity for drug-drug/disease interactions.

Aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a review of recent literature and updated guideline recommendations.

Introduction: Recent clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of aspirin in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) have suggested the risk of aspirin may outweigh its benefit in individuals once thought to be candidates for aspirin therapy. These results led to the publication of updated guideline recommendations in 2019 for aspirin use in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA).

Areas Covered: Recent clinical trials and guidelines relevant to aspirin for primary prevention of ASCVD were identified using PubMed® (July 1, 2016 to April 1, 2019).

The Role of Serum Lithium Concentration on Pill Burden in Psychiatric Populations.

: Current research validates the use of lithium as a first-line agent in bipolar disorder, yet it remains underutilized. This might, in part, be the result of lithium's risk of toxicity. A lower serum lithium concentration would decrease the risk of toxicity.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Team-based Enablement Interventions to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing within a Psychiatric Hospital.

Antimicrobial resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of many types of infections. Infection occurs more frequently in patients diagnosed with psychiatric illness due to a number of risk factors. Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections in this patient population.

Impact of Ramadan fasting on medical and psychiatric health.

Ramadan is a religious month dedicated to prayer, fasting and feasting. Recently, there has been an increased interest among healthcare providers regarding possible health-related complications as a consequence of religious fasting such as that seen during Ramadan. In , a 34-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, was admitted for inpatient hospitalization to an inpatient psychiatric hospital in Buffalo, New York.

Examining prescriber perceptions of statin therapy and the potential implications these perceptions may have on guideline adherence.

Not all psychiatric inpatients who are candidates for statin therapy are prescribed statin medication. It is unclear whether this is because of prescriber guideline uncertainty or purposeful avoidance because of other reasons. This study aims to determine prescribers' perceptions of recent cholesterol treatment guidelines, and whether their prescribing may be influenced by recent, potentially oversimplified headlines in the media.

Effects of Statins and Cholesterol on Patient Aggression: Is There a Connection?

: Psychiatric adverse effects, including aggression, have been reported with the use of statin medications; however, there is little data to support or refute the theory that statins or low serum cholesterol do in fact increase a patient's risk of aggression. : This study examined 1) statin use and increased aggression, measured by the requirement of either emergent psychiatric intervention referred to as "Code Green" (CG) or "Restraint and Seclusion" (RS) and 2) cholesterol level and increased aggression in psychiatric inpatients. : Patient charts from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2015 were reviewed.