A review of trazodone use in psychiatric and medical conditions.

Trazodone is an antidepressant that is FDA-approved for the treatment of depression. It has been used by mental health and primary care providers for the treatment of multiple psychiatric and medical conditions .This review describes trazodone mechanism of action, formulation, dosage and adverse effects and then summarizes the beneficial effects of trazodone in the treatment of various psychiatric and medical conditions such as major depression, as well non-approved FDA indications such as insomnia,anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, feeding and eating disorders, substance use disorders, behavioral disturbances associated with cognitive dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, certain pain conditions, and rehabilitation after acute ischemic stroke.

Psychopharmacology of chronic pain: a focus on antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics.

Chronic pain is considered one of the most prevalent causes of costly and disabling medical conditions. This review will define chronic pain and its categories and then will summarize the effectiveness and side effects associated with the use of various antidepressants, including the tricyclics, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, other miscellaneous antidepressants and the atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of chronic pain.

Identification and management of tardive dyskinesia: A case series and literature review.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious, disabling and potentially permanent, neurological hyperkinetic movement disorder that occurs after months or years of taking dopamine receptor-blocking agents. The pathophysiology of TD is complex, multifactorial and still not fully understood. Although there is no identified effective and standard treatment for TD, several agents have been tried for the management of this motor disturbance.

Quetiapine in the treatment of postoperative delirium. A report of three cases.

I summarize the effects of atypical antipsychotic quetiapine on reversing postoperative delirium in three elderly patients and review the historical and general clinical presentation of delirium. Quetiapine pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics effects are also described. Although quetiapine was effective in reversing postoperative delirium without adverse events in all three patients, such effectiveness cannot be generalized until confirmed by prospective controlled studies.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and aging.

The evidence base on effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the elderly population is scarce. The assessment and treatment of PTSD could pose a challenge for primary care providers and residents in training involved in treating PTSD in older adults. This article will review the epidemiology, the morbidity, the mortality, the biological perspective, the prognosis, and the psychosocial and pharmacological treatment options, in addition to the spiritual dimensions of PTSD and aging.

Late life psychosis: assessment and general treatment strategies.

With the increased number of elderly patients suffering from mental illness, an increased incidence of psychiatric conditions including psychotic disorders is also expected. When psychosis occurs in the elderly, its assessment and treatment may pose a challenge for primary care clinicians and caregivers. This article will review the assessment and treatment of late life psychosis.

Pilot trial of memantine in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

This multiple case series was initially designed as a prospective, open-label, 12-week trial investigation evaluating memantine (Namenda) for the treatment of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms associated with PTSD. In a selected, small sample of individuals (n = 4) with combat PTSD, treatment with memantine produced consistent improvement on a delayed recall measure of memory, variable reduction of depressive symptoms, and variable reduction in hyperarousal symptoms. These data suggest potential positive treatment outcomes, both cognitively and psychiatrically, and provide rationale for future double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of memantine in PTSD.

Bipolar disorder: historic perspective, current pharmacologic treatment options and a review of quetiapine.

Bipolar disorder is a complex mental illness that is frequently both under-diagnosed and under-treated. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be confused with other medical illnesses or drug effects or may even be overlooked entirely as extreme character traits. The consequences of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis are potentially devastating, including loss of employment, impaired relationships and a severely impaired quality of life.

Use of a religious hymn in remission of symptoms of social phobia (social anxiety disorder): a case study.

This case report described a veteran with social anxiety disorder who reported fears of negative evaluation by others, social avoidance, and accompanying physiological symptoms of heart palpitations, gastrointestinal discomfort, muscle tension and mental confusion. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder subsided with the use of a Christian hymn "Be Still My Soul" and its accompanying musical poem, in Finlandia. The veteran attributed the symptom remission to the feeling of stillness and surrender to God conveyed by the words and music of the hymn.

Thyroid hormones therapy: a review of their effects in the treatment of psychiatric and medical conditions.

Although thyroid hormones are indicated for hypothyroidism, their therapeutic benefit in treating other medical and psychiatric conditions has not been adequately studied. We review the use of thyroid hormones in treating psychiatric and medical conditions in the euthyroid patients.

Asperger's disorder: a review of its diagnosis and treatment.

Asperger's disorder is a pervasive developmental disorder that shares similar features of social impairment disorder, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors with autistic disorder. Although both Asperger's disorder and autistic disorder persist into adulthood, autistic disorder is usually apparent before the age of 3, while Asperger's disorder usually manifests itself at preschool age. Asperger's disorder in the majority of cases is not associated with delay in language development and there is an increased likelihood to seek social interactions and to engage in activities and friendship with others.

The antidepressant sertraline: a review of its uses in a range of psychiatric and medical conditions.

Although sertraline was initially introduced as an antidepressant, it can be prescribed for a wide range of psychiatric and medical conditions. We review the pharmacology, the adverse effects, the dosing guidelines, as well as the indications of sertraline.

Psychiatry Residents' Opinions of a Substance Abuse Rotation in a VA Hospital General Internal Medicine Unit.

Written optional evaluation forms were devised to gather psychiatry residents' opinions regarding their substance use disorder rotation in a general internal medicine unit. Over a 4-year period 24 residents completed that rotation and 83% (N = 20) completed the form. Of the responding residents, 95% (N = 19) rated an above-average satisfaction with the rotation and 90% (N = 18) would recommend the rotation to other residents.

An overview of trichotillomania and its response to treatment with quetiapine.

There is a lack of consensus about the pharmacological agent of choice to treat trichotillomania and which rating scales are best suited to measure the clinical severity and improvement of this condition. This overview summarizes the historical background, etiology, diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, course, prognosis, and various pharmacological treatments of trichotillomania. The case report describes a favorable clinical response of a 33-year-old female veteran with trichotillomania to the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine.

Capgras syndrome responding to the antidepressant mirtazapine.

A new onset of Capgras syndrome, delusional misidentification, developed in an elderly gentleman. Treatment with the antidepressant mirtazapine led to the remission. Suggestions are made for both dynamic and medical bases for Capgras syndrome and possible antipsychotic effects of mirtazapine.

The use of buspirone in primary care.

1. Although clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of buspirone in treating generalized anxiety disorder, more studies are needed to confirm its efficacy in treating other anxiety disorders, depression, behavior disorders, substance abuse disorders, movement disorders, and other medical conditions. 2.

Customer service vs patient care.

Though hospital administrators may impose a customer satisfaction mandate, it need not alter the status of "patients" redefined as "customers." It is the duty of all health care providers to remember that the practice of medicine is not chiefly a business and is not purely a science. In its mission is the art of encouraging the individuality of each provider of medical care to interact with the individuality of his/her patients.