Prescribing pattern of clozapine and other antipsychotics for patients with first-episode psychosis: a cross-sectional survey of early intervention teams.

Objective: To describe the pattern of antipsychotic drug prescribing in patients with first episode psychosis, with more emphasis in the use of clozapine in this group of patients.

Method: A cross-sectional survey involving six early intervention service (EIS) teams in the West Midlands was conducted. Data was extracted from case notes and electronic records by clinicians working in each participating team.

Novel pharmacological agents targeting memory and cognition in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study is to review data for several promising novel pharmacological drugs for anxiety disorders and describe how they exert their effects.

Method: We presented a review of the published literature. Online search plus reference list checking was also used.

Pharmacologic treatment of first-episode schizophrenia: a review of the literature.

Objective: To review the evidence base for the efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotic medication for the treatment of the first episode of schizophrenia.

Data Source: MEDLINE databases were searched for published articles in English over the last 25 years, from January 1986 to January 2011, on choice of antipsychotic treatment for the first episode of schizophrenia, with an emphasis on efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotic drugs in the acute phase of psychotic illness.

Study Selection: The keywords antipsychotic drugs and schizophrenia were used in combination with drug treatment, pharmacologic treatment, efficacy, and tolerability in addition to atypical antipsychotics, first-generation antipsychotics, second-generation antipsychotics, first-episode psychosis, and acute psychotic episode.

Systematic review of lamotrigine augmentation of treatment resistant unipolar depression (TRD).

Objective: Our aim was to review all the evidence of lamotrigine's effectiveness in treatment resistant depression after at least one failed antidepressant trial.

Method: We used a systematic search strategy to identify studies that included adults aged 18-65 years with a diagnosis of unipolar depression who had not responded to at least a 4-week course of a recommended dose of an antidepressant.

Results: We found only one randomized, double blind study that has been published, showing its effectiveness for treatment-resistant depression.

Early intervention in psychosis: a retrospective analysis of clinical and social factors influencing duration of untreated psychosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical and social factors determining the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in 2 groups of individuals with first-episode psychosis.

Method: Clinical and social variables were collected retrospectively from the case notes of 74 patients with first-episode psychosis (defined as 1 of the categories in the ICD-10 of psychotic episode arising from a functional or substance misuse cause). Patients were divided into 2 groups, one with a DUP less than 12 weeks (n = 46) and one with a DUP equal to or longer than 12 weeks (n = 28).