Safety and Efficacy of Medical Cannabis Oil for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: An-Open Label, Add-On, Pilot Study.

Background: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: To measure efficacy and safety of medical cannabis oil (MCO) containing THC as an add-on to pharmacotherapy, in relieving behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Methods: Eleven AD patients were recruited to an open label, 4 weeks, prospective trial.

Real-life decision making of Serious Mental Illness patients: Opt-in and opt-out research participation.

Background: Patients' decisions in relation to participation in clinical research depend on individual values and relevant outcomes. Presenting possible decisions by way of defaults (opt-in or opt-out) has been used to achieve desired outcomes. Our objective was to characterize patients willing to participate in clinical research and to assess the impact of defaults on patients with Serious Mental Illness (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major depression and bipolar disorder; SMI) during the decision process.

Tetrabenazine for tardive tremor in elderly adults: a prospective follow-up study.

Tardive tremor (TT) is a rare neuroleptic-induced tardive syndrome. It is mainly postural and action associated rather than resting tremor without other parkinsonian features and resistant to most therapeutic interventions. Tetrabenazine (TBZ) is a possible option for treating TT.

Effectiveness and safety of clozapine in elderly patients with chronic resistant schizophrenia.

Unlabelled: ABSTRACT Background: Recommendations for the treatment of elderly schizophrenia patients are largely based on data extrapolated from studies of antipsychotic medications in younger patient populations. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of clozapine monotherapy in a diagnostically homogeneous group of elderly patients suffering from schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR criteria).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of computerized medical charts of elderly inpatients suffering from schizophrenia treated at our center during the period January 2007-December 2012 was undertaken.

Asenapine for elderly bipolar manic patients.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BPD) in the elderly is probably heterogeneous and its etiopathogenesis is complex. The data for the treatment of late-life BPD are limited. Asenapine is approved in the United States for acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder with or without psychotic features.

Escitalopram versus risperidone for the treatment of behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease: a randomized double-blind pilot study.

Background: Antipsychotics are frequently used to treat psychosis, aggression and agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but safety warnings abound. Escitalopram was investigated since citalopram has demonstrated some effectiveness in AD. We compared escitalopram and risperidone for psychotic symptoms and agitation associated with AD.

Quetiapine augmentation of antidepressant treatment in elderly patients suffering from depressive symptoms: a retrospective chart review.

Depression in elderly patients is often characterized by poor responses to standard antidepressants. Several reports have suggested that quetiapine also may have antidepressant properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of quetiapine augmentation in depressed elderly patients previously unresponsive to a full course of treatment.

Symptomatic remission in elderly schizophrenia patients treated with long-acting risperidone.

Background: In elderly schizophrenia patients remission is difficult to determine due to long disease duration, exposure to differing treatments, long-standing side-effects, non-adherence, cognitive decline and physical comorbidity.

Method: Retrospective chart reviews were undertaken of 48 elderly (60+ years) schizophrenia patients admitted to a university-affiliated tertiary psychiatric center in 2006. These patients were experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms at admission.