Acute mania in a patient with hypothyroidism resulting from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroiditis that occurs frequently in middle-aged women. To date, there is no formally reported association between acute mania and hypothyroidism due to HT. We report a case of acute mania associated with hypothyroidism resulting from HT.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of adjunctive calcitonin nasal spray in acute refractory mania.

Objectives: Calcitonin, a neuropeptide, has been shown in preliminary double-blind trials to reduce agitation in patients with acute mania. Given that it has effects similar to those of lithium and anticonvulsants on modulation of second-messenger signaling pathways and stabilization of neuronal membranes, this study examined the efficacy of calcitonin nasal spray in treating acute manic symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant mania using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design.

Methods: A total of 46 hospitalized patients experiencing either a manic or a mixed episode, who were refractory to treatment with adequate doses of either a mood stabilizer or an antipsychotic, or a mood stabilizer/antipsychotic combination, and had a score of ≥16 on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), were randomized to receive adjunctive nasal calcitonin 200 IU (n = 24) or saline (n = 22) spray for three weeks.

Mirtazapine relieves post-electroconvulsive therapy headaches and nausea: a case series and review of the literature.

Headaches and nausea are the 2 most common adverse effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). These adverse effects have been frequently reported in the postictal period and make it difficult for the patient to continue with the following ECTs. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant with a mechanism that involves activating serotonin (5-HT1) receptors.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese Version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the Chinese Version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ-C). A total of 170 patients were administered the Mini International Neuropsychological Interview and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision as criterion standard by on-site psychiatrists. The Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, and the content validity index of the MDQ-C were .

Genome-wide association study of bipolar I disorder in the Han Chinese population.

We report the first genome-wide association study in 1000 bipolar I patients and 1000 controls, with a replication of the top hits in another 409 cases and 1000 controls in the Han Chinese population. Four regions with most strongly associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, of which three were not found in previous GWA studies in the Caucasian populations. Among them, SNPs close to specificity protein 8 (SP8) and ST8 α-N-acetyl- neuraminide α-2,8-sialyltransferase (ST8SIA2) are associated with Bipolar I, with P-values of 4.

Adjunctive use of methylphenidate in the treatment of psychotic unipolar depression.

Adjunctive use of methylphenidate, a central stimulant, has been considered as a potential therapeutic choice for patients with refractory unipolar depression, geriatric depression, bipolar depression, and depression secondary to a medical illness. We present a case of psychotic unipolar depression in which the patient responded significantly to the adjunctive use of methylphenidate. A 45-year-old woman had melancholic depressive symptoms and mood incongruent psychotic features during her second episode of unipolar depression.

Treatment of paraphilic sexual disorder: the use of topiramate in fetishism.

Topiramate, a newer anticonvulsant, has a modulating effect on voltage-dependent sodium and calcium ion channels, potentiates GABA neurotransmitters and blocks kainite/AMPA glutamate receptors. We describe the use of topiramate in the treatment of fetishism, a paraphilic sexual disorder. A 23-year-old male had developed sexual fantasies and urges towards women's feet and shoes from childhood onwards.

Lamotrigine-associated anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome in bipolar disorder.

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is a rare but life-threatening adverse effect of aromatic anticonvulsants such as phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine, although there is extensive experience with AHS related to these anticonvulsants. Very few cases of lamotrigine-associated AHS have been reported in bipolar patients and most reported cases were published in non-psychiatric journals. The authors describe here the occurrence of an AHS in a 48-year-old bipolar woman who was treated with lamotrigine, valproic acid and venlafaxine for her depressive symptoms.

Combined treatment of olanzapine and mirtazapine in anorexia nervosa associated with major depression.

Several studies have shown that olanzapine is effective in weight restoration and maintenance for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, major depression is a very common comorbid psychiatric disorder associated with AN. Additional antidepressant therapy may be required for treating anorexic patients with major depression.

Does domperidone potentiate mirtazapine-associated restless legs syndrome?

There is now evidence to suggest a central role for the dopaminergic system in restless legs syndrome (RLS). For example, the symptoms of RLS can be dramatically improved by levodopa and dopamine agonists, whereas central dopamine D2 receptor antagonists can induce or aggravate RLS symptoms. To our knowledge, there is no previous report regarding whether domperidone, a peripheral dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, can also induce or aggravate symptoms of RLS.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis with combination lamotrigine and valproate in bipolar disorder.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is the most severe and potentially life-threatening cutaneous reaction associated with lamotrigine. The risk of developing TEN during lamotrigine therapy is low and previously reported cases most involved epileptic patients. However, the risk of TEN with combination lamotrigine and valproate is greater than with monotherapy.

Amisulpride related tic-like symptoms in an adolescent schizophrenic.

Tic disorders can be effectively treated by atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone, olanzapine and ziprasidone. However, there are two case reports that show tic-like symptoms, including motor and phonic variants, occurring during treatment with quetiapine or clozapine. We present a 15-year-old girl schizophrenic who developed frequent involuntary eye-blinking movements after 5 months of amisulpride treatment (1000 mg per day).

Effect of valproate on plasma levels of interleukin-6 in healthy male humans.

Valproate exerts many biochemical and physiological effects and may have a modulating effect on the immune system. The present study aimed to determine whether there is a treatment effect of valproate on plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-6, in healthy male humans. Plasma levels of IL-6 were measured in 10 healthy male humans before and after 7 days of treatment with 1000 mg per day of valproate (i.