The impact of early direct-contact experiences on reducing mental health stigma among student pharmacists: A pilot study.

Introduction: Mental health-related stigma is a barrier to treatment and recovery for serious mental illnesses (SMIs). Educational training programs demonstrate positive changes in health professional students' attitudes and stigma toward SMI; however, student pharmacists have minimal opportunity to directly engage with the SMI population. This study aims to assess and compare student pharmacists' stigma related to SMI before and after participating in a pilot series of direct-contact workshop experiences.

Impact of Psychiatric Pharmacist-Led Psychopharmacology Didactics for Psychiatry Residents.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of board-certified psychiatric pharmacist (BCPP)-led psychopharmacology lectures to psychiatry residents and fellows.

Methods: Surveys were administered to psychiatry residents and geriatric psychiatry fellows at two teaching institutions between Fall 2021 and Spring 2023, including two distinct residency programs and one fellowship program. The survey consisted of three quantitative questions and one qualitative question soliciting open-ended constructive feedback.

The effect of resilience on bipolar mood during specialty clinic treatment.

Background: Limitations in mental health resources behoove exploration of factors that may enhance treatment response. One such factor, resilience, has been minimally examined in bipolar disorder.

Methods: With multi-level modeling of clinical care data, we examined associations among longitudinal measurements of resilience and mood rating trajectories in a sample of 100 individuals with bipolar disorder during 6 weeks of evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.

Donepezil-induced QTc prolongation: A case report.

Background: Several psychoactive medications are known to cause QTc prolongation. Patient factors also increase the risk for QTc prolongation, including bradycardia, female sex, older age, metabolic abnormalities, and polypharmacy. Donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, prolongs the QTc interval through a multimodal mechanism.

Impact of Gabapentin Adjunct use with Benzodiazepines for the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal in a Psychiatric Hospital.

Introduction: Benzodiazepines are currently the gold standard for treatment of alcohol withdrawal. Gabapentin has growing evidence to support its use in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, however there is limited evidence regarding its role in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. The purpose of this study was to determine if adjunctive gabapentin reduces the need for benzodiazepine (BZD) administration during alcohol withdrawal.

Development of oral candidiasis following initiation and rechallenge of extended-release bupropion in a geriatric patient.

Objective: To report a case of oral candidiasis that developed in a 70-year-old white female both upon initiation and rechallenge of extended-release bupropion therapy.

Case Summary: A 70-year-old female with a past medical history of osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, and polycythemia vera developed oral candidiasis on 2 occasions following initiation of extended-release bupropion for the treatment of recurrent depression. During both instances, the reaction occurred with an increased dose of the medication, suggesting the adverse event may have been dose-related.

Phenytoin-induced chronic liver enzyme elevation and hepatic fibrosis: A case report.

Background: Liver fibrosis results from chronic damage to the liver. Advanced liver fibrosis results in cirrhosis, liver failure, and portal hypertension and may even require liver transplantation. A liver biopsy is considered the "gold standard" method for the assessment of liver fibrosis; however, ultrasonography can also detect changes in the hepatic parenchyma due to fibrosis.

Survey highlights the need to expand offerings of introductory pharmacy practice experiences in psychiatry and neurology: Benefits and example experiences.

Introduction: Introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs) are 1 requirement schools and colleges of pharmacy must fulfill to meet accreditation standards. The purpose of this manuscript is to report existing IPPEs in psychiatry and neurology across the United States.

Methods: Two separate electronic surveys were administered to individual College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists members with board certification in psychiatric pharmacy with an academic affiliation and academic institutions in the 2014-15 academic year to assess the neuropsychiatric curriculum in pharmacy programs.

Venous thromboembolism following initiation of atypical antipsychotics in two geriatric patients.

Background: Although not formally highlighted as a risk factor in current practice guidelines, several observational studies have reported a possible association between antipsychotic use and development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, it is unclear to what extent the risk is elevated.

Case Report: Described are 2 cases of VTE following recent initiation of second-generation antipsychotics in elderly patients.

Curriculum in Psychiatry and Neurology for Pharmacy Programs.

To describe pharmacy curricula in psychiatry and neurology and to report on neuropsychiatric pharmacy specialists' views on optimal curriculum. Design and administer one electronic survey to accredited pharmacy programs asking them to report information on curricula in psychiatry and neurology for the 2014-2015 academic year. Design and administer a separate electronic survey to board certified pharmacists with an academic affiliation who are members of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) asking about their teaching activities and their opinion on optimal curricula.

Psychiatric Providers' Willingness to Participate in Shared Decision Making When Prescribing Psychotropics.

Patients with mental health disorders experience difficulty in selecting treatments. With a paternalistic approach, patients are not offered an opportunity to provide input. Shared decision making (SDM) occurs when providers and patients collaborate on informed treatment decisions.

Impact of the CATIE trial on antipsychotic prescribing patterns at a state psychiatric facility.

Introduction: Results from the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) indicate that, with the exception of olanzapine, no substantial overall differences were identified between second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and the first generation antipsychotic (FGA) perphenazine.

Methods: This study evaluated the effect of CATIE on antipsychotic prescribing. A retrospective review of 1807 adults with schizophrenia was conducted and relative quarterly percentages of FGA versus SGA prescriptions were calculated.

Treatment disparities for major depressive disorder: Implications for pharmacists.

Objectives: To determine whether differences exist in overall antidepressant use and specific antidepressant drug class (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]/ serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor [SNRI] versus other) use among patients of different race/ethnicity groups (blacks and Hispanics compared with whites) with a diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) 12-month major depressive disorder (MDD) and to discuss ways in which pharmacists can decrease the gap in treatment disparities.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: United States from February 2001 through April 2003.

Current treatment strategies for clozapine-induced sialorrhea.

Objective: To provide an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and current treatment options for clozapine-induced sialorrhea.

Data Sources: Literature was retrieved through MEDLINE (1977-February 2011) using the key search terms clozapine, sialorrhea, hypersalivation, drooling, and treatment. In addition, reference citations from identified publications were reviewed.