Catatonia in the medically ill: Etiology, diagnosis, and treatment. The Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Evidence-Based Medicine Subcommittee Monograph.

Background: Catatonia in medically ill patients is rare but often unrecognized. This monograph summarizes current knowledge on the diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology, and management of catatonia occurring in the medical setting.

Methods: PubMed searches were used to identify relevant articles from 1962 to present.

eMindLog: Self-Measurement of Anxiety and Depression Using Mobile Technology.

Background: Quantifying anxiety and depressive experiences permits individuals to calibrate where they are and monitor intervention-associated changes. eMindLog is a novel self-report measure for anxiety and depression that is grounded in psychology with an organizing structure based on neuroscience.

Objective: Our aim was to explore the psychometric properties of eMindLog in a nonclinical sample of subjects.

Use of Buprenorphine in treatment of refractory depression-A review of current literature.

Objective: Current treatment strategies for depressive disorders have limited efficacy, leaving many patients unimproved or with significant residual symptoms. The development of additional treatments represent a significant unmet need for providers. Several lines of evidence suggest that the opioid system may be involved in regulation of mood and incentives salience.

Withdrawn: The Behavioral Profile of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (PVP) - A Systematic Review.

The article entitled, “The Behavioral Profile of Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and α– pyrrolidinopentiophenone (PVP) - A Systematic Review”, submitted in Current Drug Abuse Reviews (CDAR) by Dr. Cornel N Stanciu has been withdrawn from the journal in accordance with BSP Editorial Policies.

Bright Light Therapy as Augmentation of Pharmacotherapy for Treatment of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Bright light therapy has demonstrated efficacy and is an accepted treatment for seasonal depression. It has been suggested that bright light therapy may have efficacy in nonseasonal depressions. Also, there is evidence that bright light therapy may improve responsiveness to antidepressant pharmacotherapy.

Recreational use of dextromethorphan, "Robotripping"-A brief review.

Background: Dextromethorphan (DXM) in combination with antihistamines and/or pseudoephedrine is widely available as an over-the counter remedy commonly used for relief of colds and cough. In supra-therapeutic amounts, DXM has psychoactive effects. These cough preparations have been adopted by many young users of recreational drugs for these effects.

Psychogenic polydipsia, hyponatremia and osmotic myelinolysis.

Objective: Description of a case of osmotic myelinolysis associated with hyponatremia produced as a consequence of compulsive water drinking.

Method: Case report and review of relevant literature.

Results: Compulsive water drinking or psychogenic polydipsia is a common cause of hyponatremia among individuals with chronic mental illness.

Mania after misuse of dextromethorphan: a case report and brief review of "robotripping".

Dextromethorphan (DXM) in combination with antihistamines and/or pseudoephedrine is widely available as an over-the-counter remedy commonly used for relief of colds and cough. In supratherapeutic amounts, DXM can be extremely activating. These cough preparations have been adopted by many young users of recreational drugs for their psychoactive effects.

Electroconvulsive therapy improves persistent psychosis after repeated use of methylenedioxypyrovalerone ("bath salts").

The use of synthetic cathinone drugs, known popularly as "bath salts," may lead to persistent visual hallucinations and paranoia with repeated use. This is the first case report known to the authors suggesting that such symptoms may persist despite discontinuing the use of psychoactive bath salts. As is the case with other such symptoms associated with use of stimulant drugs of abuse, these symptoms are resistant to pharmacologic treatment, and electroconvulsive therapy can be a useful treatment modality in such situations.

Persistent akathisia masquerading as agitated depression after use of ziprasidone in the treatment of bipolar depression.

There has been increasing recognition that the second-generation antipsychotic drugs can produce extrapyramidal side effects. This case reports the development of severe akathisia in a patient being treated with ziprasidone for bipolar depression. The case illustrates that this symptom can be easily mistaken for worsening agitated depression.

Excited delirium following use of synthetic cathinones (bath salts).

Synthetic analogs of the cathinone molecule have seen increasing recreational use as substitutes for cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy) and methamphetamine. Repeated use of these drugs is associated with a paranoid hallucinatory delirium. A subset of patients using these substances develops a syndrome of extreme agitation and violent behavior that has been reported following the use of other stimulant drugs that also produce rapid changes in brain monoamines.

Intoxication delirium following use of synthetic cathinone derivatives.

Background: In published reports of hallucinatory delirium following use of "bath salts" analytic laboratory testing has demonstrated the synthetic cathinone derivative methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). MDPV can cause a false-positive screening immunoassay result for phencyclidine (PCP). Patients using MDPV are prone to development of the syndrome of excited delirium (ExD), a condition also described with PCP.