Second-Generation Antipsychotic Utilization and Metabolic Parameter Monitoring in an Inpatient Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are prescribed for a variety of indications and are strongly associated with adverse metabolic effects. Studies of pediatric outpatients have revealed several deficiencies in monitoring practices for adverse effects associated with SGAs.

Objective: Our objective was to characterize SGA prescribing and metabolic parameter monitoring (MPM) in an inpatient pediatric population.

Priapism and renal colic in a patient treated with duloxetine.

Antidepressant medications are associated with a variety of genitourinary and adverse sexual effects, such as urinary hesitation, priapism, and delayed ejaculation. Here, we report a case of priapism and renal colic following initiation of duloxetine in a patient with history of tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of priapism and renal colic associated with duloxetine use.

Urine drug screens: Considerations for the psychiatric pharmacist.

Introduction: Proper psychiatric evaluation of patients necessitates that the clinician be vigilant in ruling out secondary causes of symptoms, such as substance-induced symptoms. Immunoassay-type urine drug screens (UDSs) offer clinicians rapid drug screen results, ease of use, and inexpensive cost. Unfortunately, these screens are not without their limitations.

Divalproex utility in bipolar disorder with co-occurring cocaine dependence: a pilot study.

Objective: The aim of this open-label pilot study was to evaluate the utility of divalproex in decreasing cocaine use and stabilizing mood symptoms among patients with bipolar disorder with comorbid cocaine dependence.

Method: Fifteen patients enrolled in the study and seven met final inclusion criteria of DSM-IV/SCID diagnoses of bipolar I disorder and comorbid cocaine dependence with active cocaine use. Patients were started on open-label divalproex.

Patient characteristics and treatment implications of marijuana abuse among bipolar alcoholics: results from a double blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Marijuana abuse, primarily a disorder of adolescents and young adults, is highly prevalent among patients with severely ill psychiatric population, especially those with bipolar disorder. Additional marijuana abuse may impact on the clinical presentation of bipolar illness and may potentially act as mediator of treatment response in this population. However, the characterization of bipolar disorder patients with additional marijuana abuse and the impact of such abuse on treatment outcome has been rarely examined.

Efficacy of valproate maintenance in patients with bipolar disorder and alcoholism: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Background: More than half of all individuals with bipolar disorder have a substance abuse problem at some point in their lifetime. Patients with comorbid substance abuse disorders often are excluded from clinical trials. Thus, treatments targeting this high-risk clinical population are lacking.