Patients with bipolar I disorder stabilized on quetiapine can be maintained on the drug as monotherapy or switched to lithium during the maintenance phase, according to the results of a two-year double-blind trial (Weisler et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72:1452-1464).
Psychiatry
Bipolar I in childhood/adolescence: TEAM trial results
May 2, 2012The treatment of early-age mania (TEAM) trial randomized 279 treatment-naïve children and adolescents (6-16 years, mean 10.1 years) with bipolar I disorder (manic or mixed phase) to one of three anti-mania medications to assess their comparative effectiveness (Geller et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2012;epublished January 2, 2012)
Telephone-based intervention: results from the Strongest Families program
February 22, 2012The Strongest Families (formerly Family Help) program was developed to provide mental health services to families who have difficulties accessing health care in Canada. The program is run by two research groups headed by Dr. Patrick McGrath at Dalhousie University, Halifax, and Dr. Charles Cunningham at McMaster University, Hamilton.
The intervention consists of educational materials (manuals, videotapes, audiotapes) and telephone consultations (http://crfh.ca/index.php/research-programs/current-research/sfo/).
Calcium blockers for tardive dyskinesia
January 25, 2012Over the past two decades, a number of small studies and case reports have suggested that calcium channel blockers (e.g. nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem) may be beneficial in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia (Suddath et al. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1991; 39: 743-745; Duncan et al. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1990; 10: 414-416).
Cognition impaired during euthymia in bipolar disorder
October 5, 2011A new study reports that patients with bipolar disorder demonstrate changes in neurocognitive performance, notably in attention, speed of information processing and verbal fluency (Chaves et al. Bipolar Disord 2011; 13: 118-123).