A group in the U.K. has published a consensus statement on the use of the atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole for acute mania (Aitchison et al. J Psychopharmacol 2009; 23: 231-240). Unlike other atypical antipsychotic agents (clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone), aripiprazole acts as a partial agonist at the dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT-1A and 5HT-2C receptors, and as a 5HT-2A antagonist (for a recent review see Pae CU. Expert Opin Drug Saf 2009; 8: 373-386).
Psychiatry
Milnacipran in major depression: meta-analysis
December 1, 2009Milnacipran is a dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) in use in Europe, Asia and Australia. Its norepineprine:serotonin effects are 3:1, in contrast to other SNRIs (e.g. venlafaxine, with a 1:30 norepineprine:serotonin ratio).
CANMAT guidelines for bipolar disorder
November 17, 2009The Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Disorders (CANMAT), in collaboration with the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, has published an update of its guidelines on the management of bipolar disorder (Yatham et al. Bipolar Disord 2009; 11: 225-255). The guidelines were initially published in 2005 (Yatham et al. Bipolar Disord 2005; 7(suppl 3): 5-69) and first updated for 2007 (Yatham et al. Bipolar Disord 2006; 8: 721-739).
Depression not a dementia risk factor
October 20, 2009A prospective community-based observational study reports no apparent association between depression and the development of dementia (Becker et al. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2009; 17: 653-663).
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Higher remission rates with combination therapy for psychotic depression
October 6, 2009The combination of olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic medication, and the SSRI sertraline is associated with a higher remission rate compared to olanzapine alone, according to the results of the Study of Pharmacotherapy of Psychotic Depression (STOP-PD) trial (Meyers et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009; 66: 838-847).