Articles tagged with Psychoactive Drugs
A national study from PolicyLab at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia examines prescription patterns of psychoactive medications in 48 states. The research shows a decline in the use of other psychoactive medications but highlights concerns about the high rates of antipsychotic prescriptions among children in foster care.
A cross-sectional analysis found that strengthening mental health systems features can facilitate access to psychotropic medicines, while country development plays a different role in promoting affordability.
A Finnish study published in the European Heart Journal found that combining antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs increases the risk of sudden cardiac death during an acute coronary event. The study suggests a need to improve screening for cardiovascular risk factors in psychiatric patients and avoid combining these medications.
A new tool developed by researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona predicts the environmental fate of pharmaceutical products. The model assesses the physical-chemical properties of drugs and their growth in use to determine their likelihood of entering the environment.
A retrospective cohort study found that early antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces mortality among HIV-infected adults with tuberculosis. Additionally, the inclusion of five psychotropic medicines in emergency health kits addresses a fundamental inequity in mental healthcare during humanitarian emergencies.
A Canadian study of over 10,900 nursing home patients found that conventional antipsychotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines carried higher risks of death, femur fractures, and heart failure compared to atypical antipsychotics. The findings suggest a need for caution when prescribing these medications in this population.
A landmark study reports that many US states have inadequate policies and practices governing psychotropic medication use for foster care youth, with estimated rates of 13-52% compared to 4% in the general population. The report calls for a national approach and resources for medication oversight.
A new study warns of the dramatic rise in psychotropic medications for children, with up to eight million children taking one or more drugs. The authors caution that there is little evidence available to warrant the widespread use of these medications for children.
A study by researchers from four Madrid-based health centres found that family conflict is not a significant factor in the use of psychopharmaceuticals among Spanish women. The results show that 24% of women take antidepressants, with benzodiazepines used by 30.6%, primarily for sleep aid.
A study found that person-centered care and dementia-care mapping reduce agitation in people with dementia, but no significant improvements in quality of life or neuropsychotic symptoms. Person-centered approaches are more cost-effective and can be easily implemented in residential care homes.
A recent Geisinger study found that reviewing patient files in the Electronic Health Record reduces elderly patients' use of psychoactive medications linked to increased fall risk. This decrease in medication usage has the potential to significantly reduce falls among the elderly, a major cause of injury and death.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that paliperidone extended-release tablets were effective in treating schizophrenia symptoms, with improvements seen in social functioning. The treatment's long half life and extended release formulation offer practical advantages over existing treatments.
A recent study found that bipolar spectrum disorder affects about 1% of the population, with individuals receiving inadequate treatment. The research highlights the importance of identifying subtypes of bipolar disorder and using appropriate medication to effectively manage symptoms.
A new study published in Clinical Therapeutics suggests that private health plans increasingly rely on escalating copayments to manage drug costs, making treatment more expensive for patients. This can affect adherence to treatment, particularly for psychiatric disorders.
Research in Finland found that enforced redundancies boost mental health problems among those who keep their jobs, with men being 64% more likely to be prescribed psychotropic drugs than those without job losses. Women working in downsized organizations were 12% more likely to receive these prescriptions.
A large-scale study found that adding a broad-spectrum psychotropic agent, Risperidone, to standard antidepressant therapy can effectively treat resistant major depressive disorder. Patients who were less severely ill only needed a brief period of Risperidone treatment to experience lasting benefits.
Between 14 and 26 percent of psychotropic medication visits lacked a mental health diagnosis, sparking concern about trend's impact. Pharmaceutical companies' spending on TV advertising increased six-fold between 1996 and 2000.
Baycrest has implemented a state-of-the-art CPOE/CDS system to improve medication prescribing and reduce adverse drug events. The system provides real-time feedback on high-risk decisions, eliminating errors caused by misinterpretation of handwritten prescriptions.
A recent study found that New York City residents' mental health visits rose less than expected after the 9/11 attacks. The majority of residents did not seek additional mental health services or medication use following the disaster, with only a few percent showing increased utilization.
A three-year study of 351 people from Sweden aged 80 and over reveals that psychoactive medications have negative effects on cognitive performance. The results show that individuals taking these medications experience lower performance scores and a more severe decline in cognitive function compared to those not on medication.
Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have developed a new long-acting treatment to block the psychoactive effects of phencyclidine (PCP) in drug addicts. The therapy uses monoclonal antibodies to prevent or slow PCP entry into the brain, providing immediate protection.
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that 52% of resident physicians self-prescribe medications, with 42% obtained from hospital sample closets or pharmaceutical company representatives. The practice raises concerns about lost professional objectivity and potential conflicts-of-interest.