Key Points Remission rates of 70%–90% have been reported in clinical trials of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ECT is currently the most promising prospect for addressing the unmet worldwide need for effective treatment of individuals suffering from depression. The symptoms…
Key Points Somatic therapies are a group of device-based techniques that modulate disease-relevant structures of the nervous system via surgical ablation or electrical stimulation with the goal of therapeutically modifying pathological patterns of brain activity and circuit connectivity. Ablative limbic…
Key Points There is a high rate of psychiatric co-morbidity in patients with pain syndromes. Specific terminology is used to characterize pain and pain syndromes. Pain is transmitted in pathways involving the peripheral and central nervous systems. Psychiatric treatment can…
Key Points Incidence Depending on the drug used and the clinical setting, up to 50% of patients in mental-health treatment will have a co-occurring substance-use disorder. Epidemiology Substance abuse is a major public health problem that affects a large number…
Key Points Incidence Alcohol misuse is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the US. Epidemiology The highest rates of alcohol use, heavy binge use, and alcohol use disorders occur between the ages of 18 and 29…
Key Points Clinical Findings In the DSM-IV, dementia was defined as a syndrome with multiple etiologies and characterized by a disabling decline in memory as well as an impairment in at least one other higher cortical activity (e.g., with aphasia,…
Key Points Complementary and alternative medical therapies are made up of a diverse spectrum of practices (including natural medications) that often overlap with more traditional medical practice. The use of natural medications is growing considerably in the US and around…
Key Points Background A systematic approach to side effects of medications should include consideration of the nature, severity, and timing of symptoms to facilitate optimal management of such side effects. History Many medications (e.g., nefazodone) previously used in psychiatric disorders,…
Key Points Drug–drug interactions refer to alterations in drug levels or drug effects (or both) related to the administration of two or more prescribed, recreational, or over-the-counter agents in close temporal proximity. Although some drug–drug interactions involving psychotropic medications are…
Key Points Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder in children, adolescents, and adults. While the phenotype of ADHD changes across the life span, ADHD persists in many children, adolescents, and adults. Formulations of stimulant and non-stimulant medications are Food…