The Journal of clinical psychiatry
-
Review Meta Analysis
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: review and meta-analysis.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a treatment for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. During the past decade, several trials have reported on the efficacy of rTMS treatment; however, the results were inconsistent. ⋯ The results of this meta-analysis warrant further study of rTMS as a potential treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
-
Comparative Study
First-year Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits: medication access and continuity among dual eligible psychiatric patients.
This study provides national data on medication access and continuity problems experienced during the first year of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which was implemented on January 1, 2006, among a national sample of Medicare and Medicaid "dual eligible" psychiatric patients. ⋯ More effective Part D policies and management practices are needed to promote clinically safer and appropriate pharmacotherapy for psychiatric patients to enhance treatment outcomes.
-
Comparative Study
Mental illness and psychotropic drug use among prescription drug overdose deaths: a medical examiner chart review.
Between 1999 and 2006, there was a 120% increase in the rate of unintentional drug overdose deaths in the United States. This study identifies the prevalence of mental illness, a risk factor for substance abuse, and chronic pain among prescription drug overdose deaths in West Virginia and ascertains whether psychotropic drugs contributing to the deaths were used to treat mental illness or for nonmedical purposes. ⋯ Mental illness may have contributed to substance abuse associated with deaths. Clinicians should screen for mental illness when prescribing opioids and recommend psychotherapy as an adjunct or an alternate to pharmacotherapy. Benzodiazepines may have been used nonmedically rather than as a psychotropic drug, reflecting drug diversion. Restricting benzodiazepine prescriptions to a 30-day supply with no refills might be considered.
-
To examine the relationship between the personal beliefs that patients with auditory hallucinations have concerning their voices and the incidence of aggression toward self, others, and objects on the inpatient ward. ⋯ Individuals who believe their hallucinated voices to be all-powerful, malevolent, and irresistible are significantly more likely to engage in aggressive acts on the inpatient service. Examining the beliefs that an individual has about his/her voices may be a useful addition to current aggression risk batteries utilized on acute psychiatric inpatients.