VOL 40 No. 2

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Prospective Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Aripiprazole as a Monotherapy in Patients with Severe Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Open Trial

Gerardo Villarreal, MD, Lawrence A. Calais, RN, CCRC, Jose M. Cañive MD, S. Laura Lundy, BS, Jacob Pickard, MA, and Gregory Toney, PharmD

The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in outpatients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on a 12-week, open-label trial. Twenty-two subjects with DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD participated; 16...

Pages 6-18 Read Article

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Awareness of Metabolic Concerns and Perceived Impact of Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Bipolar Disorder: A Survey of 500 US Psychiatrists

Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD, Susan L. McElroy, MD, and Robert Hirschfeld, MD

Objective: An online survey was conducted to assess psychiatrists’ familiarity with the metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with bipolar disorder, and characterize their perspectives and practices regarding its impact on patient management. Methods:...

Pages 22-37 Read Article

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Asenapine in the Treatment of Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Clinical Trial Design and Rationale

Larry Alphs, MD, PhD, John Panagides, PhD, and Scott Lancaster, MS

Although the positive symptoms of schizophrenia are more likely than the negative symptoms to result in a patient’s hospitalization, positive symptoms tend to respond more completely to antipsychotic drugs. When positive symptoms are controlled, residual...

Pages 41-53 Read Article

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Donepezil for Cognitive Decline Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

P. Murali Doraiswamy, MD, Michael A. Babyak, PhD, Therese Hennig, PA-C, Ranak Trivedi, PhD, William D. White, MPH, Joseph P. Mathew, MD, Mark F. Newman, MD, and James A. Blumenthal, PhD

Objective: To study the effect of donepezil in treating patients with cognitive decline following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods: Forty-four patients, with at least a 0.5 SD decline at 1 year post-CABG on...

Pages 54-59 Read Article

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

The Speed of Onset of Action of Alprazolam-XR Compared to Alprazolam-CT in Panic Disorder

David V. Sheehan, MD, MBA, Kathy Harnett Sheehan, PhD, and B.A. Raj, MD

This study compares the speed of onset of action of the extended release (XR) formulation of alprazolam with that of the compressed tablet (CT) formulation in a sample of outpatients with DSM-IV panic disorder. Diary...

Pages 63-81 Read Article

DRUG DISPOSITION & PHARMACOKINETICS

Long-Acting Injectable Risperidone in the Treatment of Schizophrenia in Special Patient Populations

Eduard Parellada, MD, MSc, PhD

Objective: Although atypical antipsychotic agents are effective in the treatment of schizophrenia, certain populations such as the elderly, young adults or those with a first episode of schizophrenia, and patients with schizoaffective disorder require special...

Pages 82-100 Read Article

EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE

Simple Options for Improving Signal Detection in Antidepressant Clinical Trials

Craig H. Mallinckrodt, PhD, Adam L. Meyers, MS, Apurva Prakash, BA, Douglas E. Faries, PhD, and Michael J. Detke, MD, PhD

Objective: Previous experience with antidepressant studies highlight the difficulties in discriminating an effective drug from placebo. In hopes of improving signal detection, three easy-to-implement methodologies were employed during the development of a recently approved antidepressant....

Pages 101-114 Read Article

GENERAL PSYCHIATRY

Searching for the Puerperal Trigger: Molecular Genetic Studies of Bipolar Affective Puerperal Psychosis

Ian Jones, MRCPsych, PhD, Nick Craddock, MRCPsych, PhD

The available evidence suggests that the puerperium is a period of increased risk for acute episodes of illness in bipolar (BP) women and points to genetic factors as influencing vulnerability to postpartum triggering of such...

Pages 115-125 Read Article

COMPLICATED CASE HISTORIES

Polypharmacy and EPS in a Child; A Case Report

Aysegul Yolga Tahiroglu, MD and Ayse Avci, MD

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs) (dystonic reaction, rigidity, and akathisia) occur as a result of D2 receptor blockade. Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been reported to induce extrapyramidal signs and symptoms but tricyclic antidepressants have been rarely...

Pages 129-133 Read Article

COMPLICATED CASE HISTORIES

Lithium-Induced Nephropathies

Thomas J. Raedler, MD and Klaus Wiedemann, MD

Lithium, an alkali metal, remains the gold-standard of the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder. Over the past decades, the potential of lithium to cause renal damage has been an issue of debate. Polyuria, polydipsia, and,...

Pages 134-149 Read Article

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Reboxetine: An Alternative for Induced Bruxism

Carol Vidal Castro, Carlos Rejón Altable

Acute stimulation of 5HT2A receptors in the basal ganglia has been proven to cause changes in motor movements because of serotoninergic inhibition of dopamine neurotransmission in those receptors. Therefore, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and...

Pages 150-152 Read Article

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Isolated Aripiprazole Drug Interaction with Estrogen

Shaina D. Barnes, Elizabeth A. Winans

Aripiprazole, a partial dopamine (D2) agonist, was introduced to the U.S. market in November of 2002.¹ Aripiprazole has several known drug interactions, predominately related to inhibition of its metabolism via the cytochrome P450 2D6 and...

Pages 153-154 Read Article