Monthly Archives: February 2014

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of substance abuse dependence and/or alcohol abuse dependence among subjects with bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder in a voluntary registry. METHOD: One hundred randomly selected registrants in a voluntary case registry for bipolar … Continue reading →

Conclusions Recent investigations of mood stabilizers in the treatment of BPD are promising and suggest that these drugs can be useful in clinical practice, particularly for controlling affective instability and impulsive aggression. However, further studies are needed to confirm the … Continue reading →

Part #2 Oxcarbazepine Oxcarbazepine is another anticonvulsant structurally related to carbamazepine, with the same mechanism of action of blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, but it is less likely to induce cytochrome P-450 and drug interactions.19 A series of studies indicated the … Continue reading →

Part #1 Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect, in addition to marked impulsivity.1 Although psychotherapy plays a significant role in the treatment of borderline patients by focusing on … Continue reading →

Although psychotropic medications have revolutionized the treatment of many psychiatric disorders, the benefits sometimes come at a price. Unwanted adverse effects may limit the use of these agents and may, in some instances, result in serious morbidity and mortality. In … Continue reading →

Mood-stabilizing drugs slipped into the vocabulary of psychiatrists during the last 15 years without a proper discussion of their definition. Consequently, these medications have been used in ways that have no empirical justification. The original idea behind the term mood … Continue reading →

These vignettes describe two scenarios quite familiar to persons with severe mental illnesses and their families. Consumers frequently experience situations in which they are given little control over important treatment decisions. Families just as frequently are frustrated by having to … Continue reading →

For the estimated 2.4 million adults living with schizophrenia in the U.S., and the people who love and care for them, it takes courage, compassion, and a commitment to stand and face this serious condition together — always looking ahead … Continue reading →