Mental Health Clinician Volume 2: Issue 1

In general, the “more stable” the patient is, the less frequent the monitoring required. As concerns about drug interactions, adverse effects, compliance, etc. increase, more frequent monitoring may be necessary.

Other rating scales are also available, including those specifically for children (with some being completed by parents). Mood charting programs are also available for outpatients to complete on a daily or weekly basis. The results are subsequently reported to the clinician treating the patient. Rating scales can be performed as frequently as deemed clinically necessary, with outpatients generally requiring less frequent

Available options are limited for patients with neutropenia needing to be initiated or maintained on clozapine therapy. A common strategy that is often utilized in these patients is the use of lithium as augmentation to clozapine, which enables the health care provider a means of continuing or initiating clozapine therapy. This article reviews the mechanism and literature evidence behind this treatment strategy.

Bipolar illness can be particularly difficult to manage in pregnancy and during the post-partum period. The risks of mood stabilizing medication on the health of the infant must be considered carefully along with the risks of uncontrolled illness in the mother. Lithium use in pregnancy and lactation has been associated with a number of negative effects in the newborn. This article reviews the latest evidence regarding the risks and benefits of the use of lithium in pregnant or lactating women.

Lithium has been used for more than 50 years for the treatment of bipolar disorder. There is a substantial body of literature about use of lithium in this condition, much of it with conflicting results. Many guidelines and algorithms support the use of lithium for treatment of episodes of acute mania and depression. However, additional research exploring prevention of depressive and manic relapse, treatment of acute depression, and use of combination treatments are needed.

Lithium – Back to the elements

Toolbox: Lithium therapeutic drug monitoring - Efficacy and safety parameters

Clozapine-induced neutropenia: A review of lithium and other currently available options

Lithium in pregnancy & lactation—safer than we thought?

Lithium use in bipolar disorder: Summary of evidence for acute mania, acute depression, and maintenance treatment

Lithium as augmentation for major depressive disorder

CPNP News: Keeping all the plates in the air

CPNP Announcements

PTSD NIGHTMARES: PRAZOSIN AND ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS

ARE YOU AMONG

Push for payment for services continues

Rational antipsychotic polypharmacy in psychotic and bipolar disorders: A focus on D2 receptor partial agonists

Safety considerations for patients using cannabis

Clinical pearls for the treatment of narcolepsy

The efficacy and safety of antidepressants as alternative treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in pediatric populations

Benzodiazepine use in schizophrenia: A review of the literature

CPNP Announcements

CPNP Announcements

Editorial: Elevating to new heights in neuropsychiatric pharmacy at the 2013 CPNP Annual Meeting

Tis the season of endorsements

A review of eslicarbazepine acetate (Stedesa®)