{"title":"\"It's been a long time since I drank like that\": A case report of binge drinking associated with aripiprazole.","authors":"Alyssa Falleni, Audrey Abelleira, Robin Hieber","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.212","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aripiprazole has been linked to the development of impulse control problems (ICPs), most commonly gambling. Aripiprazole's effect on serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways has had mixed results on drinking behaviors. A male patient receiving outpatient psychiatric care presented with ongoing symptoms of depression on his current regimen of mirtazapine and gabapentin. Aripiprazole was chosen for augmentation after multiple failed trials of alternative medications. Within 3 weeks the patient discontinued the medication due to escalating binge-drinking behavior. This behavior resolved within 3 days after discontinuing aripiprazole. Individuals who engage in binge drinking demonstrate consistent impulse control deficits that are unrelated to the rewarding effects of alcohol. Aripiprazole may be related to this patient's return to binge drinking from an ICP standpoint rather than driven by alcohol cravings as other psychosocial factors remained stable throughout this time.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 3","pages":"212-214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11147655/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141248938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lauren Leiby, Lauryn Shiplett, Wendy Lin, Matthew Dick, Hannah Thornton
{"title":"Pharmacologic management of adolescent catatonia: A dual-case series.","authors":"Lauren Leiby, Lauryn Shiplett, Wendy Lin, Matthew Dick, Hannah Thornton","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.215","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Catatonia is a syndrome characterized by psychomotor and behavioral disturbances and is associated with a substantially increased mortality risk in adolescent patients. There is a dearth of published literature describing treatment strategies for pediatric patients with catatonia. This dual-case series will describe the treatment course of 2 adolescent patients with catatonia at our pediatric inpatient psychiatric facility.</p><p><strong>Case series: </strong>This case series presents 2 adolescent patients (a 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old female) who initially presented with worsening agitation and paranoia, later developing catatonia. Both patients required long durations of hospitalization and were treated with high-dose lorazepam before requiring the addition of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Treatment of pediatric patients with catatonia creates a significant burden on patients, families, and the healthcare system. Treatment with high-dose benzodiazepines is high risk, while ECT is both difficult to access and comes with its own risks. Both patients discussed are transitional age, meaning they will soon be young adults who will continue to require high-level psychiatric care. Psychiatric pharmacists have a large role to play in ensuring safe medication management for these complex patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case series of 2 adolescent patients with catatonia demonstrates marginal reduction in symptoms with high-dose lorazepam in conjunction with ECT, with minimal side effects. This case series adds to the limited available literature regarding treatment of catatonia in pediatric patients and highlights the need for further study into effective treatment alternatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 3","pages":"215-219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11147659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141248961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations with psychiatric disorders and migraines.","authors":"Emma C Palmer, Michael D Shuman, Isabelle G Oiler","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.195","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.06.195","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 3","pages":"195-198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11147654/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141248943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Med rec double check: Inpatient psychiatry medication errors identified on admission using Medicaid Web portals and electronic pharmaceutical claims data.","authors":"Su Su E Oo, Ian R McGrane","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.04.097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2024.04.097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The role of pharmacists during medication reconciliation (MR) is well established, with a number of reports describing this in the context of psychiatric hospitalizations. However, medication errors (MEs) are common during transitions of care, with no exception during psychiatric hospitalizations. Our institution uses pharmacy-performed MR processes using patient interviews and reviewing objective sources, such as electronic pharmaceutical claims data (EPCD), which includes Medicaid Web portals. The inpatient psychiatric pharmacist reviews EPCD sources against previously pharmacy-completed MRs for new admissions, where if discrepancies are found, the patient is reinterviewed to identify and correct MEs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a prospective quality improvement project during 28 days to evaluate the quantity and classification of MEs upon admission to a 22-bed inpatient psychiatry unit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 52 included patients, where a cumulative 426 medications were reviewed, a total of 29 MEs in 16 patients were identified. Eight patients had discrepancies on their home medication lists when compared to EPCD, where 7 of these had at least 1 ME due to inaccurate MR.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Of all the MEs identified, the greatest quantity was found secondary to the EPCD \"double-check\" method. The most common MEs in all patients were the omission of home medications (34%), wrong frequency (28%), and ordering medication the patient is not taking (10%). All patients admitted on long-acting injection antipsychotics had errors in last dose received. No MEs resulted in patient harm, and they were identified and corrected by the psychiatric pharmacist 97% of the time.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 2","pages":"97-101"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11058325/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140861576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Opioid-positive urine drug screen during treatment with oral naltrexone and the clinical implications.","authors":"Elena R Beauregard, Elizabeth G Maguire","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.04.102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2024.04.102","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that is FDA approved to treat alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. It is available as an oral tablet and an extended-release injectable suspension. Naltrexone is metabolized to the primary metabolite, 6-β-naltrexol, and to 2 minor metabolites, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-β-naltrexol and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-naltrexone. One of the lesser-known metabolites of naltrexone is noroxymorphone.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 27-year-old man taking oral naltrexone seen in the outpatient setting for alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder was found to have multiple positive urine drug screens (UDSs) for oxycodone. Confirmatory urine drug testing was completed and noroxymorphone was detected. A naloxone challenge test was conducted with negative results and the patient tolerated the transition from oral naltrexone to the extended-release injectable suspension of naltrexone.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This case illustrates that it is possible for a patient stabilized on oral naltrexone to have a false-positive oxycodone UDS. Confirmatory urine drug testing was used to substantiate that the metabolite of naltrexone, noroxymorphone, was the cause of the false-positive oxycodone UDS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>One of the lesser-known metabolites of naltrexone, noroxymorphone, can cause a positive oxycodone UDS during treatment with oral naltrexone. Confirmatory urine drug testing should be conducted to confirm the presence of noroxymorphone and rule out alternative opioids.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 2","pages":"102-106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11058323/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140874359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"2023 MHC Awards and Recognition.","authors":"Amy VandenBerg, Erica A K Davis","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.04.079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2024.04.079","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 2","pages":"79-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11058318/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140861575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danial Chowdhury, Daniel Greer, Mei T Liu, Caitlin McCarthy, Megan Maroney
{"title":"Comparison of long-acting injectable antipsychotics with oral antipsychotics and hospital readmission rates in pediatric patients.","authors":"Danial Chowdhury, Daniel Greer, Mei T Liu, Caitlin McCarthy, Megan Maroney","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.04.092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2024.04.092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Studies indicate that long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIAs) reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization compared with oral antipsychotics (APs) in adults. Oral formulations of APs are well-studied in the pediatric population, but little is known regarding the off-label use of LAIAs in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective chart review evaluated readmission rates for pediatric patients admitted to a psychiatric ward in a large academic hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 1, 2022, requiring AP therapy. The experimental group included patients initiated on LAIA therapy, and the control group included patients initiated on a new oral AP. Patients were matched by several clinical factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Each group consisted of 38 patients. For the primary outcome, hospital readmission rates at 3 months, the LAIA group had a 13.2% readmission rate compared with 26.3% in the comparator group (<i>p</i> = .153). In months 4 through 6, there was a 5.3% versus 15.8% readmission rate, respectively (<i>p</i> = .139). In months 7 through 12, it was 7.9% versus 18.4% (<i>p</i> = .179). There were significantly fewer cumulative readmissions at the 1-year mark in the LAIA group (<i>N</i> = 9, 23.7%) compared with the oral AP group (<i>N</i> = 18, 47.4%) (<i>p</i> = .031). No statistically significant differences were seen in hospital length of stay although results numerically favored LAIA.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In a pediatric population, the administration of an LAIA when compared with the oral equivalent resulted in numerically fewer hospital readmissions, decreased length of stay, and fewer adverse effects, but these effects were not statistically significant except for cumulative readmissions at 1 year.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 2","pages":"92-96"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11058320/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140872863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bridgette M Gleisner, O Greg Deardorff, Yifei Liu, Megan G Trout, Joshua R Wood, Roger W Sommi, Niels C Beck
{"title":"Impact of COVID-19 quarantines on clozapine-induced constipation: Experience of utilizing a clozapine-induced constipation protocol at a state forensic psychiatric facility.","authors":"Bridgette M Gleisner, O Greg Deardorff, Yifei Liu, Megan G Trout, Joshua R Wood, Roger W Sommi, Niels C Beck","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.068","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Since 2017, Fulton State Hospital (FSH) has implemented a clozapine-induced constipation protocol. In March 2020, FSH initiated unit quarantines to minimize the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of these quarantines on medical referrals for constipation, the Bristol Stool Chart ratings, utilization of as-needed (PRN) laxatives, and adherence rates with scheduled constipation medication regimens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients on the clozapine-induced constipation protocol from May 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020, were included, with 10-month pre- and mid-quarantine implementation. Data collected included patient demographics, primary psychiatric diagnosis, and outcome variables. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 31 patients were included. Most were male (93.5%), with a median age of 40 years. The most common primary diagnosis was schizophrenia. Compared with the pre-quarantine implementation period, there were fewer medical referral contacts per person, less use of PRN laxatives, and slightly lower adherence rates to scheduled constipation medication regimens during the mid-quarantine implementation period.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Compared with the pre-quarantine implementation period, there were fewer medical referrals per person during the mid-quarantine implementation period.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 1","pages":"68-72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10836562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139682274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: A case report of intersecting symptomatology.","authors":"Loulwa Maktabi, Denver Shipman, Justin P Reinert","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.023","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are caused by 2 distinct pathologies; however, the clinical presentation associated with both syndromes share many features.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We describe a 56-year-old male patient who presented to our facility with seizures, leukocytosis, fevers, extremity hyperreflexia, and signs of autonomic dysfunction as evidenced by cardiovascular instability. The patient was noted to be taking vortioxetine, trazodone, lamotrigine, lurasidone, and carbidopa-levodopa as outpatient medications for his depression, an unspecified mood disorder, and Parkinson disease. Following a robust workup and failure of other therapies, all serotonergic and dopaminergic medications were held, and the patient was tried on cyproheptadine for serotonin syndrome, which led to the cessation of fevers. Bromocriptine was added to the regimen, which led to the resolution of the remainder of the patient's symptoms.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overlapping symptomatology of several key diagnostic criteria for both serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome as well as their nature as diagnoses of exclusion require an evaluation of the patient's aggregate improvement following targeted pharmacologic strategies for both syndromes. The efficacy of both cyproheptadine and bromocriptine when administered concomitantly support the concurrent pathologies.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Clinicians at the bedside must be cognizant of the potential for clinically relevant drug-drug interactions that may present with overlapping pathologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 1","pages":"23-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10836564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139682275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shawn R Smith, Leslie Banuelos, Nalea Trujillo, Destiny Farihi, Stephanie Lee, Sharon Truong, Tracy Ly, David Dadiomov, Nancy Kawahara, Paul Gavaza
{"title":"Adverse childhood experiences among California student pharmacists.","authors":"Shawn R Smith, Leslie Banuelos, Nalea Trujillo, Destiny Farihi, Stephanie Lee, Sharon Truong, Tracy Ly, David Dadiomov, Nancy Kawahara, Paul Gavaza","doi":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.9740/mhc.2024.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with higher mental and physical illness and substance use disorders in adulthood. However, little is known about the prevalence of ACEs among student pharmacists and the factors associated with exposure. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of ACEs, resilience, and maladaptive coping strategies among student pharmacists in California.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Student pharmacists from 14 California pharmacy schools completed a 24-item online survey in 2020. This survey instrument comprised the ACEs questionnaire and collected data on the students' demographic characteristics, coping strategies, and resilience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most respondents were Asian/Pacific Islander (<i>n</i> = 186, 61.0%), female (<i>n</i> = 216, 70.8%), and aged between 25 and 31 years (<i>n</i> = 154, 50.7%). Many (<i>n</i> = 137, 44.9%) students had more than 1 ACE exposure; 66 students (21.6%) had more than 3 ACEs. Many students indicated that they were diagnosed or suspected to be diagnosed with a mental health condition (<i>n</i> = 105, 34.4%) and agreed/strongly agreed that they struggled to manage the workload of pharmacy school (<i>n</i> = 119, 39.9%). Respondents with higher ACE scores (> 3) were more likely to report struggling with managing the workload of pharmacy school, have or suspect having a mental health condition, drink alcohol in the last 12 months, and/or have multiple sexual partners than students with lower ACE scores.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>More than 1 in 5 student pharmacists in this study were exposed to more than 3 ACEs. The student pharmacists' ACE exposure was associated with higher likelihood of mental health conditions and high-risk health behaviors. Further studies are needed to investigate this topic among student pharmacists.</p>","PeriodicalId":101313,"journal":{"name":"The mental health clinician","volume":"14 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10836563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139682271","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}