Restless Leg Syndrome: How to Diagnose, Evaluate & Treat
Restless leg syndrome is a common neurological condition, which can be easily missed or misdiagnosed as insomnia. On the other hand, most antidepressants and antipsychotics…
Category: Psychiatry-In-Depth
Managing Treatment Resistant Depression with Atypical Features
Depression with atypical features is defined as significant mood reactivity combined with two of the following clinical features: Hyperphagia Hypersomnia Leaden paralysis Pathological rejection sensitivity…
Predictors of Suicidal Ideation after Stroke?
Post-stroke depression is considered one of the common neuropsychiatric complications of cerebrovascular stroke, affecting approximately one third of stroke survivors at any one time after…
Auvelity: New Oral Fast Acting FDA Approved Antidepressant
On Aug 19, 2022 Axsome Therapeutics announced the FDA Approval of Auvelity, as the first and Only Oral NMDA Receptor Antagonist for the treatment of…
How to Evaluate Six Neurocognitive Domains in Dementia: Social Cognition
It is important to have knowledge of these six neuro-cognitive domains for the evaluation & diagnosis of dementia subtypes. In this discussion series, Dr. Harvinder…
Postpartum Psychosis Management?
Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency that warrants immediate treatment, including admission to ensure the safety of mother and baby. Understanding the treatment algorithm for…
OCD Psychopharmacology Algorithm: 3 Days Lecture Series
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy is announcing our next lecture series, where Dr. David Osser will discuss the psychopharmacology algorithm project’s recent update on the psychopharmacological…
Low Testosterone Level & Depression: Should you check?
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy is excited to announce the release of our 17th journal club discussion. This journal club will focus on this clinically relevant…
FDA Authorized Diagnostic Aid for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common developmental disorders. The importance of early ASD diagnosis is of clinical importance, as early interventions…
Journal Club 16: Lithium use during Pregnancy & Postpartum
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy is excited to release our 16th journal club discussion today. This journal club will focus on this clinically relevant topic of…
OCD: When to Discontinue Treatment?
Let’s begin by answering this question first: APA 2007 guideline recommends that successful medication treatment for OCD be continued for 1–2 years before considering a…
Binge Eating Disorder: Diagnose & Treatment?
Lifetime prevalence estimates of DSM-IV anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are .9%, 1.5%, and 3.5% among women, and .3% .5%, and 2.0%…
Urine Drug Test: Phencyclidine
Phencyclidine abuse can cause violent and aggressive behaviors, severe hallucinations, paranoia, and impaired motor skills. Few medications can cause false-positive results can occur for agents…
Urine Drug Tests: Amphetamines
Amphetamine screening tests are most commonly associated with false positive tests and this includes false positive results from psychotropic medications as well. Let’s begin by…
Urine Drug Tests: Benzodiazepines
LECTURE SERIES DAY 3: RELEASED TODAY We continue our lecture series on the “Clinical Interpretation of Urine Drug Tests” with a discussion on the following…
Urine Drug Screen: Opioids
LECTURE SERIES DAY 2: RELEASED TODAY We continue our lecture series on the “Clinical Interpretation of Urine Drug Tests” with a discussion on the following…
Urine Drug Screen: Cannabinoids
LECTURE SERIES DAY 1: RELEASED TODAY Today we begin this clinically relevant lecture series for our academy members with videos on the following two topics:…
Clinical Interpretation of Urine Drug Tests: Journal Club 15
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy has released the complete lecture schedule for our academy members today: CLINICAL INTERPRETATION OF URINE DRUG TESTS It is important to…
Managing Severe Melancholic Depression
Melancholic features in major depressive disorder are characterized by: ONE of the following present during the most severe period of the current episode: Loss of…
Parkinson’s Disease & Impulse Control Disorders
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy’s lecture series on “Impulse Control & Self Injurious Behaviors: Pharmacological Management” has released the next lecture today: Parkinson’s Disease & Impulse…
Academy Post Summary: Feb 2022
In February 2022, Psychiatry Education Forum Academy added the following 6 clinically relevant chapters. Please let me know if you found them clinically relevant. (1)…
Journal Club 14: Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Antipsychotics for Acute Schizophrenia
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy is excited to release our next journal club discussion today. This journal club will focus on this clinically relevant topic of…
Journal Club’s New Feature: ABCC Pathway Track
Psychiatry Education Forum’s Journal Club is an additional feature for our Academy’s members. We are excited to announce the release of our new feature in…
Serotonin Syndrome: 5 Clinical Facts
Serotonin syndrome is considered a psychiatric emergency, characterized by excess of serotonin in central nervous system, which if severe can become life threatening. We have…
Top 5 Viewed Posts in 2021
On this last day of 2021, let’s review our top 5 viewed posts of this year: Bipolar Disorder Psychopharmacology (1) Restarting Lamotrigine after abrupt Discontinuation…
Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis: What should you know as a Psychiatrist?
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis This is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack NMDA (N-methyl D aspartate) type glutamate receptors at central neuronal synapses. Psychiatrists should…
What Features Differentiates Bipolar Depression from MDD?
Q: What Features Differentiate Bipolar Depression from MDD? Bipolar depression is characterized by significantly higher rates of: Psychomotor retardation Difficulty thinking Early morning awakening, morning worsening…
Bipolar Disorder with Mixed Features: Update 2021
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder associated with various mood states including mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed states. The identification and treatment of mixed…
Geriatric Psychiatry: Neurocognitive Disorders [PEFA Discussions]
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type/cause of dementia. As we know that FDA recently approved Aducanumab (Aduhelm) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease (read…
Testosterone & Depression in Men?
Age-associated hypogonadism (testosterone deficit) can occurs in 30% of men after the age of 55 (1). Low testosterone is associated with decreased muscle mass, bone…
How to Screen for Delirium Superimposed on Dementia?
When delirium and dementia coexist: this is referred to as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). Delirium and dementia are associated with: lengthier hospital stays functional…
How to Differentiate Obsessions from Delusions?
The presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) in schizophrenia is frequent. It is of clinical relevance to separate obsessive symptoms from delusional…
Attention PEFA Members: Join PEFA Network
Dear PEFA Members. We are excited to release a new update in our academy: PEFA Network. This is a closed group for PEFA members only and…
Traumatic Brain Injury: Management Series [PEFA]
The risk for psychiatric disorders and symptoms can increase after the traumatic brain injury, and long-term disability from TBI has primarily been attributed to neurobehavioral…
Message Each Other: New PEFA Feature
Today we are excited to announce the release of our website’s new feature for PEFA members. Now PEFA members can message each other privately to…
How to Evaluate Six Neurocognitive Domains in Dementia? [PUBLISHED]
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy published its next discussion series today: It is important to have knowledge of these six neuro-cognitive domains for the evaluation &…
How to Evaluate Six Neurocognitive Domains in Dementia?
Today we are excited to announce Psychiatry Education Forum Academy’s next discussion with release date for this Saturday (July 24): It is important to have…
Psycho-Ophthalmology: Psychotropics Ocular Adverse Events
Psychotropic medications are known to cause ocular side effects. We have a detailed section on this topic in Psychiatry Education Forum Academy. Let’s begin with…
[PEFA Journal Club]: Claim 4.75 CME Credits
We just finished our 13 journal club discussions at PEFA (Psychiatry Education Forum Academy). PEFA members can claim a maximum of 4.75 AMA PRA Category…
[Journal Club 13 + Coffee Club]: International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) for PTSD & CPTSD
Today we posted the following 13th journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series and discussion with an expert in our Coffee Club’s discussion section:…
[Journal Club #12 + Coffee Club]: Is Ketamine Safe with History of Psychosis?
Today we posted the following 12th journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series and discussion with an expert in our Coffee Club’s discussion section:…
[Journal Club #6 + #7]: Two New Schizophrenia Medications with Novel Mechanism of Action
Today we posted the sixth and seventh journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series, discussing the following two newer antipsychotics for schizophrenia treatment: (A)…
[Journal Club #5 + Coffee Club]: Comparing 32 Oral Antipsychotics for Acute Schizophrenia Management.
Today we posted the following fifth journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series and discussion with a expert in our Coffee Club’s discussion section:…
Journal Club #4: How Does Schizophrenia Symptoms Progress with Age?
Today we posted the following fourth journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series: Journal Club #4: Staging of Schizophrenia With the Use of PANSS:…
Journal Club #3: Bipolar Depression Guidelines: CANMAT & ISBD Versus Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project
Today we posted the following third journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series: Journal Club #3: The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South…
Journal Club #2: Omega-3 Fatty Acids for MDD Treatment (ISNPR Practice Guidelines)
Today we posted the following second journal club in PEFA Journal Club’s discussion series: Journal Club #2: International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research Practice Guidelines…
Journal Club #1: Update on Nonpsychotic Unipolar Depression Management
We begin PEFA Journal Club’s updated schedule with our first journal club discussion today: Journal Club #1: The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South…
PEFA Journal Club: Updated Schedule Released
Psychiatry Education Forum’s Journal Club is an additional feature for PEF Academy’s members. All academy members will be automatically enrolled in this journal club. Here…
Antipsychotics of Choice during Lactation
Antipsychotics of Choice During Lactation: This PEFA academy chapter will summarize the use of antipsychotics during lactation in the following sections: FIRST-LINE treatment options during…
Aducanumab: New Medication FDA Approved for Alzheimer’s Disease
June 07, 2021 Today FDA has approved Aducanumab (Aduhelm) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is the first novel treatment to target the underlying…
LYBALVI™: New Medication FDA Approved for Schizophrenia & Bipolar Disorder
June 01, 2021 Today FDA approved LYBALVI for the treatment of: Schizophrenia in adults Bipolar I disorder in adults Acute treatment of manic or mixed…
PEFA Newsletter: May 2021
PSYCHIATRY EDUCATION FORUM ACADEMY’S NEWSLETTER MAY 2021 Here is the summary of topics posted in the month of May at Psychiatry Education Forum Academy. These…
How do Schizophrenia Symptoms Progress over 40 years?
Today (May 24) is World Schizophrenia Day. The purpose of this day is to increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with the diagnosis of…
Psychological Approaches for Auditory Hallucinations Management
Antipsychotic medications are commonly used to treat auditory hallucinations but it is equally important to teach patients these psychological skills to reduce the distress associated…
Medications vs Psychotherapy for MDD: Comparing 5 Major Guidelines
How do you decide between psychotherapy versus medications for the treatment of major depressive disorder? Depression severity is one of the criteria used to make…
Pseudobulbar Affect: Identify & Manage
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy’s Coffee Club contains short discussions with clinical experts in the field of psychiatry. Coffee Club’s goal is to get answers for clinically…
Treatment-Resistant GAD: 8 Augmentation & 12 Switching Options
Psychiatry Education Forum Academy will publish a detailed lecture on the management options for treatment-resistant GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) tomorrow: April 18 (Sunday). This detailed…
Genetic Testing in Psychiatry: MTHFR & L-MethylFolate
MTHFR gene encodes for MethyleneTetraHydroFolate Reductase (MTHFR) enzyme. It is important to have the knowledge of the following two MTHFR polymorphisms for you to interpret…
PEF Clinical Fact: Antipsychotic of Choice in COVID & Pneumonia
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE? JOIN PSYCHIATRY EDUCATION FORUM ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP This educational activity is dedicated to the essential and must-know clinical facts regarding the interaction…
Can L-Theanine Help with Anxiety Management?
Share this post Share on facebook Share on google Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share on print Share on email L-theanine…
Top 5 Psychiatry Articles Discussed on PEF
Happy New Year to all PEF Followers I want to thank you all for following Psychiatry Education Forum and giving me the encouragement to continue…
Role of ANK3 in Bipolar Disorder
Share this post Share on facebook Share on google Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on pinterest Share on print Share on email Ankyrin-3…
Grief, Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder Versus Prolonged Grief Disorder
This topic will be summarized in the following three sections: (1) Grief versus Major Depressive Episode: https://youtu.be/WIQmiWnqhFg (2) Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder Versus Prolonged Grief…
Treatment-Resistant PTSD Nightmares Management
Today we released our updated lecture series on the management of treatment-resistant PTSD nightmares management. With this lecture series, we have crossed 260 chapters in…
Beware of “Benadryl Challenge” on TikTok: FDA Warning
You must be aware of life-threatening challenges posted on social media in past, including the Tide Pod Challenge (in 2018) and the Bird Box Challenge…
Why Patients with Dementia develop Behavioral Symptoms?
Behavioral Symptoms Management in Dementia Lecture Series This lecture series will be discussed in the following sections: 1. Types of agitated behaviors in dementia: (Duration:…
FDA Update: Boxed Warning for Benzodiazepines
On Sep 23, 2020: FDA released this new announcement in their Drug Safety Communication, that the following update will be included in the Boxed Warning…
Evidence-Based Prevention Guidelines of Alzheimer’s Disease
This most recent study published by Jin-Tai Yu et al in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry (on Jul 20, 2020) completed a systematic review & meta-analysis…
25% Price Drop: 1st CME Conference
Psychiatry Education Forum’s first CME online conference is dedicated to the essential and must-know clinical facts in psychiatry. This conference will offer a maximum of 10 AMA…
Peer Reviewer for Psychiatry Education Forum
We are currently working on exciting educational activities for Psychiatry Education Forum subscribers. We at Psychiatry Education Forum rely on reliable peer review process to…
Cognitive Impairment with Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury can significantly impact an individual’s life, in terms of cognitive, behavioral and physical impairments. Among these, cognitive impairments are often the most…
PEF Coffee Club: Bipolar Depression
Psychiatry Education Forum’s (PEF) Coffee Club is a new feature for Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry course subscribers. PEF Coffee Club contains short discussions with…
Treatment-Resistant OCD: Can NAC Help?
A 36 year-old-female with history of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is currently on fluvoxamine 300 mg/day with clomipramine 250 mg/day with persistence of intrusive obsessive thoughts…
‘Breaking Bad’ on a Routine Urine Drug Screen: The case of an innocent drug-positive
Post Contribution by Dr. Lena Palaniyappan Often we request urine drug screening when we suspect possible drug use, but cannot trust what the patient says.…
The Fire of Psychosis
Journalists write a lot more than psychiatrists, right? But how can you write meaningfully when your “brain is on fire”? A 24 year old New…
Atypical Psychosis: Discussion Series Announcement
Psychiatry Education Forum is excited to announce the release of our upcoming discussion series with Dr. Lena Palaniyappan: <h2>ATYPICAL PSYCHOSIS:</h2> <img width=”640″ height=”360″ src=”https://psychiatryeducationforum.com/project1/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Dr.-Lena-Palaniyappan2–1024×576.jpg” alt=””…
Psychotropic Dose Conversions: Email Lecture Series
We will begin the following email lecture series for Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry course subscribers: PSYCHOTROPICS DOSE CONVERSION (MAY 18- MAY 29, 2020) (May…
Duloxetine FDA Approved for Pediatric Fibromyalgia (age 13-17 yr)
FDA has expanded the duloxetine indication for the treatment of fibromyalgia in pediatric population (age 13-17 yr). Duloxetine is now approved for following disorders: Major…
Non-Psychiatric Medications with: Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events (Email Lecture Series)
Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry’s Next Triweekly Email Lecture Series Announcement: In this email lecture series, we will discuss the neuropsychiatric adverse events from following…
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: Diagnostic Criteria
This post is dedicated to the discussion of diagnostic criteria for neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Here is the summary of an international consensus study of Neuroleptic…
Catatonia: Kahlbaum & Kraepelin
REFERENCES: Book: CATATONIA. From Psychopathology to Neurobiology. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) (amazon) Kahlbaum KL: Klinische Abhandlungen über psychische Krankheiten. 1. Heft: Die Katatonie oder das Spannungsirresein. Berlin,…
Burning Mouth Syndrome and Psychotropic Medications
Today we are excited to announce that we crossed 250 chapters in Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry Course. Here is Chapter #252 (which is available…
Clozapine, REMS and COVID-19
FDA issued the statement on March 22, 2020 regarding the patient access to REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) medications like clozapine during COVID-19 public…
Psychotropics Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry’s next lecture series will discuss the psychotropics sexual side effects in the following six chapters/emails: (1) WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK? (MARCH…
Tobacco Use Disorder: Lecture Series
The Tobacco Use Disorder email lecture series will be discussed in the following sections: (1) Varenicline: (March 16) Mechanism Dosing instruction Comparison to bupropion Effect…
Do SSRIs have Active Metabolite?
References: Fuller RW, Snoddy HD, Krushinski JH, Robertson DW. Comparison of norfluoxetine enantiomers as serotonin uptake inhibitors in vivo. Neuropharmacology. 1992 Oct;31(10):997-1000. (PubMed PMID: 1279447)…
Depression & Hypothyroidism: 8 Clinical Facts
References: Minerva Endocrinol. 2013 Dec;38(4):365-77. (pubmed) J Affect Disord. 2014 Dec;169:112-7. (pubmed) Arch Intern Med. 2010 Dec 13;170(22):1996-2003. (pubmed) Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Aug;58:114-9. (pubmed) Facebook Twitter…
Psychotherapy of Choice for PTSD?
FOR PHYSICIAN’S GUIDE FOR CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY SUBSCRIBERS: (Read Chapter 11.1): VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines for PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder. This chapter will summarize these…
FDA Warning: Increased Cancer Risk with Lorcaserin
On 01-14-2020, FDA released this alert of possible association of cancer with Lorcaserin: FDA mentioned that at this time, the cause of the cancer is…
DAYVIGO™ (Lemborexant): FDA Approved for Insomnia.
On Dec 23, 2019 Eisai Inc. announced the FDA approval of DAYVIGO™ (Lemborexant) for insomnia management. This post will summarize the important clinically relevant facts…
Our Top 5 Posts & Lecture Series of 2019: Happy New Year
We hope you had an amazing 2019! We sure did, thanks to all of your support over the past year. I want to say a…
Lumateperone (Caplyta): New Antipsychotic Approved for Schizophrenia
FDA has approved this new antipsychotic CAPLYTA (lumateperone) for the treatment of schizophrenia. This post will summarize the important clinically relevant facts regarding this medication,…
FDA Warning: Gabapentin and Serious Breathing Difficulties
FDA issued the following warning on 12/19/2019, and requires this information to be included in the package insert of this medication class: Combination of Gabapentinoids…
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Pharmacological Management
Autism spectrum disorder is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social reciprocity, as well as repetitive behavior and restricted interests. First…
Antidepressants: Mechanism of Action (Part-2)
(Q.1): Which of the following antidepressant medication acts via: 5HT-2 Antagonism 5HT-3 Antagonism Alpha 2 Antagonism Venlafaxine Mirtazapine Vortioxetine Vilazodone (Q.2):…
Antidepressants: Mechanism of Action (Part-1)
(Q.1): Which of the following antidepressant medication acts via: 5HT-2 Antagonism 5HT-3 Antagonism Alpha 2 Antagonism Venlafaxine Mirtazapine Vortioxetine Vilazodone (Q.2): Which…
Duration of Antipsychotic use after Mania Remission.
Before proceeding further: Submit your answer first ANSWER: (c) 6 MONTHS (a) Continuing antipsychotics beyond 6 months (24 weeks) may not further protect against mania recurrence…
Triweekly Email Summary Published (Sep 2019)
Click here for more details: https://course-email-summary.subscribemenow.com/ Free preview of our email sent today: Bipolar Disorder Guidelines: Mania (CANMAT & ISBD): http://bit.ly/Email-Summary-Bipolar-1
Join our Email Newsletter
Dear Psychiatry Education Forum Members. We send 1-2 educational emails/week to our email subscribers. We have upgraded to a new email service provider and this…
Lead Poisoning in Children
This post will be summarized by answering the following questions: (Q.1): What are the Neurological and Non-Neurological Symptoms of Lead Poisoning? (Q.2): What are the…
Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder Management
Management of Excoriation (Skin-Picking) disorder will be discussed in the following two chapters (video podcasts). This brings our total course chapters count to 225. In…
Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry: 6 Months Anniversary Announcements.
Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry course was released 6 months ago on Jan 19 with 180 chapters. We just published our 222nd chapter yesterday (= 42 chapters…
Suicide Risk Evaluation
Suicide risk assessment is the most important aspect of psychiatric evaluation. This video podcast will discuss the clinical factors that may increase or decrease the…
Top 3 Most Viewed Posts Last Week
Before this summary, I want to thank you all for subscribing to our YouTube channel (Psychiatry Education Forum): we crossed 100 subscribers this week 🙂…
Mental Status Exam: Back to Basics
Hello Friends. This post is dedicated to our new PGY1 psychiatry residents. This video podcast will summarize the basic details of a mental status examination. Highly recommended…
Psychiatry Education Forum Updates (June 2019)
Hello Friends. June is almost over and so is half of 2019 🙂 How are you all liking our posts so far? Please do not…
Behavioral Symptoms Management in Dementia: Lecture Series.
Welcome to Behavioral Symptoms Management in Dementia Lecture Series. This post will summarize the list of chapters (based on their release dates). Here is our…
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
This is our fifth video podcast and will be summarized in the following sections: Diagnosing PMDD. PMS vs PMDD. Evaluating PMDD with Scales. Treatment Options:…
FDA Psychiatric Medication Shortages (April 2019)
Following Psychiatric medications are CURRENTLY IN SHORTAGE: (1) Buspirone (2) Diazepam Injection (3) Diphenhydramine Injection (4) Flurazepam Hydrochloride Capsules (5) Fluvoxamine ER Capsules (6) Haloperidol…
FDA Approved Zulresso (brexanolone) for Post-partum Depression.
FDA approved Zulresso (brexanolone) injection for intravenous (IV) use for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD) in adult women. Mechanism: Brexanolone is positive allosteric modulator…
Updated Guidelines by International Society of Psychiatric Genetics
International Society of Psychiatric Genetics (ISPG) updated their guidelines on the use of genetic testing in psychiatric practice. Here is a summary of these recommendations:…
Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98)
Delirium screening tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method and the Delirium Symptom Interview: are designed to detect some delirium symptoms but not to measure…
Antipsychotics Induced Edema.
Answer: C ↓ ↓ (190th Chapter Added to Course): Free preview available for next 48 hours only: Chapter #(2.8): Antipsychotics Induced Edema: Evaluation & Management.…
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (#2): Management of Medically Unexplained Symptoms in Primary Care.
Kroenke (1) published the following stepped approach for evaluation and management of medically unexplained symptoms in primary care setting: STEP #1: Determine Severity (a) for acutely…
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (#1): Differentiating Disorders.
DSM-5 Somatic Symptom & Related Disorders includes: Somatic Symptom Disorder Illness Anxiety Disorder Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder) Psychological Factors Affecting Other Medical Conditions…
Catatonia (#3): Treatment with Benzodiazepines.
FIRST LINE MEDICATION: BENZODIAZEPINES (LORAZEPAM). Route of administration: IV or IM preferred over oral. Initiating dose of lorazepam: 2 mg (Lorazepam Challenge Test) Examine patient…
Catatonia (#2): Catatonic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition: 293.89 (F06.1)
This post will focus on likely causes for catatonia secondary to underlying medical conditions. DSM-5 defines this as Catatonic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition:…
Catatonia (#1): History of Catatonia: Kahlbaum & Kraepelin.
Kahlbaum is well known for his monograph “Catatonia or Tension Insanity“, where he described catatonic symptoms as having behavioral and motor components. He described this…
Stimulant and Guanfacine combination for ADHD: (#3) Comorbid Oppositional Symptoms in ADHD.
The following study by Robert L. Findling et al tested the effect of guanfacine extended release (GXR) adjunctive to a psychostimulant on oppositional symptoms in…
Stimulant and Guanfacine combination for ADHD: (#2) Cognitive Effects.
The following study done by Dr. James T. McCracken et al tested the effects of stimulant and guanfacine monotherapies relative to combined treatment on cognitive functions important in ADHD.…
Stimulant and Guanfacine combination for ADHD: (#1) Cardiovascular Effects.
Q: Is this combination safe and well tolerated from cardiovascular side effect profile of individual medications? Stimulants are known for increase in pulse…
Lithium and Risk of Hypercalcemia & Hyperparathyroidism
This post will focus on: Differentiate Lithium associated hypercalcemia/hyperparathyroidism from primary hyperparathyroidism. Symptoms of hypercalcemia. Monitoring guideline. LITHIUM ASSOCIATED HYPER-CALCEMIA/ HYPER-PARATHYROIDISM PRIMARY HYPER-PARATHYROIDISM…
Prevent our Weekly Emails in Spam Folder
Dear Psychiatry Education Forum Members and Physician’s Guide for Clinical Psychiatry Subscribers. I have noticed that only 60-70% of our emails are going to…
Restarting Lamotrigine after abrupt Discontinuation.
(Q.1): Patient is stable on Lamotrigine but suddenly stopped it due to rash. Lamotrigine can be restarted (without need for titration) within how many days of…
Top 5 Viewed Posts in October 2018.
Here is our list of top five viewed posts in October. POST #1: Trazodone for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. This…
Maudsley Staging Method (MSM) for Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)
This post will answer following three questions: How to use and score Maudsley Staging Method (MSM) for treatment resistant depression (TRD)? What is the optimal…
Major Depression Disorder: Sleep-Wake Cycle & Antidepressants.
BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN ==> SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS FIRST 🙂 . . . . BRAIN STRUCTURES (AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS) IMPLICATED IN SLEEP WAKE CYCLE: …
Antidepressants Discontinuation Syndrome Vs Depression Relapse
Q: How can you clinically differentiate antidepressants discontinuation syndrome from relapse and recurrence of underlying depression? (1) SYMPTOMS: Distinctive symptom of discontinuation is dizziness, which…
Designer Drugs: Clinical Features
BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN ==> SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS FIRST 🙂 . . . . Designer drugs are synthetic analogs of controlled substances. This post will…
United Kingdom Parkinsons Disease Society Brain Bank Clinical Diagnostic Criteria’s
Diagnosis of a parkinsonian syndrome Bradykinesia and at least one of the following: Muscular rigidity. Rest tremor (4-6 Hz). Postural instability unrelated to…
Fibromyalgia
BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN ==> SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS FIRST 🙂 . . . . Fibromyalgia is combination of widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and sleep…
Diabetes Mellitus: Non-Insulin Treatment Options
BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN ==> SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS FIRST 🙂 . . . . . . . . . This…
Rule out: Hypogonadisim or Low Testosterone
Rule out: Hypogonadisim or Low Testosterone HOW TO MAKE THIS DIAGNOSIS: Consistent symptoms and signs + unequivocally low serum testosterone levels. Initial…
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis.
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis This is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies attack NMDA (N-methyl D aspartate) type glutamate receptors at central neuronal synapses. CLINICAL…
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Renal (Q.2)
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Renal This question series will focus on clinically relevant questions related to the role of psychotropic medications…
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions- Renal (Q.1)
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Renal This question series will focus on clinically relevant questions related to the role of psychotropic medications…
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic (Q.3)
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic This is our third question in this series: “Psychiatry and Co-Morbid Medical Conditions“. This post will…
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic (Q.2)
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic (Q.1) Which of the following psychotropic medication is not as influenced by first-pass metabolism? Sertraline…
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic (Q.1)
Psychiatry & Co-Morbid Medical Conditions: Hepatic This is our first post in this series: “Psychiatry and Co-Morbid Medical Conditions“. This post will…
Antipsychotics use for psychosis/agitation management in dementia.
Antipsychotics use for Psychosis or Agitation Management in Dementia -Post by Dr. Harvinder Singh. American Psychiatric Association (APA) have published detailed guidelines on this topic.…
Marshall Protocol: antimicrobial treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases.
Marshall Protocol: antimicrobial treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases. Five key elements of this approach includes: taking a minimum of four doses of olmesartan (Benicar)…
Inflammatory Biomarkers and Risk of Schizophrenia
Inflammatory Biomarkers and Risk of Schizophrenia Question: Whether inflammatory biomarkers have an effect on the risk of developing schizophrenia.? Findings: This study published in JAMA Psychiatry…
FDA Approved NSS-2 BRIDGE for Opioid Withdrawal.
FDA Approved NSS-2 BRIDGE for Opioid Withdrawal On November 15, 2017 U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted a new indication to an electric stimulation device for…
Hypothyroidism and Depression: Clinical Facts
Hypothyroidism and Depression: Clinical Facts 1. Depressive patients have a higher frequency of hypothyroidism and patients with hypothyroidism have a higher occurrence of depressive syndrome. 2. Thyroid peroxidase…
Q.10: Which CYP450 is responsible for this conversion from trazodone to mCPP?
Patients taking trazodone may get false positive results on the urine enzyme immunoassay test for MDMA. The reason for this false positive result is trazodone’s…
Q.11: Medications Affecting Lamotrigine Clearance ?
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Antidepressants & Comorbid Medical Conditions
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