Can interventions help to improve social functioning in youth at risk of...
Carla McEnery summarises a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions and social functioning in youth at risk of psychosis. The post Can interventions help to improve social functioning in...
View ArticlePregnancy and bipolar disorder: international prescribing consensus?
Dean Connolly looks at an international study which asks: Is there consensus across evidence-based guidelines for the psychotropic drug management of bipolar disorder during the perinatal period? The...
View ArticleRacial disparities in bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment: time to talk...
Syeda Akther writes her debut elf blog on a recent review looking at racial disparities in bipolar disorder treatment and research. She argues that we need to start having serious conversations about...
View ArticleHow can digital technology help close the mortality gap for people with...
Lina Gega from the Closing the Gap Network explores a recent review of digital technology for health promotion, which looks at opportunities to address excess mortality in people living with severe...
View ArticlePrescribing lithium for bipolar disorder: are we too scared?
Deenan Edward and Suhana Ahmed summarise a Scottish study of prescribing for bipolar disorder between 2009-2016, which identified a clear trend towards decreasing lithium use. The post Prescribing...
View ArticleCognitive functioning in psychosis: is neuropsychological decline continuous,...
Emmeline Lagunes Cordoba and Derek Tracy explore a case control study that looks at cognitive change in people with schizophrenia and other psychoses in the decade following the first episode. The post...
View ArticleThe Trial: pharmacotherapy versus psychotherapy for schizophrenia – how do...
Keith Laws looks at a systematic review of patient and study characteristics, which asks: are randomised controlled trials on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for positive symptoms of schizophrenia...
View ArticleAntipsychotics and metabolic function in people with schizophrenia
Peter Haddad and Sami Ouanes review a network meta-analysis of the impact of antipsychotic drugs on metabolic function in people with schizophrenia. The post Antipsychotics and metabolic function in...
View ArticleRisperidone and aripiprazole: genotype, metabolism and dosage
Dolly Sud writes her debut elf blog on a recent retrospective analysis, which compares dose changes of risperidone and aripiprazole with patients' individual genotype. The post Risperidone and...
View ArticleAntipsychotics for schizophrenia: do they provide a longer, healthier life?
Paul Heron from the Closing the Gap Network writes his debut blog about a 20‐year cohort study of physical morbidity and mortality in relationship to antipsychotic treatment in a huge group of people...
View ArticleSex and schizophrenia: what determines sexual interest and confidence?
In her debut blog, Beccy White summarises a secondary analysis which explored predictors of sexual interest amongst older adults with schizophrenia. The post Sex and schizophrenia: what determines...
View ArticleAntipsychotics versus CBT in first episode psychosis: some answers, more...
Joe Pierre summarises two recently published and widely reported RCTs, which suggest that antipsychotic medication might not offer an advantage over psychotherapy in broadly-defined first episode...
View ArticleExperience of psychotropic medication and decision-making
Jennifer Rose Oulton reviews a qualitative study that explores the experiences of psychotropic medication use and decision-making for adults with learning disabilities and their carers. The post...
View ArticlePsychological interventions effective for improving mental health and sleep...
In her debut blog, Delia Ciobotaru explores a network meta-analysis which finds that psychological treatments are effective in reducing PTSD symptoms experienced by people with complex trauma. The post...
View ArticleFirst-hand experiences of taking antipsychotics: findings from a large online...
Georgie Buswell summarises a cross-sectional study, which used open questions to try and understand people’s lived experiences of taking antipsychotic drugs. The post First-hand experiences of taking...
View ArticleMajority of people with ADHD in Ireland still thought to be untreated,...
In her debut blog, Poppy Ellis Logan summarises a longitudinal study which finds rates of ADHD prescription increased in Ireland between 2005 and 2015. The post Majority of people with ADHD in Ireland...
View ArticleLiving in anxious times? The rise of anxiety disorders in the UK
Alice Grishkov and Derek Tracy explore a recent paper, which finds that generalised anxiety disorder is on the rise in the UK, especially in young women. The post Living in anxious times? The rise of...
View ArticleLong-acting injectable antipsychotics: more effective than oral medications...
Joseph Pierre appraises a recent meta-analysis on long-acting injectable antipsychotics compared to oral antipsychotic medication for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. The post Long-acting...
View ArticleChoosing between antipsychotics to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women...
Peter Knapp and Suzy Ker review a recent study from Finland, which suggests that women with schizophrenia who take prolactin-increasing antipsychotics for at least five years, have an increased risk of...
View ArticleYouth mental health interventions: umbrella review presents efficacy and...
In his debut blog, Nick Meader tackles a huge umbrella review of youth mental health interventions, which presents the efficacy and acceptability of 72 different approaches to help children and young...
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