The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from April 2004

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from April 2004

Understanding and treating psychosis in Parkinson's disease.(Parkinson's Disease)
April 1, 2004... One of the toughest aspects of caring for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is coping with the psychosis that often accompanies it. Psychosis occurs in approximately 20% of PD cases and is a prime factor leading to placement of Parkinson's...

Depression in the elderly: exploring the link with physical symptoms.(AAGP Conference News)
April 1, 2004... Elderly patients with depression are often difficult to diagnose and difficult to treat. Compared to younger patients, elderly patients do not respond as well to standard treatment (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs) and often...

Haloperidol and QT prolongation.(Drug-Drug Interactions)
April 1, 2004... Recently, the potential risk of drug-induced prolongation of the QTc interval has been a concern with some of the antipsychotic agents, as a result of increased risk in the patient for developing a life-threatening, albeit rare, atypical...

Olanzapine vs. placebo for psychosis in AD.(Clinical Update)(Alzheimer's disease)
April 1, 2004... Even though the 1998 Expert Consensus Guidelines suggested the use of risperidone and olanzapine or a high potential conventional antipsychotic in the treatment of dementia with associated behavioral disturbances, some of these agents have been...

Depression and menopause.(Clinical Update)
April 1, 2004... Over a four-year interval, the Penn Ovarian Aging Study evaluated the depressive symptoms and status of reproductive hormones in a population-based, longitudinal study. The authors hypothesized that women in midlife with a history of depression...

FDA cautions use of antidepressants.(News Updates)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In March, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning that patients treated with antidepressants may experience a worsening in depression and suicidality. The FDA has requested that manufacturers of several antidepressant drugs include a...

Statin drugs may reduce risk of Alzheimer's.(News Updates)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to findings published in the current issue of Neuroepidemiology (Zamrini et al., 2004). Researchers at the School of Medicine, University of...

Lilly adds warning to olanzapine labeling.(News Updates)(Eli Lilly and Co.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In response to a request by the FDA, Eli Lilly and Co. has added a warning statement to the prescribing information for olanzapine (Zyprexa) describing the increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes associated with taking this medication. The...

[check] Atypical antipsychotics and Pisa syndrome.(Case Report)
April 1, 2004... Patient: Female (82 y/o) Medications: Aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril) Comment: Pisa syndrome is a condition involving a sustained involuntary flexion of the body and head to one side and slight rotation of the trunk (named...