Prescription folic acid, a synthetic form of vitamin B9, may provide a safe and effective approach for decreasing suicidal ideation, new research suggests. After adjusting for multiple factors, results from a large pharmaco-epidemiological study showed taking folic acid was associated with a 44% reduction in suicide events. Dr Robert Gibbons “These results are really putting … Read more
If isolated, patients with mental disorders may end up having higher levels of social impairment. This has led several hospitals in Spain to set up open-door departments that are more accessible. The purpose of the open-door model is to help remove the stigma from individuals who need to be admitted to a psychiatric ward because … Read more
Ketamine infusions can help reduce symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), new research suggests. Results from a retrospective chart review analysis, which included more than 400 participants with TRD, illustrated that ketamine is a safe and rapid treatment in a real-world patient population, lead author Patrick A. Oliver, … Read more
The absence of self-harm does not preclude a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD), in new findings that may have potential implications for changes to diagnostic criteria for the disorder. Investigators compared to characteristics of almost 400 psychiatric outpatients diagnosed with BPD. About half of the participants met the suicidality/self-injury diagnostic criterion for the disorder … Read more
INDIANAPOLIS – despite the common prevalence of skin-picking disorder and trichotillomania (hair pulling), no Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments exist for either condition. And while both body-focused repetitive disorders affect a greater proportion of females than males, “we have no current information that is useful about what hormonal influences may or may not play in … Read more
NEW ORLEANS – A single dose of a synthetic formulation of psilocybin provides rapid improvement in treatment-resistant depression, with benefits sustained for up to 12 weeks, according to results from the largest randomized controlled study of psilocybin to date. Dr Guy Goodwin “This is easily the largest study of a psychedelic drug employing modern randomized … Read more
The use of isotretinoin to treat acne was not associated with an increase in adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes, compared with the use of oral antibiotics, in a large retrospective cohort study published in the British Journal of Dermatology. Although severe neuropsychiatric effects associated with isotretinoin therapy in patients with acne have been reported, “the evidence base…is … Read more
Suicidal behaviors are common in older adults — and especially older women, new research suggests. In a meta-analysis that included 20 studies and more than 3 million total individuals living in long-term care (LTC), the prevalence rate for suicidal behavior was more than 6%. In addition, the most common of these behaviors was suicidal ideation. … Read more