MentalHealthDaily

Antidepressant Use in Pakistan (2026): SSRI Prescribing Patterns and Patient-Reported Side Effects

by GLOOM

Photoreal illustration of a pharmacist counseling patient on antidepressant medication, conveying global pharmacovigilance.

Most antidepressant pharmacovigilance data come from high-income countries, leaving prescribing patterns and adverse-effect profiles in low- and middle-income countries underdocumented. A 2026 cross-sectional study by Riaz and colleagues describes antidepressant use in Pakistan, with patient-reported adverse effects mapped against prescription patterns.1 Research Highlights Antidepressant use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has grown substantially but …

Risperidone Stroke Risk in Dementia: HR 1.28 Across CVD Subgroups

by GLOOM

Conceptual illustration of cerebral blood vessels and a pill, representing risperidone-associated stroke risk in dementia patients.

The risperidone-stroke link in dementia is one of the longest-running safety signals in geriatric psychiatry, anchoring the FDA’s 2005 black-box warning on atypical antipsychotic mortality. Popular framing reduces it to “antipsychotics cause stroke in dementia” — a true sentence that flattens a multi-axis decision. Choma’s 2025 analysis of UK primary care records is the largest …

Alcohol & Brain Volume in Older Adults: Cortical Thinning & White Matter Loss in Heavy Drinkers (250g/Week) (2023 Study)

by GLOOM

Alcohol’s effects on the brain, especially among the elderly, have long been a subject of scientific inquiry. A recent study from Gothenburg, Sweden, provides new insights into how varying levels of alcohol consumption impact brain structure in individuals aged 70 and over. This research sheds light on the relationship between alcohol intake and the aging …

Nortriptyline-Induced “Room Tilt Illusion”: A Rare Adverse Event of Antidepressants (2024 Case Report)

by GLOOM

Room Tilt Illusion (RTI) presents a perplexing challenge to both patients and physicians, transforming the familiar into the surreal as surroundings appear rotated or flipped. This rare condition, often linked to neurological or vestibular disorders, has recently been observed as an adverse effect of the antidepressant nortriptyline, used in treatment-resistant depression. A case report highlights …

Quetiapine-Induced Psychosis: A Rare Adverse Effect (2024 Case Report)

by GLOOM

Quetiapine, a second-generation antipsychotic medication, is renowned for its efficacy in managing a spectrum of psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite its broad therapeutic utility and a generally favorable side effect profile, quetiapine’s role in rare instances of inducing psychotic symptoms warrants a closer examination. Highlights: Quetiapine’s Mechanism of …

Gene Editing with CRISPR/Cas9 to Treat Corticosteroid-Induced Neuropsychiatric Disorders (2023 Review)

by GLOOM

The widespread use of corticosteroids (CCSs) across the globe for treating inflammatory conditions has led to an increased incidence of corticosteroid-induced neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs), raising significant public health concerns. These disorders range from depression and anxiety to severe cognitive changes, challenging the medical community to find effective treatments. The exploration of genetic and epigenetic factors …

Probiotics & Synbiotics for the Metabolic Side Effects of Psychiatric Medications: Are They Effective? (2024 Review)

by GLOOM

Patients with severe mental illnesses (SMI), such as schizophrenia and chronic depression, often face the challenge of managing weight gain and metabolic complications, side effects commonly associated with antipsychotics and antidepressants. These medications are known to induce increased appetite and weight gain, leading to long-term metabolic syndromes. Recent studies have evaluated into the role of …