MentalHealthDaily

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

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 …

How People Feel About Antipsychotics & Mood Stabilizers: Twitter/X Sentiment Analysis (2024 Study)

by GLOOM

Social media has emerged as a pivotal source of real-world evidence, especially in understanding patient experiences and perceptions regarding the treatment of severe mental disorders such as Schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders (SRD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD). Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, a comprehensive analysis of 893,289 tweets between 2008 and 2022 revealed significant …

Comparison of Brexipiprazole vs. Aripiprazole for Treatment-Resistant Depression (2024 Study)

by GLOOM

Antidepressant-resistant major depressive disorder (AR-MDD) poses significant challenges in psychiatric treatment. Antipsychotics like aripiprazole (ARI) and brexpiprazole (BRE) have emerged as effective adjunct therapies that may be more tolerable than older antipsychotics. Highlights: Both Brexipiprazole and Aripiprazole demonstrated better efficacy than placebo in treating AR-MDD in Japanese patients. Brexipiprazole showed a higher discontinuation rate due …

MicroRNA Biomarkers May Help Diagnose Schizophrenia

by GLOOM

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a myriad of symptoms, typically divided into positive, negative, and cognitive categories. Despite the prevalence and severity of this condition, current diagnostic methods are largely based on subjective clinical interviews and observations, leading to potential misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Recent studies have focused on microRNAs (miRNAs) …

Top 10 Pharma Drugs & Medications That Cause Weight Gain (2012-2021)

by GLOOM

It is estimated that 40% of U.S. adults are obese – and this figure is projected to continue growing. One potential reason for weight gain and a possible catalyst for obesity is use of pharmaceutical drugs (i.e. medications). Medication-induced weight gain poses a significant challenge in healthcare, affecting both patient well-being and treatment adherence. Key …

Metformin Prevents Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: A Saudi Study Finds

by GLOOM

Research suggests that metformin may reduce weight gain associated with antipsychotic medications. Key facts: Antipsychotics are linked to weight gain, especially clozapine and olanzapine. Metformin may counteract antipsychotic-induced weight gain through effects on insulin resistance and appetite. Study found metformin reduced mean weight gain on antipsychotics from 2.5 kg to -0.04 kg. Younger patients ages …

Antipsychotics and Brain Damage: Shrinkage & Volume Loss

by GLOOM

Antipsychotics are drugs that alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia and psychotic episodes. These medications are considered highly effective interventions for mitigating “positive symptoms” such as hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices) and various types of delusions (e.g. assuming others are plotting against you). Approved uses for antipsychotics include treating individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and cases of …