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First Schizophrenia Patch OK'd; Dementia-Related Agitation Therapies

— News and commentary from the psychiatry world

Last Updated December 5, 2019
MedpageToday
Illustration of a brain shaped maze.

The first once-daily transdermal patch for schizophrenia -- containing the -- gained FDA approval this week and will be sold under the name Secuado, said Noven Pharmaceuticals.

Kids with autism spectrum disorders were at , according to a meta-analysis. "Neurobehavioral abnormalities related to autism, and more importantly, our treatment decisions may contribute to excessive weight gain in children with autism," said lead author Chanaka Kahathuduwa, MBBS, PhD, of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. (Obesity Reviews)

Rent supplements combined with mental health services increase the number of days they were stably housed per year. (The Lancet Psychiatry)

People in with depression, anxiety, or reporting high stress were far more likely to drop out. "People with anxiety may underestimate their abilities -- for example, to walk on a treadmill during a rehabilitation class," said study author Angela Rao, of the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. (European Journal of Preventive Cardiology)

Over take place in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). "Despite the huge toll of deaths, suicide prevention in LMIC has been relatively neglected to date," said senior study author Nav Kapur, MD, of the University of Manchester. (PLOS Medicine)

As soon as government incentives ended for alcohol-related risk screening and advice, general practitioners in England . "Scaling-up our findings to the English population, we estimate that by the end of 2016 alone, 27,000 fewer patients received brief advice as a result of terminating the alcohol incentive scheme," said lead author Amy O'Donnell, PhD, of Newcastle University in England. (Addiction)

When it comes to treating , non-pharmacological approaches including outdoor activities, massage, and touch therapy may be better than drugs. (Annals of Internal Medicine)

Keeping alive is vital for patients managing anxiety, one researcher suggested. (ScienceDaily)

  • author['full_name']

    Kristen Monaco is a senior staff writer, focusing on endocrinology, psychiatry, and nephrology news. Based out of the New York City office, she’s worked at the company since 2015.