The number of prescriptions for antidepressants in England has almost doubled in the past decade. This study examined if this growth and seasonal variation in prescribing rates of different antidepressants by general practice are linked.
During the first wave of COVID-19 in Iran, several mental health care delivery problems were observed. In this commentary, the authors provide suggestions to address these challenges, especially given that subsequent waves of COVID-19 are expected.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted delivery of mental health services. This article describes the development and implementation of child and adolescent tele-partial hospitalization programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This report describes the rapid transition from in-person to telehealth interventions in a community mental health service in Michigan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to find out more.
Substance use disorders and borderline personality disorder are highly stigmatized within medicine and society. This study evaluated emergency medicine physician attitudes toward patients with these disorders.
Does patient experience of a general practice relate to the volume of antidepressant prescribing at that practice? This study from England examined how antidepressant prescribing rates relate to specific National Health Service survey metrics.
What variables impact the likelihood of psychiatric patients being physically restrained? This study examined risk factors for and alternatives to the use of restraints in these patients.
Self-compassion-based interventions train people to be kind to themselves during life's difficulties. This article examines the feasibility of a 4-session intervention for midlife and older adults with chronic medical conditions.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can improve the quantity and quality of psychiatric care. Read this informative letter to the editor to find out more.
Have you ever wondered what criteria need to be satisfied before a patient can be involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital? Read this article to explore the clinical, legal, and cultural considerations regarding this topic.
Assertive community treatment (ACT) teams are an underutilized medical student teaching tool. This article describes the history, evolution, and structure of an ACT program and includes student reviews.
Do resident physicians tend to have negative attitudes toward patients with mental illness and substance use disorders? This study explores residents' attitudes and offers solutions to improve them. Read on to find out more.
Baclofen, a French Exception, Seriously Harms Alcohol Use Disorder Patients Without Benefit
To the Editor: Dr Andrade’s analysis of the Bacloville trial in a recent Clinical and Practical Psychopharmacology column, in which he concluded that “individualized treatment with high-dose baclofen (30-300 mg/d) may be a useful second-line approach in heavy drinkers” and that “baclofen may be particularly useful in patients with liver disease,” deserves comment.1
First, Andrade failed to recall that the first pivotal trial of baclofen, ALPADIR (NCT01738282; 320 patients, as with Bacloville), was negative (see Braillon et al2).
Second, Dr Andrade should have warned readers that Bacloville’s results are most questionable, lacking robustness. Although he cited us,3 he overlooked the evidence we provided indicating that the Bacloville article4 was published without acknowledging major changes to the initial protocol, affecting the primary outcome. Coincidentally (although as skeptics, we do not believe in coincidence), the initial statistical team was changed when data were sold to the French pharmaceutical company applying for the marketing authorization in France. As Ronald H. Coase warned, “If you torture the data long enough, it will confess.”
MY ACCOUNT