A daily dose of practice-changing research from the editor of the Carlat Psychiatry Report

New study links #lithium deficiency to #dementia, cognitive decline:. Video details it, arrives at 5 mg lithium-orotate as ideal for prevention, but higher doses unsafe:.. Reliable products:.

Cataract surgery raises the risk of depression, but only if blue light-filtering lenses were implanted, concludes new cohort study:. It suggests a similar cause as in winter depression.

Updates on the alcohol-cancer link from JAMA:. ▪ No safe level, a top modifiable risk (after smoking/obesity).▪ Alcohol-related cancers = Oral, throat, esophagus, breast, colorectum, liver.▪ "Flushing" reactions raise risk (common in Asians).

CBT-insomnia doesn't just help people with sleep apnea sleep better. It has mild benefits for apnea itself, from 3 trials, most recent:.. Patient-friendly apps and written/audio guides to this therapy are here (under Sleep):.

Positive reinforcement works in parenting, behavior change, and mental health policy?. This study finds clinicians are less likely to address patients' tobaccco use in states that mandate it, and more likely to address it in states that incentivize it:.

What can go wrong when starting atomoxetine and prazosin?. Find out in new Carlat podcast:. Includes review of new FDA warnings on stimulants.

/Doses = 50-150 mg. Metabolic effects present at all doses but greater at 150 mg.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) did not improve exams or studying in new randomized controlled trial:. Stimulants are not cognitive enhancers. Studies outside of ADHD show little to no difference, or even worsening (from sleep disruption, hyperfocus).

Is low-dose quetiapine safe for insomnia?. Nope. Weight gain and dyslipidemia still there, not to mention tardive dyskinesia:. It deepens sleep quality, but I'd use only if needed for another disorder like depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia.

Dynamic lights that dim in the evening and brighten in the morning improved depression and sleep in this new randomized, inpatient trial:. Benefits built gradually over 6 months. SmartBulbs and dawn simulators will do it:.

FDA just approved:. 1. Ketamine IM (KetaRx) for surgical pain.And fast-tracked IV ketamine for depression; decision maybe by 12/2025. 2. Cyclobenzaprine for fibromyalgia.SNRI-like muscle relaxant improves pain/sleep, but raises risks for bipolar, elderly, & on opioids/benzo

Oops I meant this study, though both are useful .

/We cover risks of stimulants and pramipexole, but we recorded before the largest study came out:.

I think dopaminergics are underutilized in depression. Mike Kocsis sees a role for testosterone. Here, we find some common ground:.

Expectations contributed to psilocybin’s antidepressant effects, concludes new analysis that finds patients who got placebo in these trials were mighty disappointed:. It’s in line with other analyses.

/Aug issue.

Lithium in drinking water linked to lower cancer risk in cohort study of 252,178:. Lithium regulates immune function, protects DNA. May also prevent . But our Aug issue finds unexpected dangers with lithium orotate

/To clarify:.▪ 83% of the studies involved students (80% college, 20% high school).▪ In the large study of adults up to age 49, the rates of diversion and misuse were half these (1 in 10).

Clozapine works in treatment resistant (TR) schizophrenia, but what about TR schizoaffective?. A new randomized trial supports it there:. Anyone using clozapine in schizoaffective?

How often do prescription stimulants get diverted? . 1 in 5 misuse them, and 1 in 5 divert them, concludes new analysis of 12 studies:.. Is anyone seeing this in #psychiatry practice?