Section - Quick Takes

04. Real-World Effectiveness of Mood Stabilizer Use in Schizophrenia

Published on December 1, 2022 Certification expiration date: December 1, 2028

James Phelps, M.D.

Research Editor - Psychopharmacology Institute

Key Points

In patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, adjunctive lithium was associated with a 17% reduction in the risk of rehospitalization compared with use of an antipsychotic alone.
Reduced risk was not found with lamotrigine, valproate, or carbamazepine.

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For patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, is there any role for a mood stabilizer? The answer is yes, for several reasons.

Hi! Jim Phelps here for the Psychopharmacology Institute. First of all, consider that diagnosis of schizophrenia. Although the DSM remains committed to discrete diagnostic categories—schizophrenia, bipolar disorder—it’s becoming steadily more obvious that there is no clear dividing line between the 2. The more we learn about the genetics of these 2 disorders, the less sense it makes to divide them categorically. People with classic schizophrenic symptoms have more of the many genes associated with schizophrenia, that’s true, but they also have genes associated with bipolar disorder and vice versa. But for a patient who presents with a pure thought disorder and no sign of a mood disorder, can mood stabilizers still be of benefit? Let’s have a look.

Here’s a cohort study of 62,000 people in Finland who

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05. A Systematic Review of Modified Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) to Treat Delirium

Learning Objectives:

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:

Assess the efficacy of lamotrigine and lithium compared with lithium alone for the treatment of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.
Evaluate the results of a randomized trial of microdosed psilocybin using a wide array of outcome measures, including EEG and cognitive testing.
Compare the efficacy and adverse effects of various atypical antipsychotics as adjuncts to antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder.
Compare the findings of a large Finnish cohort study with previous Cochrane meta-analyses regarding the value of adjunctive mood stabilizers relative to outcomes with antipsychotic monotherapy for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Examine evidence for the use of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with markedly altered mental status.

Original Release Date: December 1, 2022

Review and Re-release Date: December 1, 2025

Expiration Date: December 1, 2028

Expert: James Phelps, M.D.

Medical Editor: Melissa Mariano, M.D.

Relevant Financial Disclosures:

None of the faculty, planners, and reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose during the last 24 months with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Contact Information: For questions regarding the content or access to this activity, contact us at support@psychopharmacologyinstitute.com

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Participants must complete the activity online during the valid credit period that is noted above.

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Complete the Post Activity Evaluation for providing the necessary feedback for continuing accreditation purposes and for the development of future activities. NOTE: Completing the Post Activity Evaluation after the quiz is required to receive the earned credit.
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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Medical Academy LLC and the Psychopharmacology Institute. Medical Academy is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement

Medical Academy designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.