Older veterans with depression who developed dementia were treated with antidepressants for a significantly shorter duration than matched veterans who did not develop dementia.
Evidence suggests that naloxone administration by laypersons, pursuant to physician prescription or standing order, is safe and effective for reversal of opioid overdose. As of July 2015, 44 states and the District of Columbia have passed naloxone access laws, offering varying degrees of protections for prescribers. Although the likelihood of naloxone-related legal action may parallel that inherent to the usual practice of medicine, providers should be mindful of potential scenarios, exercise methods to mitigate risk, and appreciate the utility of comprehensive naloxone access legislation in orchestrating a coordinated response to the opioid overdose epidemic.
A 30-year-old male patient developed a hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) after smoking cannabis laced with phencyclidine (PCP) or lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) 10 years prior to hospital admission. Clinically, he reported seeing vivid, saturated colors and caricature-like objects. The patient described perceiving objects or people in motion as moving faster than normal. He reported living in a dream-like state and feeling numb and detached from other people and his surroundings. Upon pharmacotherapy initiation, facility transfer, and subsequent discharge from an acute psychiatry unit, he ultimately committed suicide. Although hallucinogen abuse is common in the United States, this case suggests that HPPD maybe significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. In some cases, this oversight may perpetuate years of unnecessary patient suffering and can ultimately lead to severe depression and suicide.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.