polypharmacy

Preview of 2011 Research Trainee Award Finalist Abstracts

This edition of e-news features abstracts selected as 2011 Research Trainee award finalists. Research Trainee award finalists will present their abstracts during the platform presentations on Monday, May 2, during the 2011 Annual Meeting. Winners for all categories will be announced on Tuesday, May 3. The next E-News will feature the Therapeutic Case Report award finalist abstracts, and the Innovative Practice and Original Research award finalists can still be found online in the February E-News.

Research Trainee

Rebecca L. Graham, PharmD, Pharmacy Resident, VA San Diego Healthcare System
ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC POLYPHARMACY: ARE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS REALLY A REASON TO AVOID ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC COMBINATION THERAPY?

Meghan Morgan, PharmD, BCPP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Mental Health, VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, MS
PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC REGIMENS IN PATIENTS WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND CO-MORBID MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Iloperidone in the Treatment of Seriously Mentally Ill Patients with Treatment-Refractory Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: A Case Series

Iloperidone (Fanapt®) is a new antipsychotic approved for the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Until now, there are no reports of the use of iloperidone in treatment-refractory psychotic patients. This report summarized our first seven severely mentally ill patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder treated with iloperidone.

ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC POLYPHARMACY: ARE SAFETY AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS REALLY A REASON TO AVOID ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTIC COMBINATION THERAPY?

Atypical antipsychotics are increasingly being prescribed in combination for schizophrenia in the clinical setting, but evidence supporting the efficacy, safety, and economic impact of this practice is limited. Theories that support the practice of antipsychotic polypharmacy include augmentation, avoiding lengthy cross-titrations, broadening receptor range, and minimizing adverse effects. Conversely, cost, adverse effects, and patient nonadherence have been associated with antipsychotic polypharmacy.

Retrospective Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Paliperidone Palmitate Injection in an Acute Care 33 Bed Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital.

The most prevalent reason for psychiatric rehospitalization is non-adherence to psychotropic medications which may be due to complicated medication regimens, adverse effects, or cognitive deficits. The use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics may prevent future rehospitalization by improving medication adherence, decreasing daily medication burden and also assisting the clinician in managing chronic drug therapy more objectively. Improving adherence may also lead to improved patient functioning.