A Selective Summary of Psychopharmacology Research Published in Second Half of 2017

Abstract

Psychotropic drug development has largely stalled in recent times. Many novel ideas have appeared, but practical choices available to psychiatrists remain mostly unchanged. Two new medications are building up momentum to enter regular clinical use (Articles 1 & 2). Many of us have wished for an effective depot antipsychotic injection that lasts for a few months, and new longer acting formulations are now entering the market (Article 3). Predicting non-responders earlier during the course of treatment is always a clinical priority, and there are two interesting new studies in this regard (Articles 6 & 9). Optimum dosing of antidepressants and antipsychotics is often controversial, but its importance cannot be overlooked (Article 4 & 5). Clozapine is once again drawing attention with its better comparative efficacy, this time demonstrating it in routine clinical practice (Article 7). We have a more reliable variable to look for while monitoring clinical improvement in patients on antidepressants (Article 8). New research raises questions about the efficacy of interventions for negative symptoms (Article 9) and that of anti-inflammatory therapies for psychiatric disorders (Article 10). 1. ANY NEW MEDICATIONS EMERGING FOR BIPOLAR DEPRESSION?