Influence of COVID-19 on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Patients
An online survey comprising 394 obsessive compulsive disorder patients was carried out to evaluate the consequence of COVID-19. 71.8% participants reported an increase in the severity of their symptoms, primarily comprising of washers and attributed it to reduced mobility and interpersonal conflicts. An increase in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms was observed with dysfunctional beliefs […]
FDA Approves Another Drug for Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder
For the management of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, US FDA recently approved a once-daily oral combination medication of olanzapine and samidorphan. Olanzapine on its own is highly efficacious but demonstrates side effects such as weight gain. In the ENLIGHTEN-2 study, the combination has proven its efficacy along with significantly less weight gain than olanzapine […]
COVID-19 Vaccine in Severe Mental Illness
The risk of mortality due to COVID-19 increases by two to three times in individuals with severe mental illness due to frequent comorbidity & high risk factors. Such individuals must be offered early access to safe and efficacious vaccines. However, chronic stress, depression, sleep problems might reduce immune response to vaccine. Clozapine could be a […]
Cenobamate – A Promising Anti-seizure Drug
Cenobamate, a new epilepsy drug was established as safe and effective with reduced seizure frequency and higher seizure-freedom rate. A post hoc analyses from an open-label study, including 240 adult participants found 73.8% retention rate and 25.8% seizure freedom for >12 months. 33.9% of those who continued taking cenobamate were seizure free for about 23.5 […]
Association between COVID-19 and New-onset Epileptic Seizures
A retrospective study conducted on COVID-19 patients, found a three times higher risk of novel seizures in those without a known history of epilepsy. Patients with new-onset seizures had longer hospital stays by 15 days and higher mortality rates. 917 patients included in the study were COVID positive and had received an anti-epileptic medication. 451 […]
Epilepsy and Anxiety: Is there an association?
A new study suggests higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide in young patients with epilepsy. A review of an online survey accessing mental health symptoms, sociodemographic and epilepsy-related factors, coping strategies, and social support was undertaken by 144 young adults with epilepsy. It was found that, the average age of seizure onset was 12.4 […]