News | Mental health

News

Migraine and epilepsy drugs promoted to under-18s as weight-loss aids on TikTok

Exclusive: Social media platform removes posts after investigation by The Pharmaceutical Journal reveals that prescription-only drugs are being recommended to teenagers wanting to lose weight.…

Published: 22 September 2022

Feature

The serotonin theory of depression: how the media got it all wrong

A new evidence review into the causes of depression may not have been revolutionary, but, having generated so much attention in the newspapers, there are concerns it may cause significant numbers of patients to stop taking their treatment.…

Published: 31 August 2022

News

Data show ‘spiralling’ antipsychotic price increases of up to 1,200% in past five years

Exclusive: Analysis of NHS data show that the price of risperidone has increased the most out of all antipsychotics, from £3.09 in July 2017 to £41.16 in June 2022 — an increase of 1,232%.…

Published: 24 August 2022

Feature

The rising price of antipsychotics and what it means

Data analysis has revealed that the drug tariff for some mental health medicines has increased by more than 1,200% as demand has risen.…

Published: 24 August 2022

News

Schizophrenia drug shortage affecting patient care, College of Mental Health Pharmacy warns

Supplies of aripiprazole 10mg tablets are low until late August 2022 and there is "limited scope for alternatives".…

Published: 23 August 2022

Opinion

Pharmacogenomics is the future of prescribing in psychiatry

Patients' pharmacogenetic data could be used to improve adherence to antipsychotic medication by increasing the likelihood of therapeutic response and reducing the prevalence of adverse drug reactions.…

Published: 10 August 2022

News

Discontinuation of antidepressant could affect tapering patients, say experts

Exclusive: Paroxetine 20mg/10mL oral suspension is being discontinued, but experts have highlighted how these liquid formulations of antidepressants are "essential" for successfully tapering patients.…

Published: 27 July 2022

Feature

Antidepressants: the people behind the prescriptions

It has been widely reported that antidepressant prescribing increased during the pandemic, but what do we know about the people behind the prescriptions, where do they live and which antidepressants are they taking?…

Published: 21 July 2022

Opinion

How we dropped down from being in the top five highest prescribers of antidepressants in England

Starting with care homes, before moving on to the community, deprescribing work by Sunderland Primary Care Network's pharmacy team led to a 3.2% reduction in the number of patients prescribed antidepressants in Sunderland.…

Published: 18 July 2022

News

‘Deep disappointment’ as government rules out proposals for a national prescribed drug dependence helpline

Exclusive: A recommended national prescribed drug dependence helpline will not be taken forward by the government, meeting minutes have revealed.…

Published: 15 July 2022