Antidepressants are frequently prescribed for bipolar disorder in clinical practice, despite poor scientific evidence supporting their efficacy for bipolar depression. Depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are particularly challenging due to their high prevalence, greater impairment in psychosocial and cognitive functioning, increased risk of suicide, and complex treatment. While a systematic review and network meta-analysis by Yildiz et al. suggested antidepressants might

A major nationwide cohort study conducted in Sweden has shed critical light on the severe, yet often overlooked, risk of suicide among individuals who have been discharged from involuntary psychiatric care (IPC) . The research, which analyzed data from 72,275 patients treated in IPC between 2010 and 2020, aimed to provide the first comprehensive description of this vulnerable population. The findings underscore the fact that involuntary treatment, while necessary in acute sit

The clinical and research report details the adjunctive use of valproic acid (VPA) in six patients seen by a consultation-liaison service (CLS) for managing delirium and/or psychotic agitation. All six patients had suboptimal responses or concerning side effects when treated with conventional therapies like benzodiazepines and/or antipsychotics. In all cases, the addition of valproic acid to the conventional antidelirium medications led to improved control of behavioral sympt

Psychiatrists today face increasing pressures that threaten their professional autonomy—pressures driven by resource constraints, managerial structures, and the growing distance between clinicians and decision-making environments.  As highlighted in the article’s opening discussion (page 1), autonomy and a sense of mastery are essential for motivation, work satisfaction, and protection against burnout. Yet recent decades have seen a steady decline in physicians’ joy in clinic