Research shows that various pharmaceuticals can offer modest cognition enhancing effects for healthy individuals. These finding have caused some academics to support liberal use of pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) in schools and universities. This approach partially arises from arguments implying there is little moral justification for…

A 15-year-old male presents with moderately severe depression, and fluoxetine 20 mg is initiated. When he returns 14 days later, he describes suicidal ideations for the first time. He has recurrent thoughts of wishing he were dead, a plan, but no intent to act. How would this affect medication management? This article presents the opinions of five…

This reaction paper reviews a report on the use of carbamazapine for behavioral disorders. The paper translates the original report's data into percentages and concludes that carbamazapine has a more limited role in behavior disorder treatment. The original report's author then clarifies various points criticized in the reaction paper. (JDD)

This theme issue discusses maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks of drug therapy for older people. It includes articles on psychoactive drugs, drug-related problems, medication compliance, geriatric psychopharmacotherapy, consumer guidelines, and outpatient prescriptions drug coverage as it relates to health care reform. (JOW)

Reviews literature pertinent to studying the effects of drugs upon children's learning and cognitive function. The author concludes such research is in its infancy. He recommends further research focus upon whether drugs enhance the acquisition of new academic skills and upon assessment of the benefits versus side effects of such drug use.…

Although school counselors are increasingly involved in administering medications to students with emotional, conduct, and behavioral problems, few counselors have training in psychopharmacology. Gives a brief history of psychopharmacological interventions, and describes usage and side effects of drugs for psychosis, depression, anxiety, and…

In response to Robert Cooter, Jr. (EC 202 670), who questioned the widespread use of Ritalin with children having attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, this commentary considers four specific points: how Ritalin works, Ritalin's side effects and relationship to Tourette syndrome, the assumption that Ritalin leads to drug abuse, and the…

A 12-year-old boy with no psychiatric history and no evidence of substance use presents with his first manic episode. Throughout the past 4 weeks, his family, school, and friends have noted distinct changes in his mood and behavior. His mood has oscillated between euphoria and severe irritability, with little or no provocation. He has been awake…

A six-point program of diagnostic inquiry and treatment strategy for individuals with behavior disorders in addition to severe or profound mental retardation is presented, which allows alternate etiological hypotheses to be tested in a clinical setting. This format is intended to unify psychopharmacy practice in mental retardation and in general…

In response to a critique by Lori Bell Mick (EC 600 580), the original author counters objections to ideas concerning the nature of Ritalin, Ritalin's side effects, drug dependency, and teachers as classroom pushers. The response concludes that evidence for Ritalin's positive effect on reading achievement in children with attention deficit…

A discussion of the testing of new drugs in campus medical facilities reviews the process of federal approval of investigational new drugs, analyzes the implications of the federally mandated institutional review board, and the issues of informed consent and the ethics of human-subject research on campus. (MSE)

The opportunities for clinical research in meeting the needs of the aging (provision of pharmaceutical services for the elderly, pharmacotherapeutics in the elderly, and pharmaceutical aspects of health and illness behaviors of the elderly) are appropriate and realistic activities for pharmacists that should contribute to achieving research…

Discusses the differences between exercise alone and exercise with medication (e.g., diuretics, beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors) for treating hypertensive patients. Guidelines are presented for physicians wanting to change the therapeutic regimen or to step down from medical therapy, noting exercise must always be part of the program. (SM)

This article provides information and guidelines for the effective use of medication in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Basic principles of psychopharmacology, different types of medications that have been used successfully to treat ADHD, and best practices for assessing the effects of medication in children with ADHD are…

The author urges the field of education for children with emotional or behavioral disorders to address three critical areas: (1) developmental psychopathology (to improve early identification and prevention); (2) psychiatric comorbidity (e.g., disruptive disorders present with depression or anxiety disorder); and (3) psychopharmacology (especially…