Concerns about the influence of the pharmaceutical and medical device industries on continuing medical education (CME) have been voiced frequently over the past decade. Reliance on industry funding increases the potential for bias. Industry-supported CME often emphasizes conditions that can be treated with newer drugs or devices rather than those…

This is a review of the pharmacological treatment of mental illnesses. Included topics are: schizophrenia, depression, mania, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, lithium, and ethics. (BB)

Drugs, which can be the most cost-effective and cost-beneficial modality of disease management in chronic care, may be hazardous to older adults. It is important that pharmacists ensure that drugs will not further impair the patients' mental, physical, and functional status. (MLW)

The treatment of urinary tract infections is discussed. Specific issues considered include the definition of asymptomatic bacteriuria, the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria, the controversies of who should be treated, and antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria. (MLW)

A study made on drug presentations to groups of doctors in Helsinki is described. Analysis of the content of the presentations revealed that side effects were often neglected, the drug presented was always recommended as the drug of choice, and other forms of treatment were seldom mentioned. Implications for continuing professional education are…

Within a simulated Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee format, role play is used at Purdue University to illustrate to students the concepts of drug product evaluation and selection as these apply to a hospital formulary system. (Author/LBH)

Arguments about the role of basic science courses in a pharmacy curriculum moving toward additional clinical instruction center around semantics, value judgments, and philosophy. Drug analysis can, however, provide a valuable service in the areas of drug detection and monitoring. (Author/LBH)

This book provides a guide to approximately 175 drugs used with children. An introduction precedes the three major sections of the guide. Section 1 provides an overview of pharmacology and therapeutics in chapters on the basics of pharmacology, the language of pharmacology and therapeutics, compliance, side effects, and medications in school.…

The first U.S. Pharmacopeia, issued in 1820, listed 296 substances of animal, mineral, or vegetable origin in its primary and secondary lists. Of these 130, nearly all of vegetable origin, represented drugs used by American Indians. The number grew at each decennial revision during the 19th century, though some drugs were listed only for a decade.…

A literature review on doctor-shopping, anxiety, etc., and a report of a study that explores the relationship of free-floating anxiety to the pharmacy-shopping behavior of elderly, clinic outpatients are presented. Implications for the training of pharmacists are discussed. (JMD)

This rebuttal by the original authors to a critique (EC 609 029) of their article describing the TAPER psychotropic drug review process supports the process as an individualized approach to psychotropic drug treatment and as an interdisciplinary approach appropriate for use in community-based services for individuals with developmental…

This response to a description of a psychotropic drug review process, TAPER, suggests that the data supporting the reported low rate and dosage level of psychotropic drug use resulting from the process were misleading and inaccurate. Implications of such a drug review process for facilities serving people with developmental disabilities are drawn.…

A psychiatric day treatment clerkship for undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Connecticut is described. Students participate in client interviewing, medication history taking, client medication counseling, medication counseling, medication clinic, medication group, and health care group. Evaluation of performance is based on both…

New standards of practice that describe in generic terms what a pharmacist does in fulfilling the basic responsibilities of the profession are presented as part of the Continuing Competence in Pharmacy Project of the American Pharmacy Association and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The four major areas of responsibilities for…

This book provides a guide to more than 180 drugs used for children. An introduction precedes the four major sections of the guide. Section 1 provides an overview of pharmacology and therapeutics in chapters on the basics of pharmacology, the language of pharmacology and therapeutics, compliance, side effects, medications in school, and drug…