Low-dose buprenorphine initiation in the era of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs: A case series of outpatient inductions.

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, is a Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). However, due to its high binding affinity, precipitated withdrawal may occur if initiated in the presence of other opioids. The growing literature demonstrates promise for alternative induction model of low-dose initiation of buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD, specifically targeting patients averse to withdrawal or using fentanyl. In this case series, we present four clinical cases of outpatient inductions, in which three out of four successfully transitioned from fentanyl to buprenorphine, and one patient transitioned from methadone to buprenorphine using a low-dose induction method.

Importance of Longitudinal Assessments in a Case of Comorbid Polysubstance Use Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder Misdiagnosed As Bipolar I Disorder.

Differentiating between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and bipolar disorder (BD) can be difficult. Both may present with altered mood states, deliberate self-harm, suicidality, impulsivity, unstable relationships, and risky behaviors. A manic episode is characterized by at least one week of elevated or irritated mood and at least three of the following: distractibility, impulsivity, grandiosity, flight of ideas, psychomotor activity, decreased need for sleep, and pressured speech. Borderline personality disorder is characterized by unstable mood and relationships, fear of abandonment, impulsivity, self-mutilation, suicidality, and a feeling of emptiness. In combination with polysubstance use, borderline personality disorder can present similarly to a manic episode and lead to an incorrect diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. In this study, we present a 44-year-old female whose psychiatric history highlights the importance of long-term patient observation in making an accurate diagnosis. Over the course of several years, she was given incorrect psychiatric diagnoses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder, and bipolar I disorder. As a result, her interpersonal relationships remained unstable and significantly affected her quality of life. Over the course of consistent, long-term psychiatric appointments, conversations with family members, and notes from previous psychiatrists, it became evident that substance use had also complicated her psychiatric history, leading to the aforementioned diagnoses. Once this was established, she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder; subsequent correct medical intervention has been integral in helping her maintain a steady job and improve her interpersonal relationships and quality of life.

Deep TMS H1 Coil treatment for depression: Results from a large post marketing data analysis.

Phase IV study evaluated Deep TMS for major depression in community settings. Data were aggregated from 1753 patients at 21 sites, who received Deep TMS (high frequency or iTBS) using the H1 coil. Outcome measures varied across subjects and included clinician-based scales (HDRS-21) and self-assessment questionnaires (PHQ-9, BDI-II). 1351 patients were included in the analysis, 202 received iTBS. For participants with data from at least 1 scale, 30 sessions of Deep TMS led to 81.6% response and 65.3% remission rate. 20 sessions led to 73.6% response and 58.1% remission rate. iTBS led to 72.4% response and 69.2% remission. Remission rates were highest when assessed with HDRS (72%). In 84% of responders and 80% of remitters, response and remission was sustained in the subsequent assessment. Median number of sessions (days) for onset of sustained response was 16 (21 days) and for sustained remission 17 (23 days). Higher stimulation intensity was associated with superior clinical outcomes. This study shows that beyond its proven efficacy in RCTs, Deep TMS with the H1 coil is effective for treating depression under naturalistic conditions, and the onset of improvement is usually within 20 sessions. However, initial non-responders and non-remitters benefit from extended treatment.

Depression in Childhood Asthma vs. Adult-Onset Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Background: asthma, a chronic respiratory disease caused by inflammation and narrowing of the small airways in the lungs, is the most common chronic childhood disease. Prevalence of childhood asthma in the United States is 5.8%. In boys, prevalence is 5.7% and it is 6% in girls. Asthma is associated with other comorbidities such as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. This study explores the association between asthma and depression. Methods: we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study using NHANES data from 2013 to 2018. Asthma and childhood onset asthma were assessed using questionnaires MCQ010 and MCQ025, respectively. Sociodemographic variables were summarized, and univariate analysis was performed to determine the association between asthma and major depressive disorder and its individual symptoms. Results: there were 402,167 participants from 2013−2018 in our study: no asthma in 84.70%; asthma in 15.30%. Childhood onset asthma (COA) included 10.51% and adult-onset asthma (AOA) included 4.79%. Median age of COA is 5 years and AOA is 41 years. Among the asthma groups, most AOA were females (67.77%, p < 0.0001), most COA were males (52.16%, p < 0.0001), and ethnicity was predominantly White in AOA (42.39%, p < 0001) and in COA (35.24%, p < 0.0001). AOA mostly had annual household income from $0−24,999 (35.91%, p < 0.0001), while COA mostly had annual household income from $25,000−64,999 (36.66%, p < 0.0001). There was a significantly higher prevalence of MDD in COA (38.90%) and AOA (47.30%) compared to NOA (31.91%). Frequency of symptoms related to MDD were found to have a significantly higher prevalence and severity in the asthma groups compared to no asthma, and slightly greater and more severe in AOA than in COA. Symptoms include having little interest in doing things (COA 18.38% vs. AOA 22.50% vs. NOA 15.44%), feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (COA 20.05% vs. AOA 22.77% vs. NOA 15.85%), having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (COA 27.38% vs. AOA 23.15% vs. NOA 22.24%), feeling tired or having little energy (COA 39.17% vs. AOA 34.24% vs. NOA 33.97%), having poor appetite or overeating (COA 19.88% vs. AOA 20.02% vs. NOA 15.11%), feeling bad about yourself (COA 13.90% vs. AOA 13.79% vs. NOA 10.78%), having trouble concentrating on things (COA 12.34% vs. AOA 14.41% vs. NOA 10.06%), moving or speaking slowly or too fast (COA 8.59% vs. AOA 9.72% vs. NOA 6.09%), thinking you would be better off dead (COA 3.12% vs. AOA 4.38% vs. NOA 1.95%) and having the difficulties these problems have caused (COA 21.66% vs. AOA 26.73% vs. NOA 19.34%, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: MDD and related symptoms were significantly higher and more severe in participants with asthma compared to no asthma. Between adult-onset asthma compared to childhood onset asthma, adult-onset asthma had slightly greater and more severe MDD and related symptoms compared to childhood onset asthma.

The Incidental Resolution of Severe Alcohol Use Disorder during Esketamine Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Case Report.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is especially prevalent among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) and is associated with higher morbidity, mortality, disability, and risk for suicide. Intranasal esketamine has been documented to be a safe and effective option for treatment resistant MDD and received US FDA approval in 2019. However, the availability of esketamine is limited due to requirements for a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program for its administration as well as concerns over substance use disorders (SUD) as a potential contraindication or adverse effect. This case presents a 61-year-old female with a history of severe recurrent treatment resistant MDD and severe AUD who has expressed interest in esketamine. To date, she has completed 20 sessions of 56 mg intranasal esketamine twice a week before increasing to 5 weekly sessions and then 14 weekly sessions of 84 mg. Although there was immediate subjective improvement in mood as well as reductions in PHQ-9 and HAM-D scores, the dosage was increased to extend the therapeutic benefit throughout the entire intertreatment interval. She was able to complete these sessions without complication. Incidentally, she also reported decreased desire to use alcohol, decreased impulsivity, and the complete cessation of alcohol use by the second week. While on 56 mg, she had a single relapse of binging which was addressed with motivational therapy and has remained alcohol-free since. This case presents the first documented example of the safe and effective use of intranasal esketamine in patient with treatment resistant MDD in which there was incidental resolution of their comorbid severe AUD. This suggests that esketamine can be used without risk of SUD onset or exacerbation. Thus, esketamine should not be discounted in patients with SUD and continued research is needed to further elucidate its role in treating SUD.

Dextroamphetamine-Amphetamine Augmentation in the Treatment of Treatment-Resistant Depression.

There is much debate over a precise definition of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) as well as the method of staging this illness. Although there is some non-consensus on a definition for TRD, the most widely accepted definition of TRD is a failure to achieve clinical improvement of depressive symptoms following a trial of two or more antidepressant medications from two or more different pharmacological classes at adequate dosage, duration, and compliance. Some sources lower the threshold to failure of one medication, but most support two medications. Although both men and women can be effected by TRD, our review found a slight predominance in older women. Here we present a 62-year-old female diagnosed with severe major depressive disorder that meets the criteria for treatment-resistant depression. This patient failed to experience consistent relief of symptoms using different antidepressant monotherapies as well as different combinations of therapies. Transcranial magnetic stimulation provided a brief relief of symptoms in this patient; however, relapse occurred a few months later. This case is unique as this patient has recently experienced significant relief of her depressive symptoms using amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall) as an adjunct to her antidepressant therapy. We will review the literature that currently exists on treatment-resistant depression and the treatment options for TRD, as well as present our case. To our knowledge, a case of TRD responding so strongly to Adderall after failing to respond to such drastic pharmacologic measures, as well as TMS, has not been reported.