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Section 1: Setting the scene – what is polypharmacy?

(1.1) Section 1: Setting the scene – what is polypharmacy?

(1.2) Rational and creative polypharmacy

(1.3) Reasoning behind polypharmacy

(1.4) Table 1: Reasons for polypharmacy

(1.5) Table 2: Differences between rational and creative polypharmacy

(1.6) Rationales for polypharmacy

(1.7) And finally

(1.8) Section 1: Recap

(1.9) Section 1: Summary

 

Section 2: Polypharmacy in schizophrenia

(2.1) Section 2: Polypharmacy in schizophrenia

(2.2) Case vignette 1

(2.3) Case vignette 1

(2.4) Case vignette 1: suggested answers

(2.5) Prevalence

(2.6) Managing treatment-resistant schizophrenia

(2.7) Table 3: Clinical and research perspective on combining different groups of psychotropics with antipsychotics

(2.8) Predictors of polypharmacy in schizophrenia

(2.9) A word of caution

(2.10) Clinical guidelines in the management of schizophrenia

(2.11) Conclusion

(2.12) Reflection

(2.13) Section 2: Recap

(2.14) Section 2: Summary

 

Section 3: Polypharmacy in bipolar affective disorder

(3.1) Section 3: Polypharmacy in bipolar affective disorder

(3.2) Case vignette 2

(3.3) Case vignette 2

(3.4) Case vignette 2: suggested answers

(3.5) Prevalence

(3.6) Causes for polypharmacy in bipolar effective disorder: severity of illness

(3.7) Causes for polypharmacy in bipolar effective disorder: difficulty in establishing diagnosis

(3.8) Current practice

(3.9) Current practice

(3.10) Table 4: Common adverse effects from polypharmacy in affective disorder

(3.11) Unity in diversity

(3.12) Adding antidepressants

(3.13) Combining mood stabilisers

(3.14) Role of antipsychotics

(3.15) Clinical guidelines in the management of bipolar affective disorder

(3.16) Reflection

(3.17) Section 3: Recap

(3.18) Section 3: Recap

(3.19) Section 3: Recap

(3.20) Section 3: Summary

 

Section 4: Polypharmacy in depression

(4.1) Section 4: Polypharmacy in depression

(4.2) Case vignette 3

(4.3) Case vignette 3

(4.4) The current situation

(4.5) MAOIs

(4.6) Augmentation strategies

(4.7) Table 5: Should we combine or switch medications?

(4.8) Augmentation strategies (cont..)

(4.9) Combining atypical antipsychotics with antidepressants

(4.10) Clinical guidelines in the management of depression: NICE

(4.11) Clinical guidelines in the management of depression: BAP

(4.12) Suggestions for good practice

(4.13) Section 4: Recap

(4.14) Section 4: Summary

 

Section 5: Polypharmacy in anxiety disorders

(5.1) Section 5: Polypharmacy in areas anxiety disorder

(5.2) Case vignette 4

(5.3) Case vignette 4

(5.4) Anxiety disorders

(5.5) Clinical guidelines for anxiety disorders

(5.6) Reflection

(5.7) Section 5: Recap

(5.8) Section 5: Summary

 

Section 6: Surviving the scare

(6.1) Section 6: Surviving the scare

(6.2) Polytherapy against polypharmacy

(6.3) One size does not fit all

(6.4) Questions to ask before prescribing

(6.5) Before initiating polypharmacy

(6.6) On polypharmacy

(6.7) After polypharmacy

(6.8) Final words

(6.9) Section 6: Recap

(6.10) Section 6: Summary

 

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Appendix: audio transcripts

(2.3) Transcript: case vignette 1

(3.3) Transcript: case vignette 2

(4.3) Transcript: case vignette 3

(5.3) Transcript: case vignette 4

 

© 2009 Royal College of Psychiatrists