Mental health disorders in pregnancy and the early postpartum
Mental health disorders are common in pregnancy and after childbirth with over 10% of women manifesting some form of mental illness during this time. Maternity services will encounter women with symptoms that vary in severity from mild self-limiting to potentially life-threatening. These conditions carry risks for both the woman and the fetus/newborn. Detecting women with, or at risk of, a serious mental health disorder and enabling them to access appropriate care in a timely fashion is a shared responsibility. However, given the frequency of contact they have with women through this period, maternity services have a pivotal role. From a mental health perspective, high-risk pregnancies are those primarily associated with serious mental illness (psychotic illnesses, bipolar disorder and severe depressive episodes). Healthcare professionals caring for pregnant women should have the appropriate skills to detect serious mental illness and identify women at risk and how to access specialist mental health care.
Lippincott illustrated reviews : Pharmacology
Presents up-to-date drug information in an accessible format ideal for a fast, effective refresher. Part of the popular Lippincott® Illustrated Reviews series, this concise resource features clear, effective writing and hundreds of illustrations that break down complex information for rapid review. Sequential images present mechanisms of action and focus on showing rather than telling students how drugs work, and review questions with answers deliver powerful, practical exam preparation. Updated drug information reflects the most current, clinically relevant pharmacology material. Approachable outline format distills complex information for easier review. High-quality illustrations reinforce understanding in vibrant detail. Enhanced review questions with answers test students' understanding and identify areas for further study.
Antidepressants Beyond Depression, and Into Bacteria
Antidepressants are one of the most predominant drug groups in the pharmaceutical world, primary care units and the general public. Their original use was majorly for the treatment of depression along with other mental disorders. Today, antidepressant consume over 20% of the medical prescriptions and healthcare plans due to their recently discovered applications outside the psychiatry field. Due to the alarming rise of antibiotic resistance and the slow pace of new drug discovery, the world has been searching frantically for new or alternative drugs with antibacterial activity. Repurposing already FDA- approved drugs for uses that are off-label has become an important preposition in the pharmacy world due to its availability, low risk and low cost.
Analgesia
Analgesics are among the oldest drugs described, albeit not necessarily for medicinaluse. Forexample,theSumeriansisolatedopioids(probablyfortheir euphoric effects) in the third millennium b. c. and the use of willow bark (salicin) for fever was ?rst reported in the eighteenth century. Both types of drugs are still in use, but today they are supplemented by a wide array of substances ranging from antidepressants to ion channel blockers. Not all of theseareprescribedbyphysicians. Manycompoundsaresoldoverthecounter and thus available to the public for self-medication. As a result, analgesics are also the most misused class of drugs and are the culprit for a multitude of healthproblemsdueto untoward sideeffects. Thisvolumeattemptstosummarizethecurrentstateofknowledgeonme- anisms underlying the various effects of these drugs, their side effect pro?les, and their indications and contraindications in clinical use.
A handful of happiness herbs
Depression is a multifactorial disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and none of the currently available therapeutics can completely cure it. Thus, there is a need for developing novel, potent, and safer agents. Recent medicinal chemistry findings on the structure and function of the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor facilitated design and discovery of novel compounds with antidepressant action. The consumption of cocoa-based products rich in bioactive compounds can be related to decreased risk in coronary heart problems, hypertension, diabetes, and depression...




