Benzodiazepines and zopiclone: is overuse still an issue?

Despite being recommended for short-term use only, and usually...

Withdrawing patients from long-term use of benzodiazepines or zopiclone

Stopping benzodiazepine or zopiclone treatment in people who...

Case study: ten men addicted to Ayurvedic medicines (Kamini and Barshasha) presenting for opioid substitution treatment

We present a special edition “Case of the week” submitted by...

National report: The use of antipsychotic medicines in older people

The purpose of this report is to provoke thought and discussion...

Understanding the role of palliative care for people with advanced dementia

Advanced dementia is a terminal condition for which palliative...

Symptom management in palliative dementia care

Physical symptoms commonly experienced by people with advanced...

Managing the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

Most people with dementia develop behavioural and psychological...

Recognising and managing early dementia

Dementia (mate wareware - see below) is a growing healthcare...

Age-related cognitive decline: prevention and future planning

Declining cognitive function can be a difficult topic to raise...

Diagnosing and managing perinatal depression in primary care

The consequences of perinatal depression* can be severe. Suicide...

Somatisation: demystifying the “ghost in the machine”

Somatisation is a maladaptive functioning of an organ system,...

Depression or distress? Examining SSRI prescribing in primary care

Differentiating short-term psychological distress from depression...

Motivational interviewing in primary care

Motivational Interviewing is a way of building and strengthening...

The funded brand of lamotrigine is changing

Changes in funded brands of antiepileptic medicines can lead...

Aripiprazole prescribing changes: Special Authority approval no longer required, new sole-subsidised brand

From 1 June, 2018, aripiprazole can be prescribed without Special...

Suicide prevention: what can primary care do to make a difference?

"The most critical elements in helping those with suicidal ideation...

The role of medicines in the management of depression in primary care

A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is usually the...

I dream of sleep: managing insomnia in adults - Part 1

bpacnz recognises that the assessment and management of insomnia...

I dream of sleep: managing insomnia in adults - Part 2

bpacnz recognises that the assessment and management of insomnia...

Clozapine: safe prescribing

In 2014, bpacnz published an article on the safer prescribing...

Alcohol misuse: how to help patients in primary care

This article has been superseded by: Assessment and management...

Medicine use in youth mental health

This report provides an overview of dispensings of medicines...

The role of medicines for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients aged under 18 years

Psychological and behavioural approaches are the cornerstone...

Overuse of benzodiazepines: still an issue?

Addressing mental health and wellbeing in young people

Managing frequently encountered mental health problems in young people: non-pharmacological strategies

Young people experience a variety of mental health conditions....

Addressing mental health and wellbeing in young people

This is the first of a series of articles which will examine...

Overuse of benzodiazepines: still an issue?

Benzodiazepines may be considered as a short-term treatment...

Medicine updates

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

Identifying and managing addiction to opioids

The increased use of opioid analgesics in recent years, particularly...

Helping patients cope with chronic non-malignant pain: it’s not about opioids

The role of opioids in the management of chronic non-malignant...

Bipolar disorder: Identifying and supporting patients in primary care

Bipolar disorder can be challenging to diagnose and manage....

Atypical antipsychotics: one fully subsidised brand for quetiapine, risperidone and olanzapine

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

Fluoxetine brand change: Arrow-Fluoxetine sole subsidised brand from 1 July

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

Managing patients with dementia: What is the role of antipsychotics?

Concerns have been raised, both in New Zealand and internationally,...

Beating the blues

“Beating the Blues” is a web-based cognitive behavioural programme...

News updates

Comparing results between different blood glucose meters | Beating...

Sleep disturbances: managing parasomnias in general practice

The term "parasomnia" describes a group of sleep disorders associated...

Looking back, looking forward: key messages 2005 – 2011

This report highlights four key prescribing and laboratory testing...

Prescribing citalopram safely: an update

Evidence of adverse cardiac effects associated with citalopram...

Upfront: Vulnerable children and young people in New Zealand

In this conclusion to the series on abused and neglected children...

Prescribing atypical antipsychotics in general practice

The use of atypical antipsychotics such as quetiapine and olanzapine...

Upfront: Mental health issues in adolescents who have experienced abuse and neglect

In the fourth article in our series on vulnerable children and...

Upfront: Infant mental health and child protection

The third article in our series on vulnerable children and young...

Upfront: Detecting child abuse in general practice

This second article in our series on children and young people...

Upfront: Meeting the needs of children and young people in New Zealand who have been abused and neglected

Nearly one quarter of New Zealand children and young people...

Causes and Diagnosis of Depression in Elderly People

Depression is common in older adults, although not as prevalent...

Management of depression in older people

Older people respond well to treatments for depression. The...

References

Assessment and management of Depression in Older Adults References...

Appendices

Appendices for Assessment and management of Depression in Older...

News in brief

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

Purpose and introduction

The purpose of this journal is to examine the assessment and...

Postnatal depression

Depressive symptoms in the postnatal period represent a range...

Antenatal depression

Unrecognised or untreated depression during pregnancy poses...

References

References for Depression in the antenatal and postnatal p...

Appendices

Appendices for Depression in the antenatal and postnatal p...

The pharmacological management of Alzheimer’s disease: The place of donepezil

From November 1, 2010 donepezil will be funded without Special...

Substance misuse and addiction in Māori

It is estimated that substance misuse and other addictions are...

Recognising and managing mental health problems in Māori

Mental health problems are common in Māori, yet there is...

Suicide prevention in Māori youth

The rate of suicide in young Māori males is higher than...

Antipsychotics in people with dementia: an update

The Antipsychotics in Dementia (A4D) programme was launched...

Key Messages & Introduction

Evidence indicates that early interventions in a number of mental...

Recognition and Assessment of Common Mental Disorders in Young People

In this section the clinical features of the common mental disorders...

Management of depression in young people in primary care

A stepped care approach is used with the intensity of treatment...

References

References for Depression in Young People BPJ special edition...

Appendices

Appendices for Depression in Young People

Generalised anxiety disorder in adults

Anxiety disorders are the most frequently seen mental disorder...

Appendices for BPJ-SE Adult Depression

Adult depression: Apendices

Assessment of Depression in Adults in Primary Care

Adapted from: Identification of Common Mental Disorders and...

Introduction to adult depression

Mental disorders are extremely common with over one third of...

Management of Depression in Primary care

Most adults with depression present with mild depression and...

Pharmacological Management of Depression in Adults

All antidepressant drugs are approximately equal in effectiveness,...

Adult depression: References

Adult depression: References

Prescription drug misuse: how to identify and manage drug seekers

Although an increasing problem in general practice, identifying...

Upfront: The nature of our nurture

How genes and the environment work together to predict disease...

Antipsychotics for dementia

Notification and details of an educational programme on the...

Clozapine: A reminder about safe and effective use

Although clozapine is a specialist prescribed drug, GPs still...

The investigation and management of nocturnal enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is a common condition which...

Managing insomnia

There is a more recent article on managing insomnia. See:...

Māori mental health

Improving Māori mental health is a government health priority....

Snippets: Anticonvulsants & Salbutamol

This article has been archived. If you would like access...

Ten minute tutorial

Adding a pop-up alert for patients on clozapine.

Snippets: Varenicline & Smoking

Varenicline and suicidal behaviour. Wider access to quit cards.The...

Should antidepressants be used to treat depression in children and adolescents?

Depressive disorder is a major health issue for young people,...

Upfront: Evidence based medicine

The dilemma of practicing evidence based medicine when it keeps...

Dilemmas: Depression in elderly people

Depression in elderly people can be a significant cause of disability...

Brand change update: Ritalin SR now available by special access

This article has been archived; for a copy of the original,...

Dear Dave

Does the "seven day rule" still apply with the concomitant...

Dear Dave

Can Sumatriptan be used safely with SSRIs? Can you ever use...

Clozapine - Safe and Effective Use

Clozapine is the gold-standard treatment for people with schizophrenia...

Changing to a Generic Drug

An explanation of the issues around the switching of patients...

The CYP450 System

An overview of the CYP450 system with particular reference to...

Depression causes presentation and treatment

Review of the causes, symptoms and treatment of depression.

Drug Interactions with Antidepressants

Table of important drug interactions with antidepressant ...

Mental Health Foundation

Mental Health Foundations aims and key services.

Key messages on the use of SSRIs

Key messages on the use of SSRIs.

ADHD: The Primary Care role

The role of primary care clinicians in improving outcomes for...

Ten minute audit

Identifies patients on Lithium using MedTech

CARM Reports; Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

Covers the symptoms and causes of Serotonin Syndrome and Neuroleptic...

Dear Dave

Can smoking cessation affect the dose of antipsychotics?Do statins...

Practice Debate: antipsychotics in the treatment of dementia

This article covers the role and safety concerns of antipsychotics...

Lithium in General Practice

In this article we provide an overview and guidance on the management...

Dear Dave

SSRIs can increase the risk of bleeding disorders, especially...

TCAs are useful for depression and neuropathic pain

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are an effective alternative...

Ten minute audit

Identifies people under the age of 18 years on paroxetine to...

Depression antidepressant update

Venlafaxine: how and when to use | Antidepressants for elderly...

Pharmacogenetics

Pharmacogenetics: relevance in the treatment of depression

Substance misuse in adolescents: alcohol, cannabis & other drugs

The risk of injury or death during adolescence is two to three...