Includes bibliographical references.

COVID-19 Compounding Mental Health Conditions -- What Pharmacists Need to Know About Skin Cancer -- Comorbid Eating Disorders in Persons With Other Mental Illnesses -- Pharmacist Burnout and Stress -- The Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenetic Testing in Major Depressive Disorder -- Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression -- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Update for the Community Pharmacist -- Connecting With Telehealth Services During COVID-19.

[Article Title: COVID-19 Compounding Mental Health Conditions / edited by Robert Davidson, p. 1]

Abstract: A study released in early April provides initial evidence that the COVID-19 outbreak affects people mentally as well as physically. The preliminary results reveal that adults in locations more affected by COVID-19 had distress, lower physical and mental health, and less life satisfaction.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/covid19-compounding-mental-health-conditions

[Article Title: What Pharmacists Need to Know About Skin Cancer / Evan Cheung, Nishanth Viswanath and Emily M. Ambizas, p. 5-10]

Abstract: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in the United States, with most cases considered preventable.1-3 The incidence of skin cancer has steadily been increasing. In the last three decades, incidence rates have risen five-fold.4 It has been estimated that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, with an estimated 9,500 newly diagnosed cases per day.5 Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (also known as nonmelanoma skin cancer), and malignant melanoma are the most common types of skin cancer.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/what-pharmacists-need-to-know-about-skin-cancer

[Article Title: Comorbid Eating Disorders in Persons With Other Mental Illnesses / Somnath Pal, p. 12]

Abstract: According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders are serious conditions that can sometimes result in death. Surveys have shown that 20 million women and 10 million men will have an eating disorder at some point in their life. Common eating disorders include binge eating disorder (BED), bulimia nervosa (BN), and anorexia nervosa (AN). Studies have shown that 50% to 80% of the risk for AN, BN, and BED is genetic. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of all mental illnesses, according to one study.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/comorbid-eating-disorders-in-persons-with-other-mental-illnesses

[Article Title: Pharmacist Burnout and Stress / Elizabeth H. Padgett and Glenn R. Grantner, p. HS2-HS10]

Abstract: Burnout is affecting the American workforce. While it is an important consideration for all workers, burnout is especially concerning in healthcare workers, such as pharmacists, because it can increase negative patient outcomes. Studies have shown that pharmacists have levels of reported burnout higher than many physicians. Data suggest both pharmacists and pharmacy residents are affected by burnout and identify potential causes and solutions. Pharmacist burnout can be caused by numerous factors, but common issues include time constraints and performance metrics. Professional organizations have created resources available to pharmacists and physicians in order to prevent burnout.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/pharmacist-burnout-and-stress

[Article Title: The Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenetic Testing in Major Depressive Disorder / Ashlee Rickard Riggs, p. HS11-HS14]

Abstract: The proposed benefit of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) is that it facilitates personalized drug selection, thereby minimizing the risk of treatment failure caused by inefficacy or adverse events. Two decades after the mapping of the human genome, however, clinicians continue to be hesitant about PGx testing. Several clinical trials of PGx testing have been conducted, but few have been randomized, controlled, or sufficiently powered to demonstrate a clinically significant advantage for PGx use over treatment-as-usual. PGx testing may be useful for selected patients with inadequately controlled MDD. However, pharmacists should critically evaluate current data before recommending the use of PGx testing in patients with MDD.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/the-clinical-utility-of-pharmacogenetic-testing-in-major-depressive-disorder

[Article Title: Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression / Priyam K. Mithawala and Daijah M. Davis, p. 15-19]

Abstract: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a growing area of discussion among researchers and medical professionals. Varying resistance levels among patients with TRD pose difficulties in determining an effective treatment for individual patients. Currently, only a few treatment options are approved with an indication for TRD; therefore, current treatment recommendations include restructured oral therapy regimens, psychotherapy, and other options. The alternative of continuous switching and/or combining of antidepressants requires extensive patient education and counseling on proper administration and potential side effects. The use of guidelines and individual patient response are key factors in finding an optimal treatment approach and effectively managing TRD.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/managing-treatmentresistant-depression

[Article Title: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Update for the Community Pharmacist / Sarah F. Fowler Braga, Kelly J. Clark and Danielle Thompson, p. 20-24]

Abstract: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness that is often underreported and underdiagnosed. Patients with OCD suffer from obsessions and compulsions that can be debilitating. Treatment guidelines recommend pharmacologic treatment primarily with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in addition to psychotherapy. Community pharmacists can support their OCD patients in achieving positive outcomes through enhanced clinical services such as patient counseling on medication dosing and side effects, medication therapy management, lifestyle coaching, and pharmacogenomics testing and guidance.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/obsessivecompulsive-disorder-update-for-the-community-pharmacist

[Article Title: Connecting With Telehealth Services During COVID-19 / Allen Langjahr, p. 22-27]

Abstract: On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a nationwide public health emergency (PHE) as a result of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Since that declaration, federal and state government authorities have issued guidance and waived restrictions on the use of telehealth technologies and services. The government authorities have taken these actions, recognizing the usefulness of telehealth technologies and services in improving access to care, speeding diagnosis and treatment, and limiting the risk of person-to-person spread of COVID-19. Healthcare professionals believe that expanded capacity will help preserve access to in-person care for those in critical need and allow a majority of initial screenings to happen outside of a hospital or other healthcare setting.

https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/connecting-with-telehealth-services-during-covid19-