by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 15, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
Lumateperone (brand name Caplyta) gained FDA approval in 2019 for treating adults with schizophrenia and was later approved in 2021 for adults experiencing depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or II disorder. Research shows lumateperone, one of the newer...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 10, 2025 | Clinical support resources
A bipolar I disorder diagnosis is easy to make or rule out early—if you understand the diagnostic criteria. If you’re a PMHNP or other mental health provider, always start by ruling out mania. To accurately diagnose bipolar disorder, look for a history of mood...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 8, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders, Recent
In August 2023, the FDA approved zuranolone postpartum depression treatment, a new option for managing symptoms quickly and effectively. What makes zuranolone unique is its rapid onset and short treatment course—just two weeks. Zuranolone is taken orally and is...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jul 3, 2025 | Prescribing tips for treating mental disorders
If you’re a psych NP or student trying to get a better grasp on antipsychotic medications, one foundational concept is that all antipsychotics modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission, within certain parts of the brain. This is the core mechanism of action across all...
by Claire Ellerbrock, DNP, PMHNP | Jun 26, 2025 | Career Advice, Thoughts and Reflections
I have a very clear memory of a time I felt completely out of place in my nurse practitioner role. And surprisingly, it didn’t happen in my first few weeks on the job—it was nearly a year into practice when a patient reminded me just how tough it can be when patients...