Articles by Michael E. Thase, MD
Matching Patient to Medication: Final Perspectives on Adjunctive Antipsychotic Therapy in MDD
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Led by the moderator, the panelists/expert mental health experts examined key patient-level factors driving selection among the five adjunctive agents — including weight status, sleep disturbance, and general medication sensitivity — with Wilkinson noting a preference for lumateperone given its lack of weight gain and quetiapine for patients needing help with sedation who aren't already overweight, while Bhide observed these are exactly the clinical factors payers would want documented under utilization management.
Comparing Safety Across the Class: Tolerability Trade-offs and Durability of Response
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Led by the moderator, the expert mental health experts examined network meta-analysis data comparing weight gain and akathisia across the five agents, with Rhee noting lumateperone did not differ from placebo on weight gain while the other four agents showed increased risk, and cautioning that these exploratory findings warrant careful interpretation given limited clinical data.
Newer Agents, New Advantages: Brexpiprazole, Cariprazine, and Lumateperone in MDD
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Led by the moderator, the panelists discussed brexpiprazole's pivotal two-phase trial design and how its reduced intrinsic dopamine partial agonism and lower starting doses contributed to fewer akathisia events than aripiprazole, followed by cariprazine's D3-preferring mechanism and more favorable metabolic and sedation profile.
Dosing, Tolerability, and Formulary Impact: Aripiprazole and Quetiapine XR in MDD
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD The panelists examined aripiprazole's pivotal trial design, which used an antidepressant lead-in phase followed by randomization to placebo or active drug among non-responders, with Thase detailing how dose-finding evolved toward lower 5 mg and 10 mg doses to minimize akathisia, the primary dose-limiting side effect, while preserving antidepressant benefit at doses lower than those used for antipsychotic indications.
From the Exam Room to the Formulary: Access Challenges in Adjunctive MDD Therapy
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Led by the moderator, the expert mental health experts examined how tolerability shapes agent selection, with Wilkinson highlighting metabolic side effects and akathisia — most pronounced with aripiprazole — as key counseling points, alongside the value of anticipatory guidance in building patient trust and preventing premature discontinuation.
Unmet Needs and Mechanisms: Understanding Adjunctive Antipsychotics in MDD
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Led by the moderator, the panelists discussed persistent efficacy, tolerability, and adherence gaps in antidepressant treatment, noting that only about 60% of patients with MDD receive treatment and roughly 30% develop treatment resistance, with early adverse effects often undermining adherence before benefits take hold.
Remission vs. Response: Redefining Treatment Goals in Major Depressive Disorder
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a heterogeneous disorder with many unique symptom combinations.
The Burden of Major Depressive Disorder: Setting the Stage for Managed Care
ByKen Cohen, MD,Samuel Wilkinson, MD,Greg Rhee, PhD, FACE,Michael E. Thase, MD,Nisha Bhide, PharmD Welcome back to another AJMC Peer Exchange series. In this episode titled, "The Burden of Major Depressive Disorder: Setting the Stage for Managed Care."
