Amisulpride and olanzapine followed by open-label treatment with clozapine in first-episode schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder (OPTiMiSE): a three-phase switching study

Precision psychiatry: predicting predictability

Precision psychiatry is an emerging field that aims to provide individualized approaches to mental health care. An important strategy to achieve this precision is to reduce uncertainty about prognosis and treatment response. Multivariate analysis and machine learning are used to create outcome prediction models based on clinical data such as demographics, symptom assessments, genetic information, and brain imaging. While much emphasis has been placed on technical innovation, the complex and varied nature of mental health presents significant challenges to the successful implementation of these models. From this perspective, I review ten challenges in the field of precision psychiatry, including the need for studies on real-world populations and realistic clinical outcome definitions, and consideration of treatment-related factors such as placebo effects and non-adherence to prescriptions. Fairness, prospective validation in comparison to current practice and implementation studies of prediction models are other key issues that are currently understudied. A shift is proposed from retrospective studies based on linear and static concepts of disease towards prospective research that considers the importance of contextual factors and the dynamic and complex nature of mental health.

A network meta-analysis of efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of antipsychotics in treatment-resistant schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Clozapine is considered as the standard treatment for this subgroup, but the evidence is not unequivocal. There are several potential alternatives being used because of the possible adverse effects of clozapine. We aimed to examine the efficacy and adverse events of different antipsychotics in treatment-resistant schizophrenia by performing a network meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group register for randomized-controlled trials (up to March 06, 2022) and MEDLINE (up to January 20, 2023). We included blinded and open studies and participants with a broad definition of treatment resistance. The primary outcome was overall symptoms of schizophrenia; secondary outcomes were response to treatment, positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, discontinuation, side effects, quality of life, and functioning. The study was registered in Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/9nf2y/ ).

RESULTS

We included 60 studies involving 6838 participants in the network meta-analysis. In the primary outcome, clozapine and olanzapine were more efficacious than risperidone, haloperidol, fluphenazine, sertindole, chlorpromazine, and quetiapine (range of mean SMDs, - 0.11 to - 0.48). The difference between clozapine and olanzapine was trivial and uncertain (SMD - 0.05, 95% CI, - 0.21 to 0.11). The result of other efficacy outcomes as well as subgroup and sensitivity analyses were consistent with the primary analysis. Clozapine and olanzapine were associated with more weight gain, and clozapine was associated with more sedation events compared to many other antipsychotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Clozapine remains the gold standard for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Olanzapine seems to be second-best and could be tried before switching to clozapine.

Aberrant connectivity in the hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles precedes treatment resistance in first-episode psychosis: a prospective resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study with connectivity concordance mapping

Functional connectivity resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging has been proposed to predict antipsychotic treatment response in schizophrenia. However, only a few prospective studies have examined baseline resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients with regard to subsequent treatment response. Data-driven approaches to conceptualize and measure functional connectivity patterns vary broadly, and model-free, voxel-wise, whole-brain analysis techniques are scarce. Here, we apply such a method, called connectivity concordance mapping to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from an Asian sample (n = 60) with first-episode psychosis, prior to pharmaceutical treatment. Using a longitudinal design, 12 months after the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured and classified patients into two groups based on psychometric testing: treatment responsive and treatment resistant. Next, we compared the two groups' connectivity concordance maps that were derived from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data at baseline. We have identified consistently higher functional connectivity in the treatment-resistant group in a network including the left hippocampus, bilateral insula and temporal poles. These data-driven novel findings can help researchers to consider new regions of interest and facilitate biomarker development in order to identify treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients early, in advance of treatment and at the time of their first psychotic episode.

Basic quality indicators for clinical care of patients with major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

To identify a set of indicators to monitor the quality of care for patients with major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.

METHODS

A group of 10 experts selected the most automatically applicable indicators from a total of 98 identified in a previous study. Five online sessions and 5 discussion meetings were performed to select the indicators that met theoretical feasibility criteria automatically. Subsequently, feasibility was tested in a pilot study conducted in two hospitals of the Spanish Health Service.

RESULTS

After evaluating its measurement possibilities in the Spanish Health Service, and the fulfillment of all the quality premises defined, 16 indicators were selected. Three were indicators of major depression, 5 of schizophrenia, 3 of bipolar disorder, and 5 indicators common to all three pathologies. They included measures related to patient safety, maintenance and follow-up of treatment, therapeutic adherence, and adequacy of hospital admissions. After the pilot study, 5 indicators demonstrated potential in the automatic generation of results, with 3 of them related to treatments (clozapine in schizophrenia, lithium for bipolar disorder, and valproate in women of childbearing age).

CONCLUSIONS

Indicators support the monitoring of the quality of treatment of patients with major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. Based on this proposal, each care setting can draw up a balanced scorecard adjusted to its priorities and care objectives, which will allow for comparison between centers.

Response rates to sequential trials of antipsychotic medications according to algorithms or treatment guidelines in psychotic disorders. A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is a relative lack of research evaluating the outcomes when treatment guidelines or algorithms for psychotic disorders are followed. This systematic review and meta-analysis determined the response rates to antipsychotic medications at different stages of these algorithms and whether these response rates differ in first episode cohorts.

METHODS

Data sources: A systematic search strategy was conducted across four databases PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO (Ovid) and CINAHL. Studies that had sequential trials of different antipsychotic medications were included. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using random effects models and sub-group analysis in first episode psychosis studies.

RESULTS

Of the 4078 unique articles screened, fourteen articles, from nine unique studies, were eligible and included 2522 participants. The proportion who experienced a response to any antipsychotic in the first stage of an algorithm was 0.53 (95 % C.I.:0.38,0.68) and this decreased to 0.26 (95 % C.I.:0.15,0.39) in the second stage. When clozapine was used in the third stage, the proportion that achieved a response was 0.43 (95 % C.I. 0.19, 0.69) compared to 0.26 (95 % C.I.:0.05,0.54) if a different antipsychotic was used. Four studies included 907 participants with a first episode of psychosis and the proportions that achieved a response were: 1st stage: 0.63 (95 % C.I.: 0.45, 0.79); 2nd stage: 0.34 (95 % C.I.:0.16,0.55); clozapine 3rd stage: 0.45 (95 % C.I.:0.0,0.97), different antipsychotic 3rd stage: 0.15 (95 % C.I.,0.01,0.37).

DISCUSSION

These findings support the recommendation to have a trial of clozapine after two other antipsychotic medications have been found to be ineffective.

Assessing Cannabis Use in People with Psychosis

Introduction: Cannabis use is common in people with psychotic disorders and is associated with the exacerbation of symptoms, poor treatment adherence, and an increased risk of relapse. Accurate assessment of cannabis use is thus critical to the clinical management of psychosis. Discussion: Cannabis use is usually assessed with self-report questionnaires that were originally developed for healthy individuals or people with a cannabis use disorder. Compared to these groups, the pattern of cannabis use and the associated harms in patients with psychosis are quite different. Moreover, in people with psychosis, the accuracy of self-reported use may be impaired by psychotic symptoms, cognitive deficits, and a desire to conceal use when clinicians have advised against it. Although urinary screening for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is sometimes used in the assessment of acute psychotic episodes, it is not used in routinely. Cannabis use could be assessed by measuring the concentration of cannabinoids in urine and blood, but this is rarely done in either clinical settings or research. Conclusion: Using quantitative biological measures could provide a more accurate guide to the effects of use on the disorder than asking patients or using questionnaires.

Challenges, unmet needs and future directions - a critical evaluation of the clinical trial landscape in schizophrenia research

INTRODUCTION

Developing novel antipsychotic mechanisms of action and repurposing established compounds for the treatment of schizophrenia is of utmost importance to improve relevant symptom domains and to improve the risk/benefit ratio of antipsychotic compounds. Novel trial design concepts, pathophysiology-based targeted treatment approaches, or even the return to old values may improve schizophrenia outcomes in the future.

AREAS COVERED

In this review of the clinical trial landscape in schizophrenia, we present an overview of the challenges and gaps in current clinical trials and elaborate on potential solutions to improve the outcomes of people with schizophrenia.

EXPERT OPINION

The classic parallel group design may limit substantial advantages in drug approval or repurposing. Collaborative approaches between regulatory authorities, industry, academia, and funding agencies are needed to overcome barriers in clinical schizophrenia research to allow for meaningful outcome improvements for the patients.

Oral and long-acting injectable antipsychotic discontinuation and relationship to side effects in people with first episode psychosis: a longitudinal analysis of electronic health record data

Background

Discontinuation of treatment in people with first episode psychosis (FEP) is common, but the extent to which this is related to specific adverse effects of antipsychotic medications is unclear.

Objectives

To investigate whether antipsychotic discontinuation is associated with the prescription of particular antipsychotics and particular adverse effects.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

We assembled de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data from 2309 adults with FEP who received care from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust between 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2019. Associations between antipsychotic medications, clinician-recorded side effects and treatment discontinuation were investigated across a mean follow-up period of 34.2 months using Cox regression.

Results

The mean age of patients was 26.7 years and 1492 (64.6%) were male. Among first prescribed antipsychotic medications, discontinuation occurred earlier with haloperidol [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.69-4.60] and quetiapine (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.16-1.80) than with olanzapine. Discontinuation occurred sooner when there was evidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.08-1.64) or sexual dysfunction (HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.03-2.46). Among antipsychotics prescribed at any point during treatment, lurasidone (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.10-1.78) and aripiprazole (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.19) were associated with earlier discontinuation than olanzapine. Conversely, clozapine (HR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.41-0.73) and paliperidone 1-monthly (PP1M) long-acting injectable (HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.68-0.94) were associated with later discontinuation. Unexpectedly, for antipsychotics prescribed at any stage of treatment, sedation (HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81-0.97), weight gain (HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.64-0.83), and multiple side effects (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.76-0.90) were associated with later discontinuation.

Conclusion

Earlier treatment discontinuation associated with sexual or extrapyramidal side effects could be related to their rapid onset and poor tolerability. Later treatment discontinuation associated with clozapine and PP1M could be related to the relative efficacy of these treatments. These findings merit consideration when selecting antipsychotic therapy for people with FEP.

Extreme deviations from the normative model reveal cortical heterogeneity and associations with negative symptom severity in first-episode psychosis from the OPTiMiSE and GAP studies

There is currently no quantifiable method to predict long-term clinical outcomes in patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis. A major barrier to developing useful markers for this is biological heterogeneity, where many different pathological mechanisms may underly the same set of symptoms in different individuals. Normative modelling has been used to quantify this heterogeneity in established psychotic disorders by identifying regions of the cortex which are thinner than expected based on a normative healthy population range. These brain atypicalities are measured at the individual level and therefore potentially useful in a clinical setting. However, it is still unclear whether alterations in individual brain structure can be detected at the time of the first psychotic episode, and whether they are associated with subsequent clinical outcomes. We applied normative modelling of cortical thickness to a sample of first-episode psychosis patients, with the aim of quantifying heterogeneity and to use any pattern of cortical atypicality to predict symptoms and response to antipsychotic medication at timepoints from baseline up to 95 weeks (median follow-ups = 4). T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance images from the GAP and OPTiMiSE samples were processed with Freesurfer V6.0.0 yielding 148 cortical thickness features. An existing normative model of cortical thickness (n = 37,126) was adapted to integrate data from each clinical site and account for effects of gender and site. Our test sample consisted of control participants (n = 149, mean age = 26, SD = 6.7) and patient data (n = 295, mean age = 26, SD = 6.7), this sample was used for estimating deviations from the normative model and subsequent statistical analysis. For each individual, the 148 cortical thickness features were mapped to centiles of the normative distribution and converted to z-scores reflecting the distance from the population mean. Individual cortical thickness metrics of +/- 2.6 standard deviations from the mean were considered extreme deviations from the norm. We found that no more than 6.4% of psychosis patients had extreme deviations in a single brain region (regional overlap) demonstrating a high degree of heterogeneity. Mann-Whitney U tests were run on z-scores for each region and significantly lower z-scores were observed in FEP patients in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. Finally, linear mixed-effects modelling showed that negative deviations in cortical thickness in parietal and temporal regions at baseline are related to more severe negative symptoms over the medium-term. This study shows that even at the early stage of symptom onset normative modelling provides a framework to identify individualised cortical markers which can be used for early personalised intervention and stratification.

Optimizing subjective wellbeing with amisulpride in first episode schizophrenia or related disorders

BACKGROUND

Subjective response (SR) to antipsychotic medication is relevant for quality of life, adherence and recovery. Here, we evaluate (1) the extent of variation in SR in patients using a single antipsychotic; (2) the association between subjective and symptomatic response; and (3) predictors of SR.

METHODS

Open-label, single treatment condition with amisulpride in 339 patients with a first episode of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, at most minimally treated before inclusion. Patients were evaluated at baseline, before start with amisulpride and after four weeks of treatment with the Subjective Wellbeing under Neuroleptic scale, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia.

RESULTS

(1) 26.8% of the patients had a substantial favorable SR, and 12.4% of the patients experienced a substantial dysphoric SR during treatment with amisulpride. (2) Modest positive associations were found between SR and 4 weeks change on symptom subscales (r = 0.268-0.390, p values < 0.001). (3) Baseline affective symptoms contributed to the prediction of subjective remission, demographic characteristics did not. Lower start dosage of amisulpride was associated with a more favorable SR (r = -0.215, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that variation in individual proneness for an unfavorable SR is substantial and only modestly associated with symptomatic response. We need earlier identification of those most at risk for unfavorable SR and research into interventions to improve SR to antipsychotic medication in those at risk.

fMRI connectivity as a biomarker of antipsychotic treatment response: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic drugs are the first-choice therapy for psychotic episodes, but antipsychotic treatment response (AP-R) is unpredictable and only becomes clear after weeks of therapy. A biomarker for AP-R is currently unavailable. We reviewed the evidence for the hypothesis that functional magnetic resonance imaging functional connectivity (fMRI-FC) is a predictor of AP-R or could serve as a biomarker for AP-R in psychosis.

METHOD

A systematic review of longitudinal fMRI studies examining the predictive performance and relationship between FC and AP-R was performed following PRISMA guidelines. Technical and clinical aspects were critically assessed for the retrieved studies. We addressed three questions: Q1) is baseline fMRI-FC related to subsequent AP-R; Q2) is AP-R related to a change in fMRI-FC; and Q3) can baseline fMRI-FC predict subsequent AP-R?

RESULTS

In total, 28 articles were included. Most studies were of good quality. fMRI-FC analysis pipelines included seed-based-, independent component- / canonical correlation analysis, network-based statistics, and graph-theoretical approaches. We found high heterogeneity in methodological approaches and results. For Q1 (N = 17) and Q2 (N = 18), the most consistent evidence was found for FC between the striatum and ventral attention network as a potential biomarker of AP-R. For Q3 (N = 9) accuracy's varied form 50 till 93%, and prediction models were based on FC between various brain regions.

CONCLUSION

The current fMRI-FC literature on AP-R is hampered by heterogeneity of methodological approaches. Methodological uniformity and further improvement of the reliability and validity of fMRI connectivity analysis is needed before fMRI-FC analysis can have a place in clinical applications of antipsychotic treatment.

Characterization of antipsychotic utilization before clozapine initiation for individuals with schizophrenia: an innovative visualization of trajectories using French National Health Insurance data

AIMS

Despite recommendations to initiate clozapine after two unsuccessful trials of antipsychotics, clozapine is underprescribed and initiated too late. The aim of this study was to describe different antipsychotic treatment sequences in the 36 months before the initiation of clozapine and to characterize clusters of treatment trajectories.

METHODS

Using the French National Health Insurance database, a historical cohort study of the population in an area in western France was performed. The data from all new users of clozapine with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the period of 2017-2018 were evaluated. All outpatient reimbursements for antipsychotics during the 36 months before clozapine initiation were analysed. Successive reimbursements for identical treatments were grouped into treatment trials (TTs), and different trajectories were clustered using a state sequence analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed 1191 TTs for 287 individuals. The mean number of TTs per individual was 3.2. Risperidone, aripiprazole and haloperidol were the main treatments delivered. The frequencies of antipsychotics used differed between monotherapies and combination therapies. A three-cluster typology was identified: one cluster (n = 133) of 'less treated' younger individuals with fewer TTs and shorter TT durations; a second cluster (n = 53) of 'more treated' individuals with higher numbers of TTs and combinations of antipsychotics; and a third cluster (n = 103) of 'treatment-stable' older individuals with longer TT durations.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the median number of TTs during the 36 months before clozapine prescription was higher than the two recommended. The different trajectories were associated with individual characteristics and treatment differences, suggesting that additional studies of clinical parameters are needed to understand barriers to clozapine prescription.

Effects of Early Clozapine Treatment on Remission Rates in Acute Schizophrenia (The EARLY Trial): Protocol of a Randomized-Controlled Multicentric Trial

BACKGROUND

Quick symptomatic remission after the onset of psychotic symptoms is critical in schizophrenia treatment, determining the subsequent disease course and recovery. In this context, only every second patient with acute schizophrenia achieves symptomatic remission within three months of initiating antipsychotic treatment. The potential indication extension of clozapine-the most effective antipsychotic-to be introduced at an earlier stage (before treatment-resistance) is supported by several lines of evidence, but respective clinical trials are lacking.

METHODS

Two hundred-twenty patients with acute non-treatment-resistant schizophrenia will be randomized in this double-blind, 8-week parallel-group multicentric trial to either clozapine or olanzapine. The primary endpoint is the number of patients in symptomatic remission at the end of week 8 according to international consensus criteria ('Andreasen criteria'). Secondary endpoints and other assessments comprise a comprehensive safety assessment (i. e., myocarditis screening), changes in psychopathology, global functioning, cognition, affective symptoms and quality of life, and patients' and relatives' views on treatment.

DISCUSSION

This multicentre trial aims to examine whether clozapine is more effective than a highly effective second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), olanzapine, in acute schizophrenia patients who do not meet the criteria for treatment-naïve or treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Increasing the likelihood to achieve symptomatic remission in acute schizophrenia can improve the overall outcome, reduce disease-associated burden and potentially prevent mid- and long-term disease chronicity.

A Novel Gliotransmitter, L-β-Aminoisobutyric Acid, Contributes to Pathophysiology of Clinical Efficacies and Adverse Reactions of Clozapine

Clozapine is listed as one of the most effective antipsychotics and has been approved for treating treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS); however, several type A and B adverse reactions, including weight gain, metabolic complications, cardiotoxicity, convulsions, and discontinuation syndromes, exist. The critical mechanisms of clinical efficacy for schizophrenia, TRS, and adverse reactions of clozapine have not been elucidated. Recently, the GABA isomer L-β-aminoisobutyric acid (L-BAIBA), a protective myokine in the peripheral organs, was identified as a candidate novel transmission modulator in the central nervous system (CNS). L-BAIBA activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling in both the peripheral organs and CNS. Activated AMPK signalling in peripheral organs is an established major target for treating insulin-resistant diabetes, whereas activated AMPK signalling in the hypothalamus contributes to the pathophysiology of weight gain and metabolic disturbances. Clozapine increases L-BAIBA synthesis in the hypothalamus. In addition, the various functions of L-BAIBA in the CNS have recently been elucidated, including as an activator of GABA-B and group-III metabotropic glutamate (III-mGlu) receptors. Considering the expressions of GABA-B and III-mGlu receptors (localised in the presynaptic regions), the activation of GABA-B and III-mGlu receptors can explain the distinct therapeutic advantages of clozapine in schizophrenia or TRS associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor disturbance compared with other atypical antipsychotics via the inhibition of the persistent tonic hyperactivation of thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex. L-BAIBA has also been identified as a gliotransmitter, and a detailed exploration of the function of L-BAIBA in tripartite synaptic transmission can further elucidate the pathophysiology of effectiveness for treating TRS and/or specific adverse reactions of clozapine.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with olanzapine and amisulpride for treatment-refractory schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Treatment-refractory schizophrenia (TRS), accounting for approximately 30% of all schizophrenia cases, has poor treatment response and prognosis despite treatment with antipsychotic drugs.

AIM

To analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with olanzapine (OLZ) and amisulpride (AMI) for TRS and its influence on the patient’s cognitive function.

METHODS

This study enrolled 114 TRS patients who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between July 2019 and July 2022. In addition to the basic OLZ + AMI therapy, 54 cases of the control group (Con group) received modified electroconvulsive therapy, while 60 cases of the research group (Res group) received rTMS. Data on therapeutic effectiveness, safety (incidence of drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, or memory impairment), Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale were collected from both cohorts for comparative analyses.

RESULTS

The Res group elicited a higher overall response rate and better safety profile when compared with the Con group. Additionally, a significant reduction was observed in the post-treatment Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale scores of the Res group, presenting lower scores than those of the Con group. Furthermore, a significant increase in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score was reported in the Res group, with higher scores than those of the Con group.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of TRS with rTMS and OLZ + AMI is effective and safe. Moreover, it can alleviate the patients’ mental symptoms, improve their cognitive function and quality of life, and has a high clinical application value.

Cannabis Use and Symptomatic Relapse in First Episode Schizophrenia: Trigger or Consequence? Data From the OPTIMISE Study

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

This analysis examined the relationship between cannabis use, compliance with antipsychotics and risk for relapse in patients in remission following a first episode of schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder.

STUDY DESIGN

Analyses were performed on data from a large European study on first episode of schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder (OPTiMiSE). After 10 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, 282/446 patients (63%) met criteria for symptomatic remission; of whom 134/282 (47.5%) then completed a 1-year follow-up. Cross-lagged models and mediation models investigated the temporal relationships between cannabis use, compliance with antipsychotics, social functioning, and symptomatic worsening/relapse.

STUDY RESULTS

Compared to nonusers, cannabis use increased risk for relapse, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 3.03 (SE = 0.32), P < .001, even in patients who were compliant with antipsychotic medication, adjusted HR = 2.89, (SE = 0.32), P < .001. Cannabis use preceded symptomatic worsening and was followed by worsening of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score at the 1-year end-point (standardized β = 0.62, SE = 0.19, P = .001) and by worsening of social functioning (coef = -0.66, P ≤ .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients in remission from their first episode of schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorder, cannabis use increases the rate of relapse in both compliant and noncompliant individuals. Importantly, the temporal relationship between cannabis and relapse was that cannabis use preceded later relapse, noncompliance, and decrease in social functioning, and not that patients began to relapse, then used cannabis. Further research with a precision psychiatry approach might identify those patients in particular danger of relapse when using cannabis.

Negative symptoms in First-Episode Schizophrenia related to morphometric alterations in orbitofrontal and superior temporal cortex: the OPTiMiSE study

BACKGROUND

Negative symptoms are one of the most incapacitating features of Schizophrenia but their pathophysiology remains unclear. They have been linked to alterations in grey matter in several brain regions, but findings have been inconsistent. This may reflect the investigation of relatively small patient samples, and the confounding effects of chronic illness and exposure to antipsychotic medication. We sought to address these issues by investigating concurrently grey matter volumes (GMV) and cortical thickness (CTh) in a large sample of antipsychotic-naïve or minimally treated patients with First-Episode Schizophrenia (FES).

METHODS

T1-weighted structural MRI brain scans were acquired from 180 antipsychotic-naïve or minimally treated patients recruited as part of the OPTiMiSE study. The sample was stratified into subgroups with (N = 88) or without (N = 92) Prominent Negative Symptoms (PMN), based on PANSS ratings at presentation. Regional GMV and CTh in the two groups were compared using Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) and FreeSurfer (FS). Between-group differences were corrected for multiple comparisons via Family-Wise Error (FWE) and Monte Carlo z-field simulation respectively at p < 0.05 (2-tailed).

RESULTS

The presence of PMN symptoms was associated with larger left inferior orbitofrontal volume (p = 0.03) and greater CTh in the left lateral orbitofrontal gyrus (p = 0.007), but reduced CTh in the left superior temporal gyrus (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings highlight the role of orbitofrontal and temporal cortices in the pathogenesis of negative symptoms of Schizophrenia. As they were evident in generally untreated FEP patients, the results are unlikely to be related to effects of previous treatment or illness chronicity.

Early Non-Response to Antipsychotic Treatment in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Evidence-Based Management Options

BACKGROUND

Early non-response is a well-established prognostic marker but evidence-based and consistent recommendations to manage it are limited. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to generate evidence-based strategies for the management of schizophrenia patients with early non-response to 2 weeks of antipsychotic treatment.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing antipsychotic dose escalation, switch, augmentation and continuation in individuals with study-defined early antipsychotic treatment non-response. Eligibility criteria were (1) clinical trials of primary psychosis treating for at least 2 weeks with antipsychotic monotherapy with study-defined operationalized criteria for early non-response; and (2) randomization to at least two of the following treatment strategies: dose escalation, switch, augmentation, or treatment continuation. Information sources were Pubmed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE, and risk of bias was assessed using Jadad scores. Results were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis, comparing each intervention with treatment continuation for total symptom change as the primary outcome, generating standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies meeting the selection criteria but providing insufficient data for a meta-analysis were presented separately.

RESULTS

We screened 454 records by 1 August 2022, of which 12 individual datasets met the inclusion criteria, representing 947 research participants. Of those studies, five provided data to include in the meta-analysis (four with early non-response at 2 weeks, one at 3 weeks). Early non-response was defined within a timeline of 2 weeks in eight datasets, with the remaining datasets ranging between 3 and 4 weeks. The rates of early non-response ranged between 72.0 and 24.1%, and the endpoint ranged within 4-24 weeks post randomization. Quality was good (i.e., Jadad score of ≥3) in 8 of the 12 datasets. Overall, three studies compared antipsychotic switch versus continuation and two compared antipsychotic switch versus augmentation, in both cases without significant pooled between-group differences for total symptom severity (n = 149, SMD 0.18, 95% CI -0.14 to 0.5). Individually, two relatively large studies for antipsychotic switch versus continuation found small advantages for switching antipsychotics for total symptom severity (n = 149, SMD -0.49, 95% CI -1.05 to -0.06). One relatively large study found an advantage for dose escalation, although this finding has not been replicated and was not included in the meta-analysis. None of the alternatives included antipsychotic switch to clozapine.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite robust accuracy of early antipsychotic non-response predicting ultimate response, the evidence for treatment strategies that should be used for early non-response after 2-3 weeks is limited. While meta-analytic findings were non-significant, some individual studies suggest advantages of antipsychotic switch or dose escalation. Therefore, any conclusions should be interpreted carefully, given the insufficient high-quality evidence.

Longitudinal clinical and functional outcome in distinct cognitive subgroups of first-episode psychosis: a cluster analysis

BACKGROUND

Cognitive deficits may be characteristic for only a subgroup of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the link with clinical and functional outcomes is less profound than previously thought. This study aimed to identify cognitive subgroups in a large sample of FEP using a clustering approach with healthy controls as a reference group, subsequently linking cognitive subgroups to clinical and functional outcomes.

METHODS

204 FEP patients were included. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using baseline brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia (BACS). Cognitive subgroups were compared to 40 controls and linked to longitudinal clinical and functional outcomes (PANSS, GAF, self-reported WHODAS 2.0) up to 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Three distinct cognitive clusters emerged: relative to controls, we found one cluster with preserved cognition (n = 76), one moderately impaired cluster (n = 74) and one severely impaired cluster (n = 54). Patients with severely impaired cognition had more severe clinical symptoms at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up as compared to patients with preserved cognition. General functioning (GAF) in the severely impaired cluster was significantly lower than in those with preserved cognition at baseline and showed trend-level effects at 6- and 12-month follow-up. No significant differences in self-reported functional outcome (WHODAS 2.0) were present.

CONCLUSIONS

Current results demonstrate the existence of three distinct cognitive subgroups, corresponding with clinical outcome at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up. Importantly, the cognitively preserved subgroup was larger than the severely impaired group. Early identification of discrete cognitive profiles can offer valuable information about the clinical outcome but may not be relevant in predicting self-reported functional outcomes.

Psychotic disorders as a framework for precision psychiatry

People with psychotic disorders can show marked interindividual variations in the onset of illness, responses to treatment and relapse, but they receive broadly similar clinical care. Precision psychiatry is an approach that aims to stratify people with a given disorder according to different clinical outcomes and tailor treatment to their individual needs. At present, interindividual differences in outcomes of psychotic disorders are difficult to predict on the basis of clinical assessment alone. Therefore, current research in psychosis seeks to build models that predict outcomes by integrating clinical information with a range of biological measures. Here, we review recent progress in the application of precision psychiatry to psychotic disorders and consider the challenges associated with implementing this approach in clinical practice.

Anterior cingulate glutamate metabolites as a predictor of antipsychotic response in first episode psychosis: data from the STRATA collaboration

Elevated brain glutamate has been implicated in non-response to antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia. Biomarkers that can accurately predict antipsychotic non-response from the first episode of psychosis (FEP) could allow stratification of patients; for example, patients predicted not to respond to standard antipsychotics could be fast-tracked to clozapine. Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we examined the ability of glutamate and Glx (glutamate plus glutamine) in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and caudate to predict response to antipsychotic treatment. A total of 89 minimally medicated patients with FEP not meeting symptomatic criteria for remission were recruited across two study sites. 1H-MRS and clinical data were acquired at baseline, 2 and 6 weeks. Response was defined as >20% reduction in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total score from baseline to 6 weeks. In the ACC, baseline glutamate and Glx were higher in Non-Responders and significantly predicted response (P < 0.02; n = 42). Overall accuracy was greatest for ACC Glx (69%) and increased to 75% when symptom severity at baseline was included in the model. Glutamate metabolites in the caudate were not associated with response, and there was no significant change in glutamate metabolites over time in either region. These results add to the evidence linking elevations in ACC glutamate metabolites to a poor antipsychotic response. They indicate that glutamate may have utility in predicting response during early treatment of first episode psychosis. Improvements in accuracy may be made by combining glutamate measures with other response biomarkers.

Macroscale EEG characteristics in antipsychotic-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis and healthy controls

Electroencephalography in patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment response prediction. Findings in the literature vary due to small sample sizes, medication effects, and variable illness duration. We studied macroscale resting-state EEG characteristics of antipsychotic naïve patients with FEP. We tested (1) for differences between FEP patients and controls, (2) if EEG could be used to classify patients as FEP, and (3) if EEG could be used to predict treatment response to antipsychotic medication. In total, we studied EEG recordings of 62 antipsychotic-naïve patients with FEP and 106 healthy controls. Spectral power, phase-based and amplitude-based functional connectivity, and macroscale network characteristics were analyzed, resulting in 60 EEG variables across four frequency bands. Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) were assessed at baseline and 4-6 weeks follow-up after treatment with amisulpride or aripiprazole. Mann-Whitney U tests, a random forest (RF) classifier and RF regression were used for statistical analysis. Our study found that at baseline, FEP patients did not differ from controls in any of the EEG characteristics. A random forest classifier showed chance-level discrimination between patients and controls. The random forest regression explained 23% variance in positive symptom reduction after treatment in the patient group. In conclusion, in this largest antipsychotic- naïve EEG sample to date in FEP patients, we found no differences in macroscale EEG characteristics between patients with FEP and healthy controls. However, these EEG characteristics did show predictive value for positive symptom reduction following treatment with antipsychotic medication.

Off the RADAR; questions regarding the trial protocol of a randomised controlled trial of antipsychotic reduction and discontinuation

The randomised controlled trial of antipsychotic reduction and discontinuation addresses essential questions with regard to continued use of antipsychotics in schizophrenia, pertaining to social functioning and continued antipsychotic use. However, significant methodological issues stated in the trial protocol have the potential to confound interpretation of any findings. These include use of a non-blinded outcome measure, treatment as usual comparator and possible sample size issues.

Second to none: rationale, timing, and clinical management of clozapine use in schizophrenia

Despite its enduring relevance as the single most effective and important evidence-based treatment for schizophrenia, underutilization of clozapine remains considerable. To a substantial degree, this is attributable to a reluctance of psychiatrists to offer clozapine due to its relatively large side-effect burden and the complexity of its use. This underscores the necessity for continued education regarding both the vital nature and the intricacies of clozapine treatment. This narrative review summarizes all clinically relevant areas of evidence, which support clozapine's wide-ranging superior efficacy - for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and beyond - and make its safe use eminently feasible. Converging evidence indicates that TRS constitutes a distinct albeit heterogeneous subgroup of schizophrenias primarily responsive to clozapine. Most importantly, the predominantly early onset of treatment resistance and the considerable decline in response rates associated with its delayed initiation make clozapine an essential treatment option throughout the course of illness, beginning with the first psychotic episode. To maximize patients' benefits, systematic early recognition efforts based on stringent use of TRS criteria, a timely offer of clozapine, thorough side-effect screening and management as well as consistent use of therapeutic drug monitoring and established augmentation strategies for suboptimal responders are crucial. To minimize permanent all-cause discontinuation, re-challenges after neutropenia or myocarditis should be considered. Owing to clozapine's unique efficacy, comorbid conditions including substance use and most somatic disorders should not dissuade but rather encourage clinicians to consider clozapine. Moreover, treatment decisions need to be informed by the late onset of clozapine's full effects, which for reduced suicidality and mortality rates may not even be readily apparent. Overall, the singular extent of its efficacy combined with the high level of patient satisfaction continues to distinguish clozapine from all other available antipsychotics.

First-episode psychotic disorders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive review of casereports

OBJECTIVE

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, many case reports and case series dealt with new-onset psychotic disorders in patients either infected with SARS-CoV-2 or thematically linked to the pandemic, but without an infection. Our aim was to provide a comprehensive collection of these reports to illustrate the nature of these psychoses.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, using search terms regarding first-episode psychotic disorders in the context of corona.

RESULTS

96 case reports or case series covering 146 patients (62 without and 84 with SARS-CoV-2 infection) were found. Compared to patients without infection, patients with infection showed significantly more often visual hallucinations (28.6% vs 8.1%), confusion (36.9% vs 11.3%), an acute onset of illness (88.5% vs 59.6%) and less often depression (13.1% vs 35.5%) and a delusional content related to the pandemic (29.5% vs 78.3%). Both groups had an equally favourable outcome with a duration of psychosis ≤2 weeks in half and full remission in two-thirds of patients. In patients with infection, signs of inflammation were reported in 78.3% and increased CRP in 58.6%. While reports on patients with infection are continuously published, no report about patients without infection was found after July 2020.

CONCLUSION

Cases without infection were considered reactive and originated all from the first wave of the corona pandemic. In cases with infection, inflammation was considered as the main pathogenetic factor but was not found in all patients. Diagnosis was impeded by the overlap of psychosis with delirium.

Palliative psychiatry in a narrow and in a broad sense: A concept clarification

Even with optimal treatment, some persons with severe and persistent mental illness do not achieve a level of mental health, psychosocial functioning and quality of life that is acceptable to them. With each unsuccessful treatment attempt, the probability of achieving symptom reduction declines while the probability of somatic and psychological side effects increases. This worsening benefit-harm ratio of treatment aiming at symptom reduction has motivated calls for implementing palliative approaches to care into psychiatry (palliative psychiatry). Palliative psychiatry accepts that some cases of severe and persistent mental illness can be irremediable and calls for a careful evaluation of goals of care in these cases. It aims at reducing harm, relieving suffering and thus improving quality of life directly, working around irremediable psychiatric symptoms. In a narrow sense, this refers to patients likely to die of their severe and persistent mental illness soon, but palliative psychiatry in a broad sense is not limited to end-of-life care. It can - and often should - be integrated with curative and rehabilitative approaches, as is the gold standard in somatic medicine. Palliative psychiatry constitutes a valuable addition to established non-curative approaches such as rehabilitative psychiatry (which focuses on psychosocial functioning instead of quality of life) and personal recovery (a journey that persons living with severe and persistent mental illness may undertake, not necessarily accompanied by mental health care professionals). Although the implementation of palliative psychiatry is met with several challenges such as difficulties regarding decision-making capacity and prognostication in severe and persistent mental illness, it is a promising new approach in caring for persons with severe and persistent mental illness, regardless of whether they are at the end of life.

Changing the Antipsychotic in Early Nonimprovers to Amisulpride or Olanzapine: Randomized, Double-Blind Trial in Patients With Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Meta-analyses have shown that the majority of patients with schizophrenia who have not improved after 2 weeks of treatment with an antipsychotic drug are unlikely to fully respond later. We hypothesized that switching to another antipsychotic with a different receptor binding profile is an effective strategy in such a situation.

STUDY DESIGN

In total, 327 inpatients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia were randomized to double-blind treatment with either olanzapine (5-20 mg/day) or amisulpride (200-800 mg/day). Those patients who had not reached at least 25% Positive-and-Negative-Syndrome-Scale (PANSS) total score reduction from baseline after 2 weeks (the "non-improvers") were rerandomized double-blind to either staying on the same compound ("stayers") or to switching to the other antipsychotic ("switchers") for another 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the difference in the number of patients in symptomatic remission between the combined "switchers" and the "stayers" after 8 weeks of treatment, analyzed by logistic regression.

STUDY RESULTS

A total of 142 nonimprovers were rerandomized at week two. 25 (45.5 %) of the 'stayers' compared to 41 (68.3 %) of the "switchers" reached remission at endpoint (p = .006). Differences in secondary efficacy outcomes were not significant, except for the PANSS negative subscore and the Clinical-Global-Impression-Scale. "Switchers" and "stayers" did not differ in safety outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Switching "non-improvers" from amisulpride to olanzapine or vice-versa increased remission rates and was safe. The superiority in the primary outcome was, however, not paralleled by significant differences in most secondary efficacy outcomes and the effect was only apparent at the last visit making replications of longer duration necessary.

Designing clinically useful psychopharmacological trials: challenges and ways forward

The clinical guidelines that underpin the use of drugs for mental disorders are informed by evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs). RCTs are performed to obtain marketing authorisation from regulators. The methods used in these RCTs could be appropriate for early phases of drug development because they identify drugs with important harms and drugs that are efficacious for specific health problems and populations. RCTs done before marketing authorisation do not tend to address clinical questions that concern the effectiveness of a drug in heterogeneous and comorbid populations, the optimisation of drug sequencing and discontinuation, or the comparative benefits and harms of different drugs that could be used for the same health problem. This Review proposes an overview of some shortcomings of RCTs, at an individual level and at the whole portfolio level, and identifies some methods in planning, conducting, and carrying out analyses in RCTs that could enhance their ability to support therapeutic decisions. These suggestions include: identifying patient-important questions to be investigated by psychopharmacological RCTs; embedding pragmatic RCTs within clinical practice to improve generalisability to target populations; collecting evidence about drugs in overlooked populations; developing methods to facilitate the recruitment of patients with mental disorders and to reduce the number of patients who drop out, using specific methods; using core outcome sets to standardise the assessment of benefits and harms; and recording systematically serious objective outcomes, such as suicide or hospitalisation, to be evaluated in meta-analyses. This work is a call to address questions relevant to patients using diverse design of RCTs, thus contributing to the development of a patient-centred, evidence-based psychiatry.

Scalability of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale in first-episode schizophrenia assessed by Rasch models

OBJECTIVE

Historically, assessment of the psychometric properties of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) has had several foci: (1) calculation of reliability indexes, (2) extraction of subdimensions from the scale, and (3) assessment of the validity of the total score. In this study, we aimed to examine the scalability and to assess the clinical performance of the 30-item PANSS total score as well as the scalability of a shorter version (PANSS-6) of the scale.

METHODS

A composite data set of 1073 patients with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder was subjected to Rasch analysis of PANSS data from baseline and 4-6 weeks follow-up.

RESULTS

The central tests of fit of the Rasch model failed to satisfy the statistical requirements behind item homogeneity for the PANSS-30 as well as the PANSS-6 total score. For the PANSS-30, Differential Item Functioning was pronounced both for the 7-point Likert scale rating categories and when dichotomizing the rating categories. Subsequently, the Rasch structure analysis in the context of dichotomized items was used to isolate and estimate a systematic error because of item inhomogeneity, as well as a random error. The size of the combined sources of error for the PANSS-30 total score approximated 20% which is often regarded as clinical cut-off between response versus no-response.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate the operational consequences of a lack of statistical fit of the Rasch model and suggest that the calculated measure of uncertainty needs to be considered when using the PANSS-30 total score.

Searching for bridges between psychopathology and real-world functioning in first-episode psychosis: A network analysis from the OPTiMiSE trial

Background

Network analysis has been used to explore the interplay between psychopathology and functioning in psychosis, but no study has used dedicated statistical techniques to focus on the bridge symptoms connecting these domains. The current study aims to estimate the network of depressive, negative, and positive symptoms, general psychopathology, and real-world functioning in people with first-episode schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, focusing on bridge nodes.

Methods

Baseline data from the OPTiMiSE trial were analyzed. The sample included 446 participants (age 40.0 ± 10.9 years, 70% males). The network was estimated with a Gaussian graphical model, using scores on individual items of the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia, and the personal and social performance scale. Stability, strength centrality, expected influence (EI), predictability, and bridge centrality statistics were computed. The top 20% scoring nodes on bridge strength were selected as bridge nodes.

Results

Nodes from different rating scales assessing similar psychopathological and functioning constructs tended to cluster together in the estimated network. The most central nodes (EI) were Delusions, Emotional Withdrawal, Depression, and Depressed Mood. Bridge nodes included Depression, Conceptual Disorganization, Active Social Avoidance, Delusions, Stereotyped Thinking, Poor Impulse Control, Guilty Feelings, Unusual Thought Content, and Hostility. Most of the bridge nodes belonged to the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS. Depression (G6) was the bridge node with the highest value.

Conclusions

The current study provides novel insights for understanding the complex phenotype of psychotic disorders and the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of comorbidity and functional impairment after psychosis onset.

Clinical and treatment predictors of relapse during a three-year follow-up of a cohort of first episodes of schizophrenia

Relapses are frequent in the first years following a first episode of schizophrenia (FES), being associated with a higher risk of developing a chronic psychotic disorder, and poor clinical and functional outcomes. The identification and intervention over factors associated with relapses in these early phases are timely and relevant. In this study, 119 patients in remission after a FES were closely followed over three years. Participants came from the 2EPS Project, a coordinated, naturalistic, longitudinal study of 15 tertiary centers in Spain. Sociodemographic, clinical, treatment and substance abuse data were analyzed. 49.6% of the participants relapsed during the 3-years follow-up. None of the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics analyzed showed a statistically significant association with relapses. 22% of patients that finished the follow-up without relapsing were not taking any antipsychotic. The group that relapsed presented higher mean antipsychotics doses (381.93 vs. 242.29 mg of chlorpromazine equivalent/day, p = 0.028) and higher rates of antipsychotic polytherapy (28.6% vs. 13%, p < 0.001), benzodiazepines use (30.8% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.001), side effects reports (39.2% vs. 25%, p = 0.022), psychological treatment (51.8% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.03), and cannabis consumption (93.2% vs. 56.7%, p < 0.001). Clozapine use was notably higher in the group that reminded in remission (21.7% vs. 8.2%, p < 0.019). These findings may guide clinicians to detect subgroups of patients with higher risk to present a second episode of psychosis, focusing on measures to ensure an adequate treatment or facilitating cannabis use cessation. This study supports future research to identify relapse prevention strategies for patients in early phases of schizophrenia.

Amisulpride and olanzapine combination treatment versus each monotherapy in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia in Germany (COMBINE): a double-blind randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Combining antipsychotics is common in schizophrenia treatment, despite evidence-based guidelines generally not recommending such practice. Otherwise, evidence remains inconclusive, especially regarding specific combinations. The trial aimed to test whether a combination of amisulpride plus olanzapine is more effective than either intervention as a monotherapy.

METHODS

A multicentre, 16-week, randomised, double-blind, controlled trial was done at 16 psychiatric in-patient centres throughout Germany. Inclusion criteria were adults aged 18-65 years with non-first episode schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and with a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score of at least 70 and at least two items of the positive symptoms subscale rated at least 4. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 16 weeks of treatment with either amisulpride plus olanzapine, amisulpride plus placebo, or olanzapine plus placebo (1:1:1), and block randomisation was stratified by study site. To keep patients and investigators masked throughout the duration of the trial, amisulpride, olanzapine, and placebo were administered as identical capsules. Flexibly dosed monotherapy of oral amisulpride (amisulpride plus placebo, 200-800 mg per day) or olanzapine (olanzapine plus placebo, 5-20 mg per day) was compared with a combination of amisulpride plus olanzapine. The primary outcome was symptom reduction measured by the PANSS total score after 8 weeks, in the modified intention-to-treat population (all patients randomly assigned to an intervention and receiving at least one study drug dose). As determined a priori, group differences were examined by t tests (Bonferroni-Holm-adjustment) followed by pre-planned Bayesian analyses as well as imputation methods based on mixed models to account for missing values and post-hoc ANCOVA adjusting for PANSS baseline scores. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01609153; the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00003603; and the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database, EudraCT-No. 2011-002463-20.

FINDINGS

Between June 15, 2012, and Dec 15, 2018, 13 692 patients were assessed for eligibility. 13 364 patients were excluded (including for not meeting inclusion criteria, declining to participate, or inappropriate reasons for changing pharmacological treatment), and 328 were then randomly assigned to an intervention group. 112 patients were randomly assigned to receive amisulpride plus olanzapine, 109 were randomly assigned to receive amisulpride plus placebo, and 107 were randomly assigned to receive olanzapine plus placebo. 321 patients were analysed for the primary outcome in the modified intention-to-treat population after exclusion of screening failures and patients who did not receive the intervention (110 for amisulpride plus olanzapine, 109 for amisulpride plus placebo, and 102 for olanzapine plus placebo). Among the 321 patients who were randomly assigned to intervention groups and analysed for the primary outcome, 229 (71%) were male, 92 (29%) were female; the mean age was 40·2 years (SD 11·7); and 296 (92%) were White and 25 (8%) were classified as other ethnicity. PANSS total score improved significantly more at 8 weeks in the amisulpride plus olanzapine group (-29·6 [SD 14·5]) than in the olanzapine plus placebo group (-24·1 [13·4], p=0·049, Cohen's d=0·396). A significant difference was not observed in reduction of PANSS total score between the amisulpride and olanzapine group compared with the amisulpride and placebo group (-25·2 [SD 15·9], p=0·095, Cohen's d=0·29). After 8 weeks and 16 weeks, sexual dysfunction, weight, and waist circumference increase were significantly higher for patients receiving amisulpride plus olanzapine than for those receiving amisulpride plus placebo, with no differences in serious adverse events. Two patients died during study participation; one randomly assigned to the amisulpride plus olanzapine group, and one assigned to the olanzapine plus placebo group (both assessed with no relation to treatment).

INTERPRETATION

The advantages of amisulpride plus olanzapine have to be weighed against a higher propensity for side-effects. The use of this specific combination therapy could be an alternative to monotherapy in certain clinical situations, but side-effects should be considered.

FUNDING

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Trajectories of response in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A one-year prospective cohort study of antipsychotic effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotic drugs remain the mainstay of schizophrenia treatment; however, their effectiveness has been questioned, and it is not possible to predict the response to a specific antipsychotic drug in an individual patient. Thus, it is important to compare the effectiveness of the various antipsychotics and search for possible response predictors.

AIM

To investigate the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs, we examined response trajectories and predictors for belonging to different trajectory groups.

METHODS

The Bergen-Stavanger-Innsbruck-Trondheim (BeSt InTro) trial compared the effectiveness of three atypical antipsychotics-amisulpride, aripiprazole, and olanzapine-in a prospective, semirandomized, rater-blind, head-to-head design. Adult participants with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder diagnosis, according to international classification of diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) F20–29, were included. Participants were followed for a period of 12 mo, with assessments at baseline; after one, three and six weeks; and after three, six, nine and 12 mo. A latent class mixed model was fitted to our data. The three-trajectory model based on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score reduction was found to have adequate fit, and the study drugs, as well as various demographic and clinical parameters, were tested as predictors for belonging to the different trajectory groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 144 participants were included, and 41% completed the 12-mo study period. The largest trajectory group, consisting of 74% of participants, showed a PANSS total score reduction of 59% from baseline to 12 mo (Good response group). A trajectory group comprising 13% of participants had their PANSS total score reduced by 82.5% at 12 mo (Strong response group), while the last response trajectory group comprising 13% of the participants had a PANSS total score reduction of 13.6% (Slight response group). The largest part of the total reduction for the Good and Strong response groups occurred at six weeks of treatment, amounting to 45% and 48% reductions from baseline, respectively. The use of amisulpride predicted belonging to the Strong response group, while unemployment, depression, and negative psychotic symptoms at baseline increased the chance of belonging to the Slight response group, indicating a poor response to antipsychotic drug treatment.

CONCLUSION

Most of the participants (87%) had a good outcome after one year. Amisulpride users, more often than aripiprazole and olanzapine users, belonged to the response trajectory group with a strong response.

Antipsychotic medication for women with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

There are significant differences between men and women in the efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotic drugs. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of what is currently known about the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antipsychotics in women with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and translate these insights into considerations for clinical practice. Slower drug absorption, metabolism and excretion in women all lead to higher plasma levels, which increase the risk for side-effects. Moreover, women reach higher dopamine receptor occupancy compared to men at similar serum levels, since oestrogens increase dopamine sensitivity. As current treatment guidelines are based on studies predominantly conducted in men, women are likely to be overmedicated by default. The risk of overmedicating generally increases when sex hormone levels are high (e.g. during ovulation and gestation), whereas higher doses may be required during low-hormonal phases (e.g. during menstruation and menopause). For premenopausal women, with the exceptions of quetiapine and lurasidone, doses of antipsychotics should be lower with largest adjustments required for olanzapine. Clinicians should be wary of side-effects that are particularly harmful in women, such as hyperprolactinaemia which can cause oestrogen deficiency and metabolic symptoms that may cause cardiovascular diseases. Given the protective effects of oestrogens on the course of SSD, oestrogen replacement therapy should be considered for postmenopausal patients, who are more vulnerable to side-effects and yet require higher dosages of most antipsychotics to reach similar efficacy. In conclusion, there is a need for tailored, female-specific prescription guidelines, which take into account adjustments required across different phases of life.

What is the evidence for antipsychotic medication and alternative psychosocial interventions for people with acute, non-affective psychosis?

In this Personal View, we critically appraise and summarise evidence for antipsychotic drugs and alternatives to drug treatment, with a focus on people in their first episode or acute relapses of schizophrenia and related conditions within the first 5-10 years of illness. There is a large body of generally moderate quality evidence from randomised controlled trials for antipsychotics in both treating acute psychosis and reducing relapse, in thousands of people in their first episode and in established illness. There is a much smaller evidence base, of generally low quality, in a few hundred people, for potential benefits of non-drug interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, Open Dialogue, Soteria, and psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Rates of treatment-resistant schizophrenia from first-episode cohorts: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is associated with high levels of functional impairment, healthcare usage and societal costs. Cross-sectional studies may overestimate TRS rates because of selection bias.

AIMS

We aimed to quantify TRS rates by using first-episode cohorts to improve resource allocation and clozapine access.

METHOD

We undertook a systematic review of TRS rates among people with first-episode psychosis and schizophrenia, with a minimum follow-up of 8 weeks. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and meta-analysed TRS rates from included studies.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included, totalling 11 958 participants; six studies were of high quality. The rate of TRS was 22.8% (95% CI 19.1-27.0%, P < 0.001) among all first-episode cohorts and 24.4% (95% CI 19.5-30.0%, P < 0.001) among first-episode schizophrenia cohorts. Subgroup sensitivity analyses by location of recruitment, TRS definition, study quality, time of data collection and retrospective versus prospective data collection did not lead to statistically significant differences in heterogeneity. In a meta-regression, duration of follow-up and percentage drop-out did not significantly affect the overall TRS rate. Men were 1.57 times more likely to develop TRS than women (95% CI 1.11-2.21, P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

Almost a quarter of people with first-episode psychosis or schizophrenia will develop TRS in the early stages of treatment. When including people with schizophrenia who relapse despite initial response and continuous treatment, rates of TRS may be as high as a third. These high rates of TRS highlight the need for improved access to clozapine and psychosocial supports.

Impact on functionality of the paliperidone palmitate three-month formulation in patients with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia: a real-world observational prospective study

BACKGROUND

Information on the effect of the paliperidone palmitate three-month (PP3M) formulation on functionality in patients in the early stages of psychosis is lacking. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of PP3M on functionality in patients recently diagnosed with schizophrenia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was an observational, multicenter, and prospective study in patients with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia undergoing treatment with PP3M. Evaluations included the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale, the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-Sch), the Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 101/110 evaluable patients (91.8%) completed the study and were included in the efficacy analyses. The total PSP score increased from a mean of 68.5 (15.3) at baseline to a mean of 72.1 (15.4) at month 6 and 74.8 (16.7) at month 12 with a before-and-after difference of 3.6 (95% CI, 1.6 to 5.5, p < 0.001) at month 6 and 6.2 (95% CI, 4.2 to 8.3, p < 0.001) at month 12. CGI-Sch severity significantly decreased from a mean score of 2.8 (1.1) at baseline to a score of 2.2 (1.1) at month 12 with a before-and-after difference of -0.6 (95% CI, 0.8 to -0.4, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early introduction of PP3M in the course of schizophrenia is associated with a meaningful benefit in social functioning and at least maintains clinical stability.

Cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel treatment in the early phases of psychosis

The pharmacological interventions available for individuals in the early stages of psychosis are extremely limited. For those at clinical high risk for psychosis, there is no licensed treatment available. For those with first-episode psychosis, all licensed antipsychotic medications act via dopamine D₂ receptors. While treatment with antipsychotics is transformative in some patients, in others, it is ineffective. In addition, these medications can often cause adverse effects which make patients reluctant to take them. This is a particular problem in the early phases of psychosis, when patients are being treated for the first time, as unpleasant experiences may colour their future attitude towards treatment. Recent research has suggested that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant, may have antipsychotic effects and relatively few adverse effects and could therefore be an ideal treatment for the early phases of psychosis, when minimising adverse effects is a clinical priority. In this review, we consider CBD's potential as a treatment in the clinical high risk and first-episode stages of psychosis. First, we describe the limitations of existing treatments at these two stages. We then describe what is known of CBD's mechanisms of action, effectiveness as a treatment for psychosis, adverse effects and acceptability to patients. We discuss how some of the outstanding issues about the utility of CBD in the early phases of psychosis may be resolved through ongoing clinical trials. Finally, we consider the impact of recreational cannabis use and over-the-counter cannabinoids preparations and discuss the potential therapeutic role of other compounds that modulate the endocannabinoid system in psychosis.

Pharmacological treatment algorithms for the acute phase, agitation, and maintenance phase of first-episode schizophrenia: Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology treatment algorithms

OBJECTIVE

There are only a few treatment algorithms for first-episode schizophrenia. Moreover, all the algorithms apply to acute treatment, but not maintenance treatment. Therefore, we aimed to develop acute and maintenance treatment algorithms for first-episode schizophrenia.

METHODS

The algorithm committee of the Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology developed pharmacological treatment algorithms for the acute phase, agitation, and maintenance phase of first-episode schizophrenia.

RESULTS

The acute treatment algorithm focuses on drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia who are not old or very agitated and recommends first-line treatment with aripiprazole, second- or third-line treatment with risperidone/paliperidone or olanzapine, and fourth-line treatment with clozapine. Long-acting injection of the current antipsychotic agent can be used for poor medication adherence or based on patient preference. The agitation treatment algorithm recommends first-line treatment with lorazepam and second- or third-line treatment with quetiapine or levomepromazine and clearly instructs that the medication used for agitation should be reduced and then discontinued after remission of agitation. The maintenance treatment algorithm recommends the gradual reduction of antipsychotics to the minimum effective dose after remission of positive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

We hope that our unique algorithms will be used broadly and will contribute to minimizing patients' burden related to antipsychotic treatment.

Resting-state functional connectivity predictors of treatment response in schizophrenia - A systematic review and meta-analysis

We aimed to systematically synthesize and quantify the utility of pre-treatment resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in predicting antipsychotic response in schizophrenia. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE database for studies that examined the magnitude of association between baseline rs-fMRI assessment and subsequent response to antipsychotic treatment in persons with schizophrenia. We also performed meta-analyses for quantifying the magnitude and accuracy of predicting response defined continuously and categorically. Data from 22 datasets examining 1280 individuals identified striatal and default mode network functional segregation and integration metrics as consistent determinants of treatment response. The pooled correlation coefficient for predicting improvement in total symptoms measured continuously was ~0.47 (12 datasets; 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.59). The pooled odds ratio of predicting categorically defined treatment response was 12.66 (nine datasets; 95% CI: 7.91-20.29), with 81% sensitivity and 76% specificity. rs-fMRI holds promise as a predictive biomarker of antipsychotic treatment response in schizophrenia. Future efforts need to focus on refining feature characterization to improve prediction accuracy, validate prediction models, and evaluate their implementation in clinical practice.

Antipsychotic treatment strategies for acute phase and treatment resistance in schizophrenia: A systematic review of the guidelines and algorithms

BACKGROUND

To summarize the current state of knowledge on antipsychotic treatment strategies for the acute phase and treatment resistance in schizophrenia, we conducted a systematic review of guidelines and algorithms.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify clinical guidelines and algorithms on this topic using MEDLINE and Embase. We extracted information on recommendations for antipsychotic treatment strategies, including those for non-response (i.e., increasing antipsychotic dose and switching to another antipsychotic) and treatment resistance.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 17 guidelines/algorithms in various countries that were published after 2011. With respect to antipsychotic dose, most of the guidelines (N = 10/11) agreed starting with a low dose or the lowest licensed/effective dose and then titrating the dose upwards. Regarding antipsychotic treatment strategies for non-response, all of the guidelines (N = 9/9) recommended increasing antipsychotic dose towards the upper end of its approved dose range. Five guidelines suggested for increasing beyond the therapeutic dose range in exceptional cases, while overall 10 guidelines including them were negative about such strategy. The vast majority of guidelines (N = 16/17) recommended switching to another antipsychotic for non-response; however, some guidelines mentioned the lack of evidence for these strategies other than the use of clozapine. All the guidelines (N = 17/17) endorsed initiating clozapine after failure to respond to 2 different antipsychotics. Four guidelines endorsed an early use of clozapine, yet as the third antipsychotic.

CONCLUSION

The currently available guidelines and algorithms recommended increasing antipsychotic dose and switching to another antipsychotic, particularly clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, during the acute phase of schizophrenia for non-response.

Prediction of Self-Report Cognitive Function for the Symptomatic Remission in Schizophrenia Treated with Amisulpride: a Multicenter, 8-Week Case-Control Study

This study aimed to determine whether self-report cognitive function is a predictor of symptomatic remission in amisulpride-treated schizophrenia. Patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia diagnoses who received amisulpride treatment, were recruited. Each patient received amisulpride with a flexible-dose strategy of 400-800 mg daily for eight weeks. Remission was defined by a shorter version of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale(PANSS)criteria, which includes six items (PANSS-6) with scores of less than three in each item(criteria A) or total six scores of less than fourteen(criteria B). Three hundred and three patients completed the study in 15 hospitals in China. By criteria A, 244 (80.5%) achieved symptomatic remission at endpoint, and 258 (85.1%) by criteria B. Duration of illness (DOI) (criteria A: t = 2.31, P = 0.025,criteria B:t = 2.24,p = 0.026) and perceived deficits questionnaire at baseline (PDQ20 Day0) (criteria A: t = 3.32, P = 0.001,criteria B:t = 2.76,p = 0.006) in remission groups were less than that in non-remission groups. Logistic regression analysis took into account sex, age, age-onset, DOI, and PDQ20(Day0), and showed that PDQ20(Day0) was a predictor for symptomatic remission in criteria A (B = - 0.02, P = 0.014) and criteria B (B = - 0.03, P = 0.005). The odds ratio (OR) of achieving remission will be reduced by 2% in criteria A and 3% in criteria B. There were no significant differences in gender composition, age, BMI, education level, age-onset, a daily dose of amisulpride and the percentage of PDQ20 Improvement between remission and nonremission in criteria A or criteria B. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves were found for PDQ20(Day0) to define the precise scores to predict remission of schizophrenia (criteria A:AUC = 0.614, S.E. = 0.041, 95% CI = 0.535-0.694, p = 0.007; criteria B:AUC = 0.633, S.E. = 0.045, 95% CI = 0.545-0.721, p = 0.005). Our data suggest that an early self-report cognitive function in amisulpride-treated schizophrenia is important in predicting for symptomatic remission, the fewer scores of PDQ20 at baseline mean the patients have less daily cognitive difficulty, the more likely the patient is to achieve symptomatic remission.

Comparison of aripiprazole and risperidone effectiveness in first episode non-affective psychosis: Rationale and design of a prospective, randomized, 3-phase, investigator-initiated study (PAFIP-3)

BACKGROUND

Selecting the most effective treatment represents a critical challenge with the potential of modifying the long-term prognosis of individuals suffering a first break of psychosis. Head-to-head clinical trials comparing effectiveness among antipsychotic drugs in individuals with a first-episode of non-affective psychosis (FEP) are scarce.

METHODS

The rationale and design of a 3 phases clinical trial (PAFIP-3, NCT02305823) comparing the effectiveness of aripiprazole and risperidone, and to additionally assess the benefits of an early use of clozapine in primary treatment-resistant patients is reported. The design encompasses of 5 work packages (medication algorithm, cognitive functioning, psychoeducation/vocational functioning, imaging and biological markers) addressing critical issues and needs of first episode psychosis individuals and their cares. The primary outcome measure was treatment effectiveness assessed by all-cause treatment discontinuation rate.

RESULTS

266 individuals have been included in the randomization study phase I (risperidone vs. aripiprazole). At 3 months, the retention rate was of 94% (249/266), 48(19.3%) patients have gone through phase II (olanzapine treatment), and 7(2.8%) entered the clozapine phase (phase III).

DISCUSSION

The PAFIP 3 clinical trial may provide relevant information about clinical guidelines to optimally treat patients with a first episode of non-affective psychosis and the benefits and risks of an early use of clozapine in treatment resistant patients. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02305823.

Sex differences in antipsychotic efficacy and side effects in schizophrenia spectrum disorder: results from the BeSt InTro study

Current guidelines for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disease do not take sex differences into account, which may result in inappropriate sex-specific treatment. In the BeSt InTro study, a total of 144 patients (93 men and 51 women) with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis and ongoing psychosis were included and randomized to amisulpride, aripiprazole, or olanzapine in flexible dose. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01446328). Primary outcomes were sex differences in dose, dose-corrected serum levels, efficacy, and tolerability. Dosing was higher for men than for women in the aripiprazole group (p = 0.025) and, at trend level, in the olanzapine group (p = 0.056). Dose-corrected serum levels were 71.9% higher in women than in men for amisulpride (p = 0.019) and 55.8% higher in women than in men for aripiprazole (p = 0.049). In the amisulpride group, men had a faster decrease in psychotic symptoms than women (p = 0.003). Moreover, amisulpride was more effective than the other medications in men but not in women. Prolactin levels were higher in women than in men, especially for amisulpride (p < 0.001). Also, women had higher BMI increase on amisulpride compared to the two other antipsychotics (p < 0.001). We conclude that clinicians should be aware of the risks of overdosing in women, especially for amisulpride and aripiprazole. Amisulpride is highly effective in men, but in women, amisulpride showed more severe side effects and may thus not be the drug of first choice. Our study shows that sex differences should be taken into account in future studies on antipsychotics. Future research is warranted to evaluate these preliminary results.

Study on the relationship among dose, concentration and clinical response in Chinese schizophrenic patients treated with Amisulpride

OBJECTIVE

To provide therapeutic window of amisulpride dose and serum concentration.

METHODS

194 schizophrenics were assessed with PANSS. The concentration of Amisulpride in blood was tested. And relationship with concentration was analyzed.

RESULTS

The dose of amisulpride was 100mg∼1200 mg/d(555+/-218), plasma concentration was 20∼1280 ng/mL(349+/-223) and C/D ratio was 0.07∼1.65 (0.63+/-0.34). The correlation of dose and concentration was significantly correlated (r = 0.55; P < 0.05).It was found that concentration(P < 0.001), C/D ratio(r = 0.383, P < 0.001), rather than dose (-0.042,p > 0.05) related to age significantly.It was found no differences in dose(p > 0.05), concentration (p > 0.05) and C/D ratio(p > 0.05) between male and female patients. The change ratio of positive symptom was 10 %∼90 %, negative symptom was 5∼80 %, general symptoms was 5∼90 %, PANSS was 5∼90 %.The correlation between change ratio of positive symptom, general symptom and PANSS and dose, concentration were significant(P < 0.01), but not related with the change ratio of negative symptom(p>0.05).The both dose and concentration of amisulpride were higher significantly in effective group than that in ineffective group according to change ratio of positive symptom, negative symptom, general symptom and PANSS(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The correlation of dose and concentration of amisulpride was significantly correlated. The recommended range 457∼637 ng/mL was suggested as average therapeutic window.