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Martínez-Cao C, García-Fernández A, González-Blanco L, Sáiz PA, Bobes J, García-Portilla MP. Anticholinergic load: A commonly neglected and preventable risk to cognition during schizophrenia treatment? Schizophr Res Cogn 2024; 37:100317. [PMID: 38745931 PMCID: PMC11092394 DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2024.100317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Cognitive impairment is a widespread feature of schizophrenia, affecting nearly 80 % of patients. Prior research has linked the anticholinergic burden of psychiatric medications to these cognitive deficits. However, the impact of the anticholinergic burden from medications for physical morbidity remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the anticholinergic burden of psychiatric and physical medications in patients with schizophrenia and assess its impact on cognitive function. Methods A total of 178 patients with schizophrenia were recruited. The assessments included an ad hoc questionnaire for collecting demographic and clinical data. Anticholinergic burden was evaluated using the cumulative Drug Burden Index (cDBI) for each participant, and cognitive function was assessed using MATRICS. Psychopathology was measured using the PANSS, CDSS, CAINS, and the CGI-S. Statistical analysis included Student's t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressions. Results The average cDBI was 1.3 (SD = 0.9). The model developed explained 40.80 % of the variance. The variable with the greatest weight was the cDBI (B = -11.148, p = 0.010). Negative-expression (B = -2.740, p = 0.011) and negative-experiential (B = -1.175, p = 0.030) symptoms were also associated with lower global cognitive score. However, more years of education (B = 5.140, p < 0.001) and cigarettes per day (B = 1.331, p < 0.001) predicted a better global cognitive score. Conclusion This study identified specific predictors of global cognition in schizophrenia, with anticholinergic burden emerging as the strongest factor. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the anticholinergic burden of treatments, in addition to negative symptoms, when designing interventions to optimize or maintain cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Martínez-Cao
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Ainoa García-Fernández
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
| | - Leticia González-Blanco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Pilar A. Sáiz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Julio Bobes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - María Paz García-Portilla
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain
- University Institute of Neurosciences of the Principality of Asturias (INEUROPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Health Service of the Principality of Asturias (SESPA), Oviedo, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain
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Fond G, Falissard B, Nuss P, Collin C, Duret S, Rabbani M, De Chefdebien I, Tonelli I, Llorca PM, Boyer L. How can we improve the care of patients with schizophrenia in the real-world? A population-based cohort study of 456,003 patients. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:5328-5336. [PMID: 37479782 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02154-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
An important step to improve outcomes for patients with schizophrenia is to understand treatment patterns in routine practice. The aim of the current study was to describe the long-term management of patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics (APs) in real-world practice. This population-based study included adults with schizophrenia and who had received ≥3 deliveries of an AP from 2012-2017, identified using a National Health Data System. Primary endpoints were real-life prescription patterns, patient characteristics, healthcare utilization, comorbidities and mortality. Of the 456,003 patients included, 96% received oral APs, 17.5% first-generation long-acting injectable APs (LAIs), and 16.1% second generation LAIs. Persistence rates at 24 months after treatment initiation were 23.9% (oral APs), 11.5% (first-generation LAIs) and 20.8% (second-generation LAIs). Median persistence of oral APs, first-generation LAIs and second-generation LAIs was 5.0, 3.3, and 6.1 months, respectively. Overall, 62.1% of patients were administered anxiolytics, 45.7% antidepressants and 28.5% anticonvulsants, these treatments being more frequently prescribed in women and patients aged ≥50 years. Dyslipidemia was the most frequent metabolic comorbidity (16.2%) but lipid monitoring was insufficient (median of one occasion). Metabolic comorbidities were more frequent in women. Standardized patient mortality remained consistently high between 2013 and 2015 (3.3-3.7 times higher than the general French population) with a loss of life expectancy of 17 years for men and 8 years for women. Cancer (20.2%) and cardiovascular diseases (17.2%) were the main causes of mortality, and suicide was responsible for 25.4% of deaths among 18-34-year-olds. These results highlight future priorities for care of schizophrenia patients. The global persistence of APs used in this population was low, whereas rates of psychiatric hospitalization remain high. More focus on specific populations is needed, such as patients aged >50 years to prevent metabolic disturbances and 18-34-year-olds to reduce suicide rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Fond
- Centre for Studies and Research on Health Services and Quality of Life (CEReSS), AP-HM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.
| | - Bruno Falissard
- Universite Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, Developmental Psychiatry, CESP, Villejuif, France
| | - Philippe Nuss
- AP-HP, Service de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Laurent Boyer
- Centre for Studies and Research on Health Services and Quality of Life (CEReSS), AP-HM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
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Puranen A, Koponen M, Lähteenvuo M, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Taipale H. Real-world effectiveness of antidepressant use in persons with schizophrenia: within-individual study of 61,889 subjects. SCHIZOPHRENIA (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 9:34. [PMID: 37236980 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-023-00364-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the real-world effectiveness of antidepressant use in persons with schizophrenia. The register-based study cohort included all 61,889 persons treated in inpatient care due to schizophrenia during 1972-2014 in Finland. The main outcome was hospitalization due to psychosis and secondary outcomes included non-psychiatric hospitalization and all-cause mortality. We used within-individual design to compare the risk of hospitalization-based outcomes during the time periods of antidepressant use to antidepressant non-use periods within the same person, and traditional between-individual Cox models for mortality. The risk of psychosis hospitalization was lower during antidepressant use as compared to non-use (adjusted Hazard Ratio, aHR, 0.93, 95% CI 0.92-0.95). Antidepressants were associated with a decreased risk of mortality (aHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76-0.85) and a slightly increased risk of non-psychiatric hospitalization (aHR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.06). In conclusion, these results indicate that antidepressants might be useful and relatively safe to use in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arto Puranen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Marjaana Koponen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Markku Lähteenvuo
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Heidi Taipale
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm City Council, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract
Mirtazapine has often been prescribed as add-on treatment for schizophrenia in patients with suboptimal response to conventional treatments. In this review, we evaluate the existing evidence for efficacy and effectiveness of add-on mirtazapine in schizophrenia and reappraise the practical and theoretical aspects of mirtazapine-antipsychotic combinations. In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), mirtazapine demonstrated favourable effects on negative and cognitive (although plausibly not depressive) symptoms, with no risk of psychotic exacerbation. Mirtazapine also may have a desirable effect on antipsychotic-induced sexual dysfunction, but seems not to alleviate extrapyramidal symptoms, at least if combined with second-generation antipsychotics. It is noteworthy that all published RCTs have been underpowered and relatively short in duration. In the only large pragmatic effectiveness study that provided analyses by add-on antidepressant, only mirtazapine was associated with both decreased rate of hospital admissions and number of in-patient days. Mirtazapine hardly affects the pharmacokinetics of antipsychotics. However, possible pharmacodynamic interactions (sedation and metabolic offence) should be borne in mind. The observed desired clinical effects of mirtazapine may be due to its specific receptor-blocking properties. Alternative theoretical explanations include its possible neuroprotective effect. Further well-designed RCTs and real-world effectiveness studies are needed to determine whether add-on mirtazapine should be recommended for difficult-to-treat schizophrenia.
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Verdoux H, Quiles C, Bon L, Chéreau-Boudet I, Dubreucq J, Fiegi L, Guillard-Bouhet N, Massoubre C, Plasse J, Franck N. Impact of anticholinergic load on functioning and cognitive performances of persons with psychosis referred to psychosocial rehabilitation centers. Psychol Med 2021; 51:2789-2797. [PMID: 32441236 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291720001403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have explored whether high-anticholinergic load may hamper rehabilitation in persons with schizophrenia. We aim to explore the associations between anticholinergic load of psychotropic treatment and functioning or cognitive performances of persons with psychosis engaged in psychosocial rehabilitation. METHODS The study was performed using data collected at baseline assessment in the REHABase cohort including persons referred to a French network of psychosocial rehabilitation centers. The composite-rating scale developed by Salahudeen et al. was used to rate the anticholinergic load of psychotropic drugs prescribed at baseline assessment. The associations between total anticholinergic load score (categorized as 'low' <3 v. 'high' ⩾3) and functioning or cognitive characteristics were explored using multivariate analyses. RESULTS Of the 1012 participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders identified in the REHABase, half used at least two psychotropic drugs with anticholinergic activity and one out of three was prescribed at least one psychotropic drug with high-anticholinergic activity. High-anticholinergic load was significantly associated with lower stage of recovery [odds ratio (OR) = 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.76, p = 0.03], poor mental well-being (OR = 1.55, 95% CI 1.02-2.33, p = 0.04) and poor self-rated medication adherence (OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.29-3.53, p = 0.003). Regarding cognition, a high-anticholinergic score was associated with poorer delayed-episodic memory (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.01-2.85, p = 0.05) and at the trend level with faster completion time on the test exploring executive performance (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.43-1.04, p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS The psychosocial rehabilitation plan of persons with psychosis should integrate optimization of psychotropic treatment in order to lessen the functional and cognitive impact of high-anticholinergic load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Verdoux
- Univ. Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team Pharmacoepidemiology, UMR 1219, F-33000Bordeaux, France
- Centre Référent de Réhabilitation Psychosociale (C2RP), Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, F-33000Bordeaux, France
| | - Clélia Quiles
- Centre Référent de Réhabilitation Psychosociale (C2RP), Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens, F-33000Bordeaux, France
| | - Laura Bon
- Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale et de Remédiation Cognitive (CRR), Hôpital Le Vinatier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) et Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Isabelle Chéreau-Boudet
- Centre Référent Conjoint de Réhabilitation (CRCR), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julien Dubreucq
- Centre Référent de Réhabilitation Psychosociale et de Remédiation Cognitive (C3R), Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère/Réseau Handicap Psychique, St Martin d'Hères; ReHPSY, Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère, Grenoble, France
| | - Lucia Fiegi
- CREATIV & URC Pierre Deniker, Centre Hospitalier Laborit, Poitiers, France
| | | | - Catherine Massoubre
- REHALise, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Julien Plasse
- Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale et de Remédiation Cognitive (CRR), Hôpital Le Vinatier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) et Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Nicolas Franck
- Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation Psychosociale et de Remédiation Cognitive (CRR), Hôpital Le Vinatier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) et Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
- Centre Référent Lyonnais de Réhabilitation Psychosociale (CL3R), Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier, Lyon, France
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Kim S, Kim S, Choe AY, Kim E. Associations of Clozapine Use With Psychosocial Functioning and Quality of Life in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study. Psychiatry Investig 2021; 18:968-976. [PMID: 34619819 PMCID: PMC8542747 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2021.0190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE More attempts have been made recently to improve psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia, due to their crucial role in long-term outcomes. Previous studies on the effects of clozapine on psychosocial functioning have been limited in terms of generalizability and application to clinical practice. This study examined the relationship of clozapine use with psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia in a real-world setting. METHODS Data were obtained from a survey targeting community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia. The Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were administered to evaluate psychosocial functioning and quality of life, and patients were classified into Clozapine and Non-clozapine groups. Group differences were assessed using ANCOVA, with additional sensitivity analyses for participants on atypical antipsychotic medications only. RESULTS Of 292 patients, the Clozapine group (n=34) had significantly better psychosocial functioning and quality of life than the Nonclozapine group (n=258), as demonstrated by their low BASIS score (F=4.651, df=1, 290, p=0.032) and high SWLS score (F=14.637, df=1, 290, p<0.001). Similar findings for psychosocial outcomes were observed in the analyses of the atypical antipsychotic subgroup (n=195). CONCLUSION For optimal recovery in schizophrenia, restoration of impaired social functioning and enhanced satisfaction with life are essential. In this study, clozapine use was related to high levels of psychosocial functioning and quality of life in real-world settings. Further research on the causal relationship between clozapine use and psychosocial functioning is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoyoung Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ah Young Choe
- Seongnam Community Mental Health Welfare Center, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Euitae Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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7
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Eum S, Hill SK, Alliey-Rodriguez N, Stevenson JM, Rubin LH, Lee AM, Mills LJ, Reilly JL, Lencer R, Keedy SK, Ivleva E, Keefe RSE, Pearlson GD, Clementz BA, Tamminga CA, Keshavan MS, Gershon ES, Sweeney JA, Bishop JR. Genome-wide association study accounting for anticholinergic burden to examine cognitive dysfunction in psychotic disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1802-1810. [PMID: 34145405 PMCID: PMC8358015 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01057-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Identifying genetic contributors to cognitive impairments in psychosis-spectrum disorders can advance understanding of disease pathophysiology. Although CNS medications are known to affect cognitive performance, they are often not accounted for in genetic association studies. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of global cognitive performance, measured as composite z-scores from the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), in persons with psychotic disorders and controls (N = 817; 682 cases and 135 controls) from the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP) study. Analyses accounting for anticholinergic exposures from both psychiatric and non-psychiatric medications revealed five significantly associated variants located at the chromosome 3p21.1 locus, with the top SNP rs1076425 in the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 1 (ITIH1) gene (P = 3.25×E-9). The inclusion of anticholinergic burden improved association models (P < 0.001) and the number of significant SNPs identified. The effect sizes and direction of effect of the top variants remained consistent when investigating findings within individuals receiving specific antipsychotic drugs and after accounting for antipsychotic dose. These associations were replicated in a separate study sample of untreated first-episode psychosis. The chromosome 3p21.1 locus was previously reported to have association with the risk for psychotic disorders and cognitive performance in healthy individuals. Our findings suggest that this region may be a psychosis risk locus that is associated with cognitive mechanisms. Our data highlight the general point that the inclusion of medication exposure information may improve the detection of gene-cognition associations in psychiatric genetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seenae Eum
- grid.412555.20000 0001 0511 4494Department of Pharmacogenomics, Shenandoah University, Fairfax, VA USA
| | - S. Kristian Hill
- grid.262641.50000 0004 0388 7807Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL USA
| | - Ney Alliey-Rodriguez
- grid.170205.10000 0004 1936 7822Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - James M. Stevenson
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Leah H. Rubin
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Adam M. Lee
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Lauren J. Mills
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - James L. Reilly
- grid.16753.360000 0001 2299 3507Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Rebekka Lencer
- grid.5949.10000 0001 2172 9288Institute of Translational Psychiatry and Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany ,grid.4562.50000 0001 0057 2672Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Sarah K. Keedy
- grid.170205.10000 0004 1936 7822Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Elena Ivleva
- grid.267313.20000 0000 9482 7121Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Richard S. E. Keefe
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC USA
| | - Godfrey D. Pearlson
- grid.277313.30000 0001 0626 2712Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Olin Center, Institute of Living, Hartford Healthcare, Hartford, CT USA
| | - Brett A. Clementz
- grid.213876.90000 0004 1936 738XDepartment of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA USA
| | - Carol A. Tamminga
- grid.267313.20000 0000 9482 7121Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Matcheri S. Keshavan
- grid.239395.70000 0000 9011 8547Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA USA ,grid.38142.3c000000041936754XDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Elliot S. Gershon
- grid.170205.10000 0004 1936 7822Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | - John A. Sweeney
- grid.413561.40000 0000 9881 9161Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Jeffrey R. Bishop
- grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA ,grid.17635.360000000419368657Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review was to summarize the recent literature on the clinical symptoms, functioning, outcomes and treatments for older adults with chronic schizophrenia. RECENT FINDINGS The number and proportion of older adults with schizophrenia is rapidly increasing. Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder and older adults with schizophrenia display significant variability in symptom severity, quality of life and overall outcomes. Many achieve stable disease remission, some display persistent nonremission and others experience fluctuating symptoms. Depression is commonly reported, and although rates of suicide are higher when compared with age-matched peers, the excess mortality seen in this population is mainly attributed to natural causes of death. Cognitive decline and reduced illness awareness have important implications for functional status and quality of life. Antipsychotics remain essential in the treatment regimen, although elderly patients with chronic disease may be good candidates for gradual dose reduction. Interdisciplinary treatment approaches as well as nonpharmacologic psychosocial interventions play a critical adjunctive role in the treatment of older adults with schizophrenia. SUMMARY Research focusing on schizophrenia in late life is sparse. Too often, older patients are eliminated from research studies or averaged in with all age groups. Thus, there continues to be gaps in our understanding of modifiable predictors of remission and recovery, and the most efficacious and safest treatment approaches for this age group.
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Abramovitch A, Short T, Schweiger A. The C Factor: Cognitive dysfunction as a transdiagnostic dimension in psychopathology. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 86:102007. [PMID: 33864968 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Research into cognitive functions across psychological disorders suggests that cognitive deficiencies may be present across multiple disorders, potentially pointing to a transdiagnostic phenomenon. More recently, a single dimension model of psychopathology, the p factor, has been proposed, in which cognitive deficits are thought to be an intrinsic construct, assumed to be transdiagnostic. However, no systematic investigation to date tested this hypothesis. The aim of the present study was to systematically review meta-analyses to assess the hypothesis that the C factor (cognitive dysfunction) is transdiagnostic in psychopathology and review potential moderators that may account for such a phenomenon. We conducted a systematic review of meta-analyses examining cognitive function across all disorders for which data were available. Included meta-analyses (n = 82), comprising 97 clinical samples, yielded 1,055 effect sizes. Twelve major disorders/categories (e.g., bipolar disorder, substance use disorders) were included, comprising 29 distinct clinical entities (e.g., euthymic bipolar disorder; alcohol use disorder). Results show that all disorders reviewed are associated with underperformance across cognitive domains, supporting the hypothesis that the C factor (or cognitive dysfunction) is a transdiagnostic factor related to p. To examine moderators that may explain or contribute to c, we first consider important interpretative limitations of neuropsychological data in psychopathology. More crucially, we review oft-neglected motivational and emotional transdiagnostic constructs of p, as prominent contributing constructs to the C factor. These constructs are offered as a roadmap for future research examining these constructs related to p, that contribute, and may account for cognitive dysfunctions in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tatiana Short
- Department of Psychology, Texas State University, USA
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Nikolić N, Hill K, Campbell E, Wickramasinghe V, Whale R. Early access to clozapine in Early Intervention in Psychosis: Hope vs reality. A mixed method service analysis. Early Interv Psychiatry 2021; 15:193-200. [PMID: 32281741 DOI: 10.1111/eip.12962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM Improving access to clozapine is a recognized priority nationally across Early Intervention in Psychosis Services (EIPS) in the UK. Treatment resistance (TR) may be identifiable from early episode psychosis and appears to be characterized by negative symptoms and younger age of onset. This mixed method cross-sectional snapshot analysis of antipsychotic (AP) prescribing in an EIPS, explored clozapine eligibility (CE) and prioritization of AP prescribing based on choice, selectivity and appropriateness. METHOD We screened 150 service users and 79% (n = 119) were retained after inclusion criteria were applied. We explored CE in all service users who were indicated clozapine based on the product licence (n = 78), and whether there was association between CE and number of hospital admissions, AP trials, age at first episode and duration of untreated psychosis. RESULTS Following multidisciplinary clinical discussions, we found that 23 service users were CE; 8 were offered and declined clozapine. When compared to non-CE service users, significant factors associated with CE were history of two or more hospital admissions (Mann-Whitney U = 269, P = .008), more than two trials of two different APs (Mann-Whitney U = 517, P ≤ .01), and younger age first episode (independent-samples t-test, P = .047). A total of 47.5% of all service users had been started on olanzapine as their first AP, despite high risk of cardiometabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION We propose that EIP services adopt a proactive approach in screening for TR, taking into account negative symptoms and young age at onset, prioritizing service users with two or more hospital admissions and AP trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Nikolić
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK.,Early Intervention in Psychosis Programme, NHS South East England, Horley, UK
| | - Katherine Hill
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK.,Department of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Emogen Campbell
- Department of Research and Development, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, UK
| | - Vijitha Wickramasinghe
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hailsham, UK
| | - Richard Whale
- Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK.,Department of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
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11
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Hattab S, Qasarweh L, Ahmaro M, Atatre Y, Tayem Y, Ali M, Jahrami H. Prescribing patterns of psychotropic medications in psychiatric disorders: a descriptive study from Palestine. Int J Clin Pharm 2021; 43:1101-1108. [PMID: 33411103 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-020-01223-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background The practice patterns of psychiatrists have changed over the last two decades. Objectives This study describes the pattern of prescribing psychotropic drugs in treating common psychiatric disorders, and investigates the rate of polypharmacy and potential drug-drug interactions. Setting Psychiatry governmental outpatient clinic in the north of West Bank, Palestine. Methods Cross-sectional study that included all prescriptions which were issued over the period October 2018 to January 2019, for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorders, and checked for the presence and the grade of potential drug-drug interactions using "Medscape drug interactions checker". Main outcome measure Prescribing patterns of psychotropic drugs. Results A total of 1045 prescriptions were examined. The mean age of the patients was 47.3 years (SD = 13.6), two-thirds of the patients (64.5%) were males. Fifty-two percent of the patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia while 15.2% were diagnosed with depression. The later third was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective and anxiety disorders (15.8%, 11.1% and 5.1% respectively). The most commonly prescribed drugs were typical antipsychotics for schizophrenia, bipolar and schizoaffective disorders, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for depression and tricyclic anti-depressants for anxiety. Polypharmacy was found in 877 prescriptions (84%), and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) were identified in 823 (94%) prescriptions. The DDIs were classified as minor (4, 0.5%), significant (418, 50.8%) and serious (401, 48.7%). Conclusions Our results suggest that the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric disorders in Palestine may not be in accordance to international guidelines and the incidence of polypharmacy and DDIs is high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhaib Hattab
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| | - Layth Qasarweh
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Malek Ahmaro
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Yazid Atatre
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Yasin Tayem
- College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Mazen Ali
- College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Haitham Jahrami
- College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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12
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Zito JM, Zhu Y, Safer DJ. Psychotropic Polypharmacy in the US Pediatric Population: A Methodologic Critique and Commentary. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:644741. [PMID: 34194346 PMCID: PMC8236612 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.644741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Psychotropic concomitant medication use for the treatment of youth with emotional and behavioral disorders has grown significantly in the U.S. over the past 25 years. The use of pharmacy claims to analyze these trends requires the following: age of the selected population, overlapping days of use, and precision of the outcome itself. This review will also address the gaps in reporting of pediatric psychotropic polypharmacy. Methods: An electronic literature search was undertaken for the period 2000 through 2020 using keywords such as "pediatric," "concomitant," "polypharmacy," "multiple medications," and "concurrent psychotropic"; Relevant references in textbooks were also used. Only English language and U.S. studies were included, resulting in 35 inter-class studies. Results: Studies were organized into seven groups according to data sources and clinical topics: (1) population surveys; (2a) multi-state publicly insured populations; (2b) single/two state studies; (3) privately insured populations; (4) diagnosed populations; (5) foster care populations; (6) special settings. Across 20 years it is apparent that pediatric psychotropic polypharmacy affects substantially more children and adolescents today than had been the case. As many as 300,000 youth now receive 3 or more classes concomitantly. The duration of concomitant use is relatively long, e.g., 69-89% of annual medicated days. Finally, more adverse event reports were associated with 3-class compared with 2-class drug regimens. Discussion: Factors that contribute to the growth of pediatric psychotropic polypharmacy include: (1) predominance of the biological model in psychiatric practice; (2) invalid assumptions on efficacy of combinations, (3) limited professional awareness of metabolic and neurological adverse drug events, and (4) infrequent use of appropriate deprescribing. Conclusion: A review of publications documenting U.S. pediatric psychotropic polypharmacy written over the last 20 years supports the need to standardize the methodologies used. The design of population-based studies should maximize information on the number of youth receiving regimens of 3-, 4-, and 5 or more concomitant classes and the duration of such use. Next, far more post-marketing research is needed to address the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of complex drug regimens prescribed for youngsters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Zito
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yue Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Daniel J Safer
- Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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13
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Georgiou R, Lamnisos D, Giannakou K. Anticholinergic Burden and Cognitive Performance in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Systematic Literature Review. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:779607. [PMID: 35027893 PMCID: PMC8748260 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.779607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia forms the key cause of the disease's disability, leading to serious functional, and socioeconomic implications. Dopaminergic-cholinergic balance is considered essential to cognitive performance in schizophrenia and patients are often treated with many drugs with anticholinergic properties. This study aims to examine the cognitive impact of anticholinergic burden in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed on English-language studies published on PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, from inception to June 2021, to identify research studies that examined the effect of anticholinergic load on cognition in clinically stable patients with schizophrenia. No restrictions on study design, age of participants, or geographical distribution were applied. Two researchers performed independently the screening and shortlisting of the eligible articles. A narrative synthesis of the main characteristics and findings of studies included was reported. Results: In total, 17 articles of varying methodological design met the inclusion criteria. Three of them found statistically significant improvement in cognition after anticholinergic tapering without adverse effects. Thirteen studies found a statistically significant association between high anticholinergic burden and cognitive impairment (neurocognitive composite scores and individual cognitive domains such as learning and memory, executive function, processing speed), apart from a study, related to the specific characteristics of clozapine. Conclusions: Medication with increased anticholinergic load has been found in most of the studies to negatively affect neurocognitive performance of patients with schizophrenia. However, the clinical and methodological heterogeneity of studies included limit our interpretation and conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaella Georgiou
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Demetris Lamnisos
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Konstantinos Giannakou
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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14
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Abdullah HM, Azeb Shahul H, Hwang MY, Ferrando S. Comorbidity in Schizophrenia: Conceptual Issues and Clinical Management. FOCUS: JOURNAL OF LIFE LONG LEARNING IN PSYCHIATRY 2020; 18:386-390. [PMID: 33343250 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20200026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder that affects cognitive, perceptual, and emotional functioning. The currently available evidence suggests heterogenous intertwining of biological and psychosocial etio-pathogeneses. Clinical and research interests in the comorbidity issues of schizophrenia were borne out of the real-world clinical challenges that patients often present with multiple coexisting psychopathologies as well as comorbid medical conditions. The recent DSM-5 shift toward a symptom dimensional-based perspective, the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative to examine biopsychosocial pathogeneses in mental illness, and the FDA's emphasis on real world-based clinical trial criterion all have promoted a shift in clinical research that has facilitated understanding and treatment of comorbidity in schizophrenia. This emerging conceptual shift as well as pharmacological developments that address the multidimensional pathogeneses in schizophrenia may pave the way for a better understanding and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussain Muhammad Abdullah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Center, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York (Abdullah, Hwang, Ferrando); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Azeb Shahul); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Health Alliance Hospital, Kingston, New York (Hwang)
| | - Hameed Azeb Shahul
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Center, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York (Abdullah, Hwang, Ferrando); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Azeb Shahul); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Health Alliance Hospital, Kingston, New York (Hwang)
| | - Michael Y Hwang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Center, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York (Abdullah, Hwang, Ferrando); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Azeb Shahul); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Health Alliance Hospital, Kingston, New York (Hwang)
| | - Stephen Ferrando
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Behavioral Health Center, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, New York (Abdullah, Hwang, Ferrando); Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut (Azeb Shahul); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Health Alliance Hospital, Kingston, New York (Hwang)
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15
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Yasui-Furukori N, Shimoda K. Recent trends in antipsychotic polypharmacy in the treatment of schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2020; 40:208-210. [PMID: 32672006 PMCID: PMC7722682 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Ichihashi et al reported that 43% of patients had antipsychotic polypharmacy. Number of antipsychotics used in patients with schizophrenia in Japan was the greatest among Asian countries. However, the antipsychotic polypharmacy rate in Japan decreased gradually. Recent systematic review, meta‐analysis and meta‐regression analysis demonstrated that antipsychotic augmentation was superior to monotherapy. However, several cohort studies have suggested a significant association between antipsychotic daily dose and mortality. In addition, most pharmacokinetic interactions with antipsychotics occur at the metabolic level and usually involve changes in the activity of the major drug‐metabolizing enzymes involved in their biotransformation. Thus, avoidance of unnecessary polypharmacy, knowledge of the interaction profiles of individual agents, and careful individualization of dosage based on close evaluation of clinical response and possibly plasma drug concentrations are essential to prevent and minimize potentially adverse drug interactions in patients receiving antipsychotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norio Yasui-Furukori
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Shimoda
- Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Mibu, Japan
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16
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Wheeler AJ, Hu J, Profitt C, McMillan SS, Theodoros T. Is higher psychotropic medication burden associated with involuntary treatment under the Mental Health Act? A four-year Australian cohort study. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:294. [PMID: 32527250 PMCID: PMC7291489 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02661-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Involuntary treatment for individuals who lack sufficient capacity to make informed decisions regarding treatment has been associated with increased rates of injectable antipsychotics, antipsychotic polytherapy, and/or high doses. However, little is known about non-antipsychotic psychotropic prescription, or psychotropic medication burden as a more encompassing approach for people treated involuntarily. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Mental Health Act (MHA) status and psychotropic polypharmacy and/or high-dose medication prescribing practices in an Australian inpatient mental health unit. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of 800 adults discharged from a large metropolitan Queensland mental health unit was undertaken. Data was collected for 200 individuals, discharged on at least one psychotropic medicine, at four time periods; Cohort 1 (on or before 31st January 2014), Cohort 2 (2015), Cohort 3 (2016) and Cohort 4 (2017). The number of prescribed medicines and total daily doses were recorded and reviewed for alignment with current clinical guidelines. Participant demographics and clinical characteristics were compared by individual MHA status using chi-square test for categorical variables and analysis of variance for continuous variables. Associations between MHA status and prescribing practices (psychotropic polypharmacy and/or high-dose prescribing) were assessed using bivariate and multivariate binomial logistic regression models. Age, gender, birth country, year of admission, admissions in previous 12 months, primary diagnosis, ECT/clozapine treatment, and other psychotropic medications were adjusted as covariates. RESULTS Regression analysis found that compared to their voluntary counterparts, individuals treated involuntarily were 2.7 times more likely to be prescribed an antipsychotic at discharge, 8.8 times more likely to be prescribed more than one antipsychotic at discharge and 1.65 times more likely to be prescribed high-dose antipsychotic treatment at discharge. The adjusted model also found that they were half as likely to be prescribed an antidepressant at discharge. CONCLUSION Implicit review of justifications for increased psychotropic medication burden (antipsychotic polypharmacy and high-doses) in those treated involuntarily is required to ensure clinical outcomes and overall quality of life are improved in this vulnerable group. Clearly documented medication histories, reconciliation at discharge and directions for medication management after discharge are necessary to ensure quality use of medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Wheeler
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Auckland University, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Jie Hu
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Caitlin Profitt
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sara S McMillan
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Theo Theodoros
- University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine; Metro South Mental Health Services, Brisbane, Australia
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17
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Benzodiazepine use among older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder: prevalence and associated factors in a multicenter study. Int Psychogeriatr 2020; 32:441-451. [PMID: 31062670 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610219000358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Data on psychotropic medications of older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder are scarce. Specifically, information about the use of benzodiazepines among older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder is very limited. Because benzodiazepine use in older patients has been associated with many disabling side effects, its use in actual practice must be described and questioned. This study aimed at exploring the prevalence of benzodiazepine use and the clinical factors associated with such use among older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. METHODS/DESIGN Data from the Cohort of individuals with Schizophrenia Aged 55 years or more (CSA) were used to examine the prevalence of benzodiazepine use among older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with benzodiazepine prescription were also explored. RESULTS The prevalence of benzodiazepine use was 29.8% of older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. These patients were significantly more likely to have medical comorbidities, cognitive and social functioning impairments, to report a lifetime history of suicide attempt, to be institutionalized, and to have been hospitalized in a psychiatric service in the past year compared to those without a benzodiazepine prescription (all p<0.05). There were no between-group differences in schizophrenia severity and psychiatric comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS Although it can be hypothesized that benzodiazepine prescription is part of a short-term therapeutic strategy toward patients with more severe trouble or comorbid disorders, our results suggest a strong link between benzodiazepine prescription and a particularly vulnerable subpopulation of older patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
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18
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de la Iglesia-Larrad JI, Barral C, Casado-Espada NM, de Alarcón R, Maciá-Casas A, Vicente Hernandez B, Roncero C. Benzodiazepine abuse, misuse, dependence, and withdrawal among schizophrenic patients: A review of the literature. Psychiatry Res 2020; 284:112660. [PMID: 31757643 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia are at least three times more likely to develop a substance use disorder than controls. These patients are frequently prescribed benzodiacepines as a coadjuvant drug, which have a high potential for addiction. We performed a literature review aiming to gather evidence on various topics concerning the use of benzodiacepines in schizophrenia, with a focus on possible abuse: 1) Prevalence of prescripted and non-prescripted benzodiacepine use among patients, 2) Prevalence of abusers, 3) Effects of long-term benzodiacepine abuse in schizophrenia prognosis, 4) Possible management strategies for benzodiacepine abuse in this population. Our search revealed there is a high variability (up to 20%) in benzodiacepine abuse among patients, with cannabis and stimulants being more frequent, and no clear demographic traits have been identified among these patients. Patients with affective symptoms are more likely to abuse benzodiazepines. Its long-term effects on prognosis have been debated, with some papers hinting at a higher mortality rate. Tapering benzodiacepines has been associated with an improvement in some cognitive functions. Management strategies for potential abuse do not differ greatly for this population, and no specific pharmacological aid can be indicated, but an integral approach is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier I de la Iglesia-Larrad
- University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain; University of Salamanca, Institute of Biomedicine of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carmen Barral
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Department of Psychiatry, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerea M Casado-Espada
- University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain; University of Salamanca, Institute of Biomedicine of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rubén de Alarcón
- University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain; University of Salamanca, Institute of Biomedicine of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ana Maciá-Casas
- University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Carlos Roncero
- University of Salamanca Healthcare Complex, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain; University of Salamanca, Institute of Biomedicine of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; University of Salamanca, Department of Psychiatry, Salamanca, Spain.
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19
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Use of antidepressants and mood stabilizers in persons with first-episode schizophrenia. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 76:711-718. [DOI: 10.1007/s00228-020-02830-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Antipsychotics are first-line treatment of schizophrenia. They are often accompanied by adjunctive treatments, such as antidepressant (AD) or mood stabilizer (MS), although there is only limited information of their use in first-episode schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate AD and MS initiation and factors associated with initiation in persons with first-episode schizophrenia.
Methods
Register-based data was utilized to identify persons who received inpatient care due to schizophrenia during 1996–2014 in Finland and who did not use AD or MS at the time of first inpatient care diagnosis of schizophrenia (N = 7667, mean age 40.2, SD 18.2). Drug purchase data (1995–2017) was obtained from the National Prescription register and modelled with PRE2DUP method. Initiations of AD and MS use were followed up 3 years from first schizophrenia diagnoses. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate factors associated with AD or MS initiation.
Results
Among persons with first-episode schizophrenia, 35.4% initiated AD and 14.1% initiated MS use within three years from diagnoses. Female gender, younger age, and benzodiazepine use were associated with higher risk of AD and MS initiation. The number of previous psychoses was associated with decreased risk of AD and increased risk of MS initiation.
Conclusion
Clinical guidelines rarely recommend the use of AD or MS as adjunctive treatment in persons with schizophrenia. However, this population is often treated with AD or MS. More studies are needed to evaluate benefits and risks of these medications as adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia.
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20
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Lockery JE, Rigby J, Collyer TA, Stewart AC, Woods RL, McNeil JJ, Reid CM, Ernst ME. Optimising medication data collection in a large-scale clinical trial. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226868. [PMID: 31881040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pharmaceuticals play an important role in clinical care. However, in community-based research, medication data are commonly collected as unstructured free-text, which is prohibitively expensive to code for large-scale studies. The ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study developed a two-pronged framework to collect structured medication data for 19,114 individuals. ASPREE provides an opportunity to determine whether medication data can be cost-effectively collected and coded, en masse from the community using this framework. METHODS The ASPREE framework of type-to-search box with automated coding and linked free text entry was compared to traditional method of free-text only collection and post hoc coding. Reported medications were classified according to their method of collection and analysed by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) group. Relative cost of collecting medications was determined by calculating the time required for database set up and medication coding. RESULTS Overall, 122,910 participant structured medication reports were entered using the type-to-search box and 5,983 were entered as free-text. Free-text data contributed 211 unique medications not present in the type-to-search box. Spelling errors and unnecessary provision of additional information were among the top reasons why medications were reported as free-text. The cost per medication using the ASPREE method was approximately USD $0.03 compared with USD $0.20 per medication for the traditional method. CONCLUSION Implementation of this two-pronged framework is a cost-effective alternative to free-text only data collection in community-based research. Higher initial set-up costs of this combined method are justified by long term cost effectiveness and the scientific potential for analysis and discovery gained through collection of detailed, structured medication data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Lockery
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jason Rigby
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Taya A Collyer
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ashley C Stewart
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robyn L Woods
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - John J McNeil
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher M Reid
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Michael E Ernst
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy and Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
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21
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Kim SJ, Jung D, Shim JC, Moon JJ, Jeon DW, Kim YN, Seo YS, Jung SS, Seo BJ, Kim JE. The effect of anticholinergic burden on cognitive and daily living functions in patients with schizophrenia. Asian J Psychiatr 2019; 46:111-117. [PMID: 31654923 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the association between medication-associated anticholinergic burden and cognitive and daily living functions in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS Sixty patients with schizophrenia were recruited. We used the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS) for evaluating medication-associated anticholinergic burden. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) and the University of California San Diego Performance-based Skills Assessment (UPSA) were used for evaluating cognitive and daily living functions. To assess clinical symptoms, psychiatrists conducted interviews using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. RESULTS Subjects were divided into low (n = 31) and high (n = 29) anticholinergic burden based on ADS scores of 3 or more. The "high ADS" group had poorer cognitive (composite MCCB score, p < 0.001) and daily living functions (total UPSA score, p = 0.001) than the "low ADS" group. Medication-associated anticholinergic burden was negatively correlated with cognitive functions (composite MCCB score, r = -0.512, p < 0.001) and daily living functions (total UPSA score, r = -0.355, p = 0.005). A regression analysis showed that anticholinergic burden significantly explained the decline in cognitive functions (composite MCCB score, R2 = 0.262, p < 0.001) and daily living functions (total UPSA score, R2 = 0.126, p = 0.005). Explanatory power was reduced after a covariate adjustment, but the effects of the composite MCCB score (p = 0.013) and of the transportation domain score of the UPSA (p = 0.048) remained significant. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis shows that anticholinergic burden reduces cognitive and daily living functions in patients with schizophrenia. A drug strategy with minimal anticholinergic burden may be helpful to patients if it does not adversely affect clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Doun Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
| | - Joo-Cheol Shim
- Shim Joo Cheol Psychiatry Clinic, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Moon
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Dong-Wook Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - You-Na Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea
| | - Young-Soo Seo
- Department of Psychiatry, Sharing and Happiness Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Soo Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Sharing and Happiness Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom-Joo Seo
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Metropolitan Mental Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Eun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Busan Metropolitan Mental Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
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22
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Prescription of antipsychotic and concomitant medications for adult Asian schizophrenia patients: Findings of the 2016 Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns (REAP) survey. Asian J Psychiatr 2019; 45:74-80. [PMID: 31520884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2019.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Regular surveys are important to monitor the use of psychotropic medications in clinical practice. This study examined the psychotropic prescription patterns in adult Asian schizophrenia patients based on the data of the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription (REAP) 2016 survey. METHODS This cross-sectional survey across 15 Asian countries/territories collected socio-demographic and clinical data with standardized procedures between March and May 2016. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded with a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS Altogether 3,537 adult patients with schizophrenia were consecutively screened and enrolled in the survey. The mean age was 38.66 ± 11.55 years and 59.7% of the sample were male. The mean dose of antipsychotics in chlorpromazine equivalents (CPZeq) was 424 ± 376 mg/day; 31.3% and 80.8% received first- and second- generation antipsychotics, respectively and 42.6% had antipsychotic polypharmacy, 11.7% had antidepressants, 13.7% had mood stabilizers, 27.8% had benzodiazepines, and 45.6% had anticholinergics. CONCLUSIONS Psychotropic prescription patterns in Asian adult patients with schizophrenia varied across countries. Regular surveys on psychotropic medications for schizophrenia are important to monitor pharmacotherapy practice in Asia.
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23
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Matsui K, Tokumasu T, Takekita Y, Inada K, Kanazawa T, Kishimoto T, Takasu S, Tani H, Tarutani S, Hashimoto N, Yamada H, Yamanouchi Y, Takeuchi H. Switching to antipsychotic monotherapy vs. staying on antipsychotic polypharmacy in schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophr Res 2019; 209:50-57. [PMID: 31182319 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While recent meta-analyses have reported the superiority of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) over antipsychotic monotherapy (APM) in schizophrenia, switching to APM can be beneficial in terms of side effects. To determine whether patients receiving APP should switch to APM or stay on APP, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining a switch from APP to APM vs. staying on APP were systematically selected from a previous meta-analysis comparing APP with APM in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, we conducted an updated systematic literature search using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data on study discontinuation, relapse, psychopathology, neurocognition, extrapyramidal symptoms, and body weight/body mass index (BMI) were extracted and synthesized. RESULTS A total of 6 RCTs involving 341 patients were included. All studies examined a switch from 2 antipsychotic agents to a single agent. Clozapine-treated patients were included in 3 studies. There was a significant difference in study discontinuation due to all causes in favor of staying on APP (N = 6, n = 341, RR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.50-3.46, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in relapse, any psychopathology, neurocognition, extrapyramidal symptoms, or body weight/BMI between the 2 groups. The quality of evidence was low to very low. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that clinicians should closely monitor patient condition when switching to APM after receiving 2 antipsychotics. Given the low to very low overall quality of the evidence, the findings should be considered preliminary and inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Matsui
- Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tokumasu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Ken Inada
- Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Taishiro Kishimoto
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shotaro Takasu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideaki Tani
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiichiro Tarutani
- Department of Psychiatry, Shin-abuyama Hospital, Osaka Institute of Clinical Psychiatry, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naoki Hashimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshio Yamanouchi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Takeuchi
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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24
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Haro JM, Altamura C, Corral R, Elkis H, Evans J, Krebs MO, Zink M, Malla A, Méndez JI, Bernasconi C, Lalonde J, Nordstroem AL. Understanding the course of persistent symptoms in schizophrenia: Longitudinal findings from the pattern study. Psychiatry Res 2018; 267:56-62. [PMID: 29883861 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The Pattern study was conducted to provide longitudinal observational data for individual patients with persistent symptoms of schizophrenia. Pattern is an international, multicenter, non-interventional, prospective cohort study of schizophrenia outpatients who were not considered to be in recovery. In the longitudinal phase reported herein, patients were assessed over 1 year using different clinical rating scales. Patient management followed routine local clinical practice. Primary outcome was disease state, defined by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Negative Symptom Factor Score (NSFS), Positive Symptom Factor Score (PSFS), and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale. In total, 1344 protocol-compliant patients (70.9% male) were included. Patients showed a high stability in disease state between consecutive study visits. Persistent negative persistent symptoms and symptomatic remission were the most prevalent and stable disease states. Patients in relapse generally transitioned to negative persistent symptoms or to symptomatic remission. PANSS, PSP, and quality of life ratings remained relatively stable. Relapses occurred in 10% of patients; probability of relapse was associated with younger age, extra-pyramidal symptoms, and more antipsychotic medications. Despite treatment, schizophrenia symptoms tend to remain stable over time, without overall improvement. One of the greatest challenges in schizophrenia is attainment of full symptom remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Maria Haro
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carlo Altamura
- University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, Milano 20122, Italy
| | - Ricardo Corral
- Fundación para el Estudio y Tratamiento de las Enfermedades Mentales (FETEM), Cerviño 4634 5th floor Apt. B, Buenos Aires C1425AHQ, Argentina
| | - Helio Elkis
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria-FMUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Evans
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Marie-Odile Krebs
- Service Hospitalo Universitaire, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie des Maladies Psychiatriques, Inserm, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris, France
| | - Mathias Zink
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Bezirkskrankenhaus Ansbach, Mannheim, Germany
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25
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Characteristics of Medicaid Recipients Receiving Persistent Antipsychotic Polypharmacy. Community Ment Health J 2018; 54:699-706. [PMID: 29127560 PMCID: PMC6427065 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-017-0183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) is a common strategy despite guidelines advising against this practice. This article seeks to quantify the prevalence and correlates of APP using Medicaid Analytic eXtract files from 2003 to 2004. Nineteen percent of Medicaid recipients who received an antipsychotic were treated with APP. Individuals who received APP were more likely to be white, male, disabled, between the ages of 18-29, diagnosed with a psychotic disorder, and diagnosed with a higher number of psychiatric conditions. Geographic variation in APP rates was also observed. Quality improvement initiatives may help reduce APP for medically vulnerable patients.
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26
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Galling B, Vernon JA, Pagsberg AK, Wadhwa A, Grudnikoff E, Seidman AJ, Tsoy-Podosenin M, Poyurovsky M, Kane JM, Correll CU. Efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of continued antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2018; 137:187-205. [PMID: 29431197 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antidepressant augmentation of antipsychotics in schizophrenia. METHODS Systematic literature search (PubMed/MEDLINE/PsycINFO/Cochrane Library) from database inception until 10/10/2017 for randomized, double-blind, efficacy-focused trials comparing adjunctive antidepressants vs. placebo in schizophrenia. RESULTS In a random-effects meta-analysis (studies = 42, n = 1934, duration = 10.1 ± 8.1 weeks), antidepressant augmentation outperformed placebo regarding total symptom reduction [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57 to -0.17, P < 0.001], driven by negative (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI = -0.44-0.06, P = 0.010), but not positive (P = 0.190) or general (P = 0.089) symptom reduction. Superiority regarding negative symptoms was confirmed in studies augmenting first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.07, P = 0.019), but not second-generation antipsychotics (P = 0.144). Uniquely, superiority in total symptom reduction by NaSSAs (SMD = -0.71, 95% CI = -1.21, -0.20, P = 0.006) was not driven by negative (P = 0.438), but by positive symptom reduction (SMD = -0.43, 95% CI = -0.77, -0.09, P = 0.012). Antidepressants did not improve depressive symptoms more than placebo (P = 0.185). Except for more dry mouth [risk ratio (RR) = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.04-2.36, P = 0.03], antidepressant augmentation was not associated with more adverse events or all-cause/specific-cause discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS For schizophrenia patients on stable antipsychotic treatment, adjunctive antidepressants are effective for total and particularly negative symptom reduction. However, effects are small-to-medium, differ across antidepressants, and negative symptom improvement seems restricted to the augmentation of FGAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Galling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA.,Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - J A Vernon
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA
| | - A K Pagsberg
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Mental Health Services, Capital Region of Denmark, Glostrup, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Wadhwa
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA
| | | | - A J Seidman
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - M Tsoy-Podosenin
- Department of Psychiatry, St John's Episcopal Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Poyurovsky
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Tirat Carmel Mental Health Center, tirat Carmel, Israel
| | - J M Kane
- The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA.,Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA.,The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - C U Correll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.,The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Psychiatry Research, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, USA.,Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA.,The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
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27
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Cognitive burden of anticholinergic medications in psychotic disorders. Schizophr Res 2017; 190:129-135. [PMID: 28390849 PMCID: PMC5628100 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psychotic disorders are often treated with numerous medications, many of which have anticholinergic activity. We assessed cognition in relation to the cumulative anticholinergic burden of multiple drugs included in treatment regimens of participants from the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes (B-SNIP) study. METHOD Clinically stable participants with schizophrenia (n=206), schizoaffective disorder (n=131), and psychotic bipolar disorder (n=146) were examined. Anticholinergic properties of all scheduled drugs were quantified using the Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS). ADS scores were summed across individual drugs to create a total ADS burden score for each participant and examined in relation to the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS). RESULTS Anticholinergic burden aggregated across all medications was inversely related to cognitive performance starting at ADS scores of 4 in participants with schizophrenia. Those with ADS scores ≥4 had lower composite BACS scores compared to those with ADS<4 (p=0.004). Among BACS subtests, Verbal Memory was the most adversely affected by high anticholinergic burden. Despite similar anticholinergic burden scores across groups, a significant threshold effect of anticholinergic burden was not detected in schizoaffective or psychotic bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION We identified an adverse effect threshold of anticholinergic burden on cognition in clinically stable participants with schizophrenia. This relationship was not identified in affective psychoses. Examination of other medications, doses, and clinical measures did not account for these findings. Patients with schizophrenia may have increased cognitive susceptibility to anticholinergic medications and the aggregate effects of one's medication regimen may be important to consider in clinical practice.
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28
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Wang YY, Xiang YT, Ungvari GS, Ng CH, Chiu HFK, Yim LCL, Si TM, Chee KY, Avasthi A, Grover S, Chong MY, Sim K, Kanba S, He YL, Lee MS, Yang SY, Udomratn P, Kallivayalil RA, Tanra AJ, Maramis MM, Shen WW, Sartorius N, Mahendran R, Teng JY, Tan CH, Shinfuku N. A comparison of clinical characteristics of older adults treated with antidepressants in general and psychiatric hospitals in Asia. Psychogeriatrics 2017; 17:348-355. [PMID: 28429844 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study compared the demographics, clinical characteristics, and antidepressant prescription patterns between Asian patients aged 50 years and older attending psychiatric hospitals and those attending general hospitals. METHODS In total, 955 patients (604 in general hospitals, 351 in psychiatric hospitals) aged 50 years or older treated with antidepressants in 10 Asian countries and territories were examined. Patients' demographics, clinical features, and prescriptions of psychotropic drugs were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection procedure. RESULTS Binary logistic regression revealed that high income and diagnosis of schizophrenia were independently associated with psychiatric hospital treatment, whereas outpatient care, diagnosis of anxiety disorders, and multiple major medical conditions were independently associated with general hospital treatment. In addition, tetracyclic and noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants were more likely to be prescribed in general hospitals. CONCLUSION Older adults treated with antidepressants showed different demographic and clinical features between general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Wang
- Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Tao Xiang
- Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau
| | - Gabor S Ungvari
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Notre Dame Australia / Marian Centre, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Chee H Ng
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Helen F K Chiu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Larina C L Yim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tian-Mei Si
- Department of Psychiatry, The Key Laboratory of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Peking University Institute of Mental Health (The Sixth Hospital), Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Kok-Yoon Chee
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Tunku Abdul Rahman Institute of Neurosciences, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ajit Avasthi
- Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Sandeep Grover
- Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Mian-Yoon Chong
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center and School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kang Sim
- Department of General Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
| | - Shigenobu Kanba
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yan-Ling He
- Department of Psychiatric Epidemiology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Min-Soo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Shu-Yu Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pichet Udomratn
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Roy A Kallivayalil
- Department of Psychiatry, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvalla, India
| | - Andi J Tanra
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| | - Margarita M Maramis
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dr Soetomo Hospital, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Winston W Shen
- Department of Psychiatry, TMU-Wan Fang Medical Center and School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Norman Sartorius
- Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rathi Mahendran
- Department of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jia-Ying Teng
- Department of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chay-Hoon Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Naotaka Shinfuku
- International Center for Medical Research, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
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29
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Unresolved Issues for Utilization of Atypical Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia: Antipsychotic Polypharmacy and Metabolic Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102174. [PMID: 29057817 PMCID: PMC5666855 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical antipsychotics (AAP) are the prevailing form of schizophrenia treatment today due to their low side effects and superior efficacy. Nevertheless, some issues still need to be addressed. First, there are still a large number of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), which has led to a growing trend to resort to AAP polypharmacy with few side effects. Most clinical treatment guidelines recommend clozapine monotherapy in TRS, but around one third of schizophrenic patients fail to respond to clozapine. For these patients, with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia AAP polypharmacy is a common strategy with a continually growing evidence base. Second, AAP generally have great risks for developing metabolic syndrome, such as weight gain, abnormality in glucose, and lipid metabolism. These metabolic side effects have become huge stumbling blocks in today's schizophrenia treatment that aims to improve patients' quality of life as well as symptoms. The exact reasons why this particular syndrome occurs in patients treated with AAP is as yet unclear though factors such as interaction of AAP with neurotransmitter receptors, genetic pholymorphisms, type of AAPs, length of AAP use, and life style of schizophrenic patients that may contribute to its development. The present article aimed to review the evidence underlying these key issues and provide the most reasonable interpretations to expand the overall scope of antipsychotics usage.
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30
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Howells FM, Kingdon DG, Baldwin DS. Current and potential pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for anxiety symptoms and disorders in patients with schizophrenia: structured review. Hum Psychopharmacol 2017; 32. [PMID: 28812313 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Between 30% and 62% of patients with schizophrenia present with co-morbid anxiety disorders that are associated with increased overall burden. Our aim was to summarize current and potential interventions for anxiety in schizophrenia. DESIGN Structured review, summarizing pharmacological and psychosocial interventions used to reduce anxiety in schizophrenia and psychosis. RESULTS Antipsychotics have been shown to reduce anxiety, increase anxiety, or have no effect. These may be augmented with another antipsychotic, anxiolytic, or antidepressant. Novel agents, such as L-theanine, pregabalin, and cycloserine, show promise in attenuating anxiety in schizophrenia. Psychosocial therapies have been developed to reduce the distress of schizophrenia. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has shown that benefit and refinements in the therapy have been successful, for example, for managing worry in schizophrenia. CBT usually involves more than 16 sessions, as short courses of CBT do not attenuate the presentation of anxiety in schizophrenia. To address time and cost, the development of manualized CBT to address anxiety in schizophrenia is being developed. CONCLUSIONS The presence of coexisting anxiety symptoms and co-morbid anxiety disorders should be ascertained when assessing patients with schizophrenia or other psychoses as a range of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments are available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fleur M Howells
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David G Kingdon
- Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - David S Baldwin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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31
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Choi S, Cho HK, Lee MK. Demographic Characteristics, Medication Profile and Treatment Outcome of Patients with Very Early-Onset Schizophrenia in One Hospital. Soa Chongsonyon Chongsin Uihak 2017. [DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.2017.28.2.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- SungKu Choi
- Division of Medical Services, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye-Kyung Cho
- Division of Medical Services, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea
| | - Min-Koo Lee
- Department of Information and Statistics, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea
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32
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Nordstroem AL, Talbot D, Bernasconi C, Berardo CG, Lalonde J. Burden of illness of people with persistent symptoms of schizophrenia: A multinational cross-sectional study. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2017; 63:139-150. [PMID: 28134026 DOI: 10.1177/0020764016688040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have examined the impact of persistent symptoms of schizophrenia, especially with respect to patient-reported outcomes (PROs), carer burden and health economic impact. AIMS Analyse data relating to burden and severity of illness, functional impairment and quality of life for patients with persistent symptoms of schizophrenia. METHODS A cohort of stable outpatients with persistent symptoms of schizophrenia across seven countries were assessed in a multicentre, non-interventional, cross-sectional survey and retrospective medical record review using PRO questionnaires, clinical rating scales and carer questionnaires. RESULTS Overall, 1,421 patients and 687 carers were enrolled. Approximately two-thirds of patients had moderate/mild schizophrenia with more severe negative symptoms predominating. Patients showed impaired personal/social functioning and unsuitability for work correlated with various patient factors, most notably symptom-related assessments. Quality-of-life assessments showed 25% to ⩾30% of patients had problems with mobility, washing or dressing. Carer burden was also considerable, with carers having to devote an average of 20.5 hours per week and notable negative impact on quality-of-life measures. Healthcare resource utilisation for in-hospital, outpatient and other care provider visits was significant. CONCLUSION These results demonstrate the significant burden of schizophrenia for patients, carers and society and highlight the need for improved treatment approaches.
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Heald A, Livingston M, Yung A, De Hert MA. Prescribing in schizophrenia and psychosis: Increasing polypharmacy over time. Hum Psychopharmacol 2017; 32. [PMID: 28370308 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in patients with severe mental illness. Psychotropic polypharmacy is becoming increasingly prevalent within the UK. We determined the change in the number of psychotropic medications prescribed over time and trends in weight and fasting blood glucose. METHODS One hundred ninety-five individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis on the Severe Mental Illness Register in Cheshire, UK, were followed up between 2004 and 2012. Individuals were identified through a semianonymised search of general practitioner registers. RESULTS The total number of different medications prescribed increased from 140 in 2004 to 226 in 2012 with the mean number of medication groups per patient increasing from 0.71 to 1.15 (p < .001). The number of individuals on no medication reduced from 58.0% to 33.3%, OR 0.36 95% CI [0.24, 0.54], and those prescribed one medication increased from 20.5% to 31.8%, OR 1.93 95% CI [1.22-3.06]. Baseline body mass index was 28.9, increasing to 30.8 at 8-year follow-up, F(6.5), p = .003, with a significant corresponding increase in fasting blood glucose. CONCLUSION In conclusion, we determined an increase in psychotropic polypharmacy over the follow-up period. Body mass index or fasting blood glucose increased over time. Clozapine and depot antipsychotic prescriptions were often not recorded in the general practitioner records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Heald
- School of Medicine and Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Department of Medicine, Leighton Hospital, Crewe, UK
| | - Mark Livingston
- Department of Blood Sciences, Walsall Manor Hospital, Walsall, UK
| | - Alison Yung
- Institute of Brain Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester Oxford, Manchester, UK
| | - M A De Hert
- University Psychiatric Center Campus Kortenberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kortenberg, Belgium
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Terevnikov V, Stenberg JH, Tiihonen J, Burkin M, Joffe G. Add-on mirtazapine improves orgasmic functioning in patients with schizophrenia treated with first-generation antipsychotics. Nord J Psychiatry 2017; 71:77-80. [PMID: 27701952 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2016.1233996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM Sexual dysfunction, common in schizophrenia, may be further exaggerated by antipsychotics, especially those of First Generation (FGAs), and antidepressants, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRs). Mirtazapine, an antidepressant characterized by its different action mechanism compared with that of the majority of other antidepressants, may improve SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction in patients with depression. It is unknown, however, whether mirtazapine improves sexual functioning in schizophrenia. METHODS This study randomly assigned FGA-treated patients with schizophrenia to receive either an add-on mirtazapine (n = 20) or a placebo (n = 19) for 6 weeks. Sexual functioning was prospectively measured using five relevant items from the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser side-effect rating scale (UKU-SERS). RESULTS Orgasmic function improved with statistical significance in the mirtazapine group (p = .03), with no changes in any other sexual functions in either group. CONCLUSION Add-on mirtazapine appears to relieve orgasmic dysfunction in FGA-treated patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan-Henry Stenberg
- b Department of Psychiatry , Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- c Department of Forensic Psychiatry , University of East Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital , Finland.,d Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research , National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland.,e Department of Clinical Neuroscience , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Mark Burkin
- f Department of Psychiatry , University of Petrozavodsk , Petrozavodsk , Russia
| | - Grigori Joffe
- b Department of Psychiatry , Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
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Bugarski-Kirola D, Iwata N, Sameljak S, Reid C, Blaettler T, Millar L, Marques TR, Garibaldi G, Kapur S. Efficacy and safety of adjunctive bitopertin versus placebo in patients with suboptimally controlled symptoms of schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics: results from three phase 3, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicentre studies in the SearchLyte clinical trial programme. Lancet Psychiatry 2016; 3:1115-1128. [PMID: 27816567 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(16)30344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many patients with schizophrenia require high doses of medication for their ongoing psychotic symptoms. Glutamate theories and findings from studies showing efficacy of sarcosine, an endogenous, non-selective glycine-reuptake inhibitor mediated by GlyT1, offer an alternative approach. We undertook the SearchLyte trial programme to examine the efficacy of bitopertin, a selective GlyT1-mediated glycine-reuptake inhibitor, as an adjunctive treatment to ongoing antipsychotic treatment. METHODS SearchLyte consisted of three phase 3, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, multicentre studies done in outpatient clinics in Asia, Europe, and North and South America (TwiLyte done at 109 sites, NightLyte at 84, and MoonLyte at 87). Participants were male and female outpatients, aged at least 18 years, meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia with suboptimally controlled positive symptoms despite treatment with antipsychotics. Inclusion criteria included a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score of at least 70 and antipsychotic treatment stability for the past 12 weeks before randomisation. Key exclusion criteria included meeting criteria for symptomatic remission or previous treatment with a GlyT1 inhibitor or any other investigational drug. After a screening or 4-week prospective stabilisation period, we randomly assigned participants (1:1:1) to a 12-week, double-blind treatment of either placebo or one of two fixed doses of oral, once-daily bitopertin (10 or 20 mg in TwiLyte and NightLyte; 5 or 10 mg in MoonLyte) added to their current antipsychotic medicine. After completion of 12 weeks' treatment, the study design allowed for additional double-blind treatment for 40 weeks to assess maintenance of the effect, followed by a randomised 4-week washout period to assess withdrawal effects. Subsequently, all patients were offered the opportunity to receive bitopertin treatment in a 3-year follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change from baseline in the PANSS Positive Symptom Factor Score (PSFS) at week 12, analysed in the modified intention-to-treat population. The trials were registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (numbers NCT01235520 [TwiLyte], NCT01235585 [MoonLyte], and NCT01235559 [NightLyte]). FINDINGS Between Nov 19, 2010, and Dec 12, 2014, we randomly assigned 1794 patients to treatment, of whom 1772 were treated and analysed. MoonLyte was discontinued in September, 2014, on the basis of results from futility analyses. Across studies and treatment arms, most patients completed 12 weeks of treatment (505 in TwiLyte, 517 in NightLyte, and 506 in MoonLyte). Only one study, NightLyte, met the primary endpoint where the PANSS PSFS significantly differed from placebo at week 12, and only in the 10-mg arm: mean difference in score -1·37, 95% CI -2·27 to -0·47; p=0·0028. Improvements from baseline for the bitopertin 20-mg arm in Nightlyte were not significant compared with placebo: -3·77, 95% CI -4·40 to -3·14; p=0·3142. Results from the other two studies also did not differ from placebo (TwiLyte 0·58, 95% CI -0·34 to 1·50, p=0·22 for 10 mg and 0·43, -0·49 to 1·36, p=0·36 for 20 mg; MoonLyte 0·06, 95% CI -0·79 to 0·92, p=0·88 for 5 mg and 0·44, -0·41 to 1·28, p=0·31 for 10 mg). Placebo responses varied across studies and might have contributed to the differences in efficacy between studies. Four deaths occurred during the 12-week treatment period, three in NightLyte (upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, alcohol poisoning and related head injury, and a completed suicide) and one in MoonLyte (myocardial infarction in a patient with pre-existing risk factors). Only the death by suicide was deemed related to the study drug. The incidence of serious adverse events was low across treatment groups in all three studies; psychiatric disorders were the most frequently reported serious adverse events and the most frequent cause of adverse events leading to discontinuation. INTERPRETATION Only one of six active treatment arms across the three studies offered an advantage of adjunctive bitopertin over placebo for the treatment of suboptimally controlled symptoms of schizophrenia. The small improvement associated with bitopertin together with the varying placebo response suggests that adjunctive bitopertin treatment might offer only modest benefit to suboptimal responders to antipsychotics, if any. FUNDING F Hoffmann-La Roche.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nakao Iwata
- Department of Psychiatry, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Shitij Kapur
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, King's College London, London, UK
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Dey S, Menkes DB, Obertova Z, Chaudhuri S, Mellsop G. Antipsychotic prescribing and its correlates in New Zealand. Australas Psychiatry 2016; 24:360-4. [PMID: 26819405 DOI: 10.1177/1039856215626644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antipsychotics are the cornerstone of schizophrenia management. There is substantial literature on their efficacy and optimal use. Doubts remain, however, regarding the translation of this knowledge into day-to-day practice. This study aimed to investigate antipsychotic prescribing in three New Zealand regions and its relationship to clinical guidelines and patient characteristics. METHODS We studied 451 patients discharged from inpatient units with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related disorder (International Classification of Disease, version 10) between July 2009 and December 2011. Available information included patient demography, legal status, prescribed medications, duration of index admission and prescriber's country of postgraduate training and years of postgraduate experience. RESULTS There was a high rate (33.7%) of multiple antipsychotic prescription, and lower than expected clozapine use (20%); Maori were prescribed clozapine more frequently than non-Maori (24% vs. 13%, respectively). Compulsory treatment was associated with more use of injectable medication and increased length of stay in hospital. Clinician characteristics did not significantly influence prescribing. CONCLUSIONS Observed prescribing practice aligned with existing guidelines except for antipsychotic polypharmacy and clozapine under-utilisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeeta Dey
- Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand; Psychiatrist (FRANZCP), Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - David B Menkes
- Associate Professor of psychiatry, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand; Psychiatrist (FRANZCP), Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Zuzana Obertova
- Statistician, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Sreemanti Chaudhuri
- Psychiatrist (MRCP, Locum), Tairawhiti District Health Board, Gisborne, New Zealand
| | - Graham Mellsop
- Professor of psychiatry, Waikato Clinical Campus, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand; Psychiatrist (FRANZCP), Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Antipsychotic Medication Prescribing Practices Among Adult Patients Discharged From State Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitals. J Psychiatr Pract 2016; 22:283-97. [PMID: 27427840 PMCID: PMC4956725 DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to explore antipsychotic medication prescribing practices in a sample of 86,034 patients discharged from state psychiatric inpatient hospitals and to find the prevalence of patients discharged with no antipsychotic medications, on antipsychotic monotherapy, and on antipsychotic polypharmacy. For patients discharged on antipsychotic polypharmacy, the study explored the adjusted rates of antipsychotic polypharmacy, the reasons patients were discharged on antipsychotic polypharmacy, the proportion of antipsychotic polypharmacy by mental health disorder, and the characteristics associated with being discharged on antipsychotic polypharmacy. METHODS This cross-sectional study analyzed all discharges for adult patients (18 to 64 y of age) from state psychiatric inpatient hospitals between January 1 and December 31, 2011. The relationship among variables was explored using χ, t test, and analysis of variance. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of antipsychotic polypharmacy. RESULTS The prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy was 12%. Of the discharged patients receiving at least 1 antipsychotic medication (adjusted rate), 18% were on antipsychotic polypharmacy. The strongest predictors of antipsychotic polypharmacy being prescribed were having a diagnosis of schizophrenia and a length of stay of 90 days or more. Patients were prescribed antipsychotic polypharmacy primarily to reduce their symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Antipsychotic polypharmacy continues at a high enough rate to affect nearly 10,000 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia each year in state psychiatric inpatient hospitals. Further analysis of the clinical presentation of these patients may highlight particular aspects of the illness and its previous treatment that are contributing to practices outside the best-practice guideline. An increased understanding of trend data, patient characteristics, and national benchmarks provides an opportunity for decision-making that is sensitive to the patient's needs and cognizant of the hospital's accomplishments in adopting best practices.
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Boonlue T, Subongkot S, Dilokthornsakul P, Kongsakon R, Pattanaprateep O, Suanchang O, Chaiyakunapruk N. Hospitalization and cost after switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients in Thailand. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2016; 8:127-36. [PMID: 27199568 PMCID: PMC4857758 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s97300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Several clinical practice guidelines suggest using atypical over typical antipsychotics in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, cost-containment policy urged restricting usage of atypical antipsychotics and switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics. Objective This study aimed to evaluate clinical and economic impacts of switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients in Thailand. Methods From October 2010 through September 2013, a retrospective cohort study was performed utilizing electronic database of two tertiary hospitals. Schizophrenia patients aged 18 years or older and being treated with atypical antipsychotics were included. Patients were classified as atypical antipsychotic switching group if they switched to typical antipsychotics after 180 days of continual atypical antipsychotics therapy. Outcomes were schizophrenia-related hospitalization and total health care cost. Logistic and Poisson regression were used to evaluate the risk of hospitalization, and generalized linear model with gamma distribution was used to determine the health care cost. All analyses were adjusted by employing propensity score and multivariable analyses. All cost estimates were adjusted according to 2013 consumer price index and converted to US$ at an exchange rate of 32.85 Thai bahts/US$. Results A total of 2,354 patients were included. Of them, 166 (7.1%) patients switched to typical antipsychotics. The adjusted odds ratio for schizophrenia-related hospitalization in atypical antipsychotic switching group was 1.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23–2.83). The adjusted incidence rate ratio was 2.44 (95% CI 1.57–3.79) for schizophrenia-related hospitalizations. The average total health care cost was lower in patients with antipsychotic switching (−$64; 95% CI −$459 to $332). Conclusion Switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia-related hospitalization. Nonetheless, association with average total health care cost was not observed. These findings can be of use as a part of evidence in executing prospective cost-containment policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuanthon Boonlue
- Clinical Pharmacy Division, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; The College of Pharmacotherapy of Thailand, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Suphat Subongkot
- Clinical Pharmacy Division, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; The College of Pharmacotherapy of Thailand, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Piyameth Dilokthornsakul
- Center of Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand; Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ronnachai Kongsakon
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Oraluck Pattanaprateep
- Department of Health Informatics, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Orabhorn Suanchang
- Department of Pharmacy, Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
- Center of Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand; School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Thompson JV, Clark JM, Legge SE, Kadra G, Downs J, Walters JT, Hamshere ML, Hayes RD, Taylor D, MacCabe JH. Antipsychotic polypharmacy and augmentation strategies prior to clozapine initiation: a historical cohort study of 310 adults with treatment-resistant schizophrenic disorders. J Psychopharmacol 2016; 30:436-43. [PMID: 26905920 DOI: 10.1177/0269881116632376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) is commonly used in schizophrenia despite a lack of robust evidence for efficacy, as well as evidence of increased rates of adverse drug reactions and mortality. OBJECTIVES We sought to examine APP and the use of other adjunctive medications in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenic disorders (ICD-10 diagnoses F20-F29) immediately prior to clozapine initiation, and to investigate clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with APP use in this setting. METHODS Analysis of case notes from 310 patients receiving their first course of clozapine at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) was undertaken using the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) case register. Medication taken immediately prior to clozapine initiation was recorded, and global clinical severity was assessed at time points throughout the year prior to medication assessment using the Clinical Global Impression - Severity scale (CGI-S). Logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with APP. RESULTS The point prevalence of APP prior to clozapine initiation was 13.6% (n=42), with 32.6% of subjects prescribed adjuvant psychotropic medications. APP was associated with increasing number of adjuvant medications (odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.06), concurrent depot antipsychotic prescription (OR 2.64, CI 1.24-5.62), concurrent antidepressant prescription (OR 4.40, CI 1.82-10.63) and a CGI-S over the previous year within the two middle quartiles (Quartile 2 vs 1 OR 6.19, CI 1.81-21.10; Quartile 3 vs 1 OR 4.45, CI 1.29-15.37; Quartile 4 vs 1 OR 1.88, CI 0.45-7.13). CONCLUSIONS APP and augmentation of antipsychotics with antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines are being employed in treatment-resistant schizophrenia prior to clozapine. The conservative APP rate observed may have been influenced by an initiative within SLaM that reduced APP rates during the study window. Efforts to reduce the use of poorly evidenced prescribing should focus on adjuvant medications as well as APP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanne M Clark
- GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sophie E Legge
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Giouliana Kadra
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Johnny Downs
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James Tr Walters
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marian L Hamshere
- Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Richard D Hayes
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David Taylor
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - James H MacCabe
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Hirayasu Y, Sato SI, Takahashi H, Iida S, Shuto N, Yoshida S, Funatogawa T, Yamada T, Higuchi T. A double-blind randomized study assessing safety and efficacy following one-year adjunctive treatment with bitopertin, a glycine reuptake inhibitor, in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. BMC Psychiatry 2016; 16:66. [PMID: 26980460 PMCID: PMC4791769 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-016-0778-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bitopertin, a glycine reuptake inhibitor, was investigated as a novel treatment for schizophrenia. We report all the results of a double-blind randomized study assessing safety and efficacy following 52-week adjunctive treatment with bitopertin in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. METHODS This study enrolled Japanese outpatients with schizophrenia who met criteria for either "negative symptoms", i.e., patients with persistent, predominant negative symptoms of schizophrenia even after long-term treatment with antipsychotics or "sub-optimally controlled symptoms", i.e., patients with insufficiently improved symptoms of schizophrenia even after long-term treatment with antipsychotics, respectively. One hundred sixty-one patients were randomly assigned to receive 52-week treatments with bitopertin doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg/day at ratio of 1:5:5, where existing antipsychotics were concomitantly administered. Efficacy endpoints included Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and Personal and Social Performance (PSP). The purpose of the present study is primarily to evaluate the safety, and secondarily to investigate the clinical efficacy of bitopertin. RESULTS One hundred fourteen patients (71 %) completed 52-week treatment with bitopertin. Most of the adverse events were mild or moderate in their severity. The patients in the 20-mg group experienced more adverse events than the patients in the other two groups. Common dose-dependent adverse events were somnolence and insomnia associated with worsening schizophrenia. The blood hemoglobin levels gradually decreased from baseline in a dose-dependent manner, but there were no patients with the decrease below 10 g/dL that would have led to their discontinuation. All the efficacy endpoints gradually improved in all the treatment groups for both of the two symptoms, while there were no clear differences among the three dose groups. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, bitopertin was found to be generally safe and well-tolerated for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. All three bitopertin treated groups showed improvements in all the efficacy endpoints for both of the two symptoms, i.e., "negative symptoms" and "sub-optimally controlled symptoms", throughout the duration of the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, number JapicCTI-111627 (registered on September 20, 2011).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshio Hirayasu
- Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | | | - Sayaka Iida
- Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
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Trends in the access to and the use of antipsychotic medications and psychotropic co-treatments in Asian patients with schizophrenia. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci 2016; 25:9-17. [PMID: 26289066 PMCID: PMC6998674 DOI: 10.1017/s2045796015000694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, antipsychotics remain the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia and related disorders although other psychotropic medications and non-pharmaceutical interventions have been used adjunctively in some patients and settings. Regular surveys on access to and prescription patterns of psychotropic medications in clinical practice are an important and efficient way of examining the use and time trends of treatments in a given population and region. Unlike developed Western countries, Asian countries have not fully undergone deinstitutionalisation of the severely and chronically mentally ill, and community-based mental health services are still under-developed. As a result, a large number of psychiatric patients still receive treatments in psychiatric hospitals. Moreover, there have been very limited studies examining access to and prescription patterns of psychotropic medications for schizophrenia patients in Asian countries. In this paper, we focus on the only international project on the use of psychotropic medications in schizophrenia patients in selected East and Southeast Asian countries/territories summarising its major findings. Most of the first- and second-generation antipsychotics (FGAs and SGAs) are available in Asian countries, but the access to psychotropic medications is largely affected by socio-cultural and historical contexts, health insurance schemes, health care policy, medication cost and consumers' preference across different countries/territories. Overall, the proportional use of FGAs, high dose antipsychotic treatment and antipsychotic polypharmacy have decreased, while the use of SGAs and antidepressants have increased and the utilisation of benzodiazepines and mood stabilisers has remained relatively stable over time. However, within these general trends, there is great inter-country variation regarding the psychotropic prescribing patterns and trends in Asian schizophrenia patients that also seems to differ from data in many Western countries.
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Influence of Antipsychotic and Anticholinergic Loads on Cognitive Functions in Patients with Schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2016; 2016:8213165. [PMID: 27144021 PMCID: PMC4842070 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8213165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Many patients with schizophrenia show cognitive impairment. There is evidence that, beyond a certain dose of antipsychotic medication, the antipsychotic daily dose (ADD) may impair cognitive performance. Parallel to their D2 receptor antagonism, many antipsychotics show a significant binding affinity to cholinergic muscarinic receptors. Pharmacological treatment with a high anticholinergic daily dose (CDD) significantly impairs attention and memory performance. To examine the relationships between individual cognitive performance and ADD and/or CDD, we conducted a retrospective record-based analysis of a sample of n = 104 in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, all of whom had completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. To calculate the individual ADD and CDD, the medication at the time of testing was converted according to equivalence models. After extracting five principal cognitive components, we examined the impact of ADD and CDD on cognitive performance in the medicated sample and subgroups using multiple regression analysis. Finally, locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (Loess) was applied to further explore the course of cognitive performance under increasing dosage. Results showed significant negative effects of ADD on performance in tests of information processing speed and verbal memory. No effects were found for CDD. The potential neuropsychopharmacological and clinical implications are discussed.
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Haro JM, Altamura C, Corral R, Elkis H, Evans J, Malla A, Krebs MO, Zink M, Bernasconi C, Lalonde J, Nordstroem AL. Understanding the impact of persistent symptoms in schizophrenia: Cross-sectional findings from the Pattern study. Schizophr Res 2015; 169:234-240. [PMID: 26431792 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high societal burden of schizophrenia is largely caused by the persistence of symptoms and accompanying functional impairment. To date, no studies have specifically assessed the course of persistent symptoms or the individual contributions of positive and negative symptoms to patient functioning. The cross-sectional analysis of the Pattern study provides an international perspective of the burden of schizophrenia. METHODS Clinically stable outpatients from 140 study centers across eight countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) were assessed using clinical rating scales: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH) Scale and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale. Additional measures included patient-reported outcomes, patient socio-demographic variables, living situation, employment and resource use. RESULTS Overall, 1379 patients were assessed and analyzed and had similar sociodemographic characteristics across countries, with 61.6% having persistent positive and/or negative symptoms. Positive and negative symptoms had been persistent for a mean of 9.6 and 8.9 years (SD: 8.8 and 9.6), respectively. Approximately 86% of patients had a functional disability classified as greater than mild. Patients with a higher PANSS Negative Symptom Factor Score were more likely to have a poorer level of functioning. CONCLUSIONS This analysis examines individual contributions of persistent positive and negative symptoms on patient functioning in different countries. A high prevalence of patients with persistent symptoms and functional impairment was a consistent finding across countries. Longitudinal observations are necessary to assess how to improve persistent symptoms of schizophrenia and overall patient functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Maria Haro
- Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Carlo Altamura
- University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy
| | - Ricardo Corral
- Fundación para el Estudio y Tratamiento de las Enfermedades Mentales (FETEM), Cerviño 4634 5th floor Apt. B, Buenos Aires C1425AHQ, Argentina
| | - Helio Elkis
- Departamento e Instituto de Psiquiatria-FMUSP, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jonathan Evans
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Ashok Malla
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Qc H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Marie-Odile Krebs
- Service Hospitalo Universitaire, Laboratoire de Physiopathologie des Maladies Psychiatriques, Inserm, Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Sainte-Anne, Paris, France
| | - Mathias Zink
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Terevnikov V, Joffe G, Stenberg JH. Randomized Controlled Trials of Add-On Antidepressants in Schizophrenia. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2015; 18:pyv049. [PMID: 25991654 PMCID: PMC4576515 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite adequate treatment with antipsychotics, a substantial number of patients with schizophrenia demonstrate only suboptimal clinical outcome. To overcome this challenge, various psychopharmacological combination strategies have been used, including antidepressants added to antipsychotics. METHODS To analyze the efficacy of add-on antidepressants for the treatment of negative, positive, cognitive, depressive, and antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in schizophrenia, published randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of adjunctive antidepressants in schizophrenia were reviewed using the following parameters: baseline clinical characteristics and number of patients, their on-going antipsychotic treatment, dosage of the add-on antidepressants, duration of the trial, efficacy measures, and outcomes. RESULTS There were 36 randomized controlled trials reported in 41 journal publications (n=1582). The antidepressants used were the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, duloxetine, imipramine, mianserin, mirtazapine, nefazodone, reboxetin, trazodone, and bupropion. Mirtazapine and mianserin showed somewhat consistent efficacy for negative symptoms and both seemed to enhance neurocognition. Trazodone and nefazodone appeared to improve the antipsychotics-induced extrapyramidal symptoms. Imipramine and duloxetine tended to improve depressive symptoms. No clear evidence supporting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors' efficacy on any clinical domain of schizophrenia was found. Add-on antidepressants did not worsen psychosis. CONCLUSIONS Despite a substantial number of randomized controlled trials, the overall efficacy of add-on antidepressants in schizophrenia remains uncertain mainly due to methodological issues. Some differences in efficacy on several schizophrenia domains seem, however, to exist and to vary by the antidepressant subgroups--plausibly due to differences in the mechanisms of action. Antidepressants may not worsen the course of psychosis. Better designed, larger, and longer randomized controlled trials are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viacheslav Terevnikov
- Kellokoski Hospital, Kellokoski, Finland (Dr Terevnikov); Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Helsinki, Finland (Drs Joffe and Stenberg).
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Abstract
We focused on the application of antidepressants in schizophrenia treatment in this review. Augmentation of antidepressants with antipsychotics is a common clinical practice to treat resistant symptoms in schizophrenia, including depressive symptoms, negative symptoms, comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and other psychotic manifestations. However, recent systematic review of the clinical effects of antidepressants is lacking. In this review, we have selected and summarized current literature on the use of antidepressants in patients with schizophrenia; the patterns of use and effectiveness, as well as risks and drug-drug interactions of this clinical practice are discussed in detail, with particular emphasis on the treatment of depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Meng Mao
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Mental Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Dao Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Mental Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Hanci N, Çetin Eker Ö, Miraloğlu Ö, Argun Uslu M, Özkaya G, Eker SS. Relationship between Antidepressant Prescription Rates and Features of Schizophrenic Patients and Its Outcome in Schizophrenia Treatment. Noro Psikiyatr Ars 2015; 52:64-68. [PMID: 28360678 DOI: 10.5152/npa.2015.7041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Comorbid depression in schizophrenia is associated with poor outcome, increased risk of relapse and a high rate of suicide. Identification of depressive symptoms and their appropriate treatment is crucial for depressed schizophrenic patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the rates of antidepressant prescription and their outcomes. METHODS The records of the schizophrenic outpatients, who were consulted at Psychosis Unit of Psychiatry Department between January 2007 and September 2012, were evaluated retrospectively. Enrolled schizophrenic patients' antidepressant medications were at their minimal effective doses and effective duration. RESULTS The present study demonstrates that 39 of the 101 patients during their follow-ups were prescribed antidepressants. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 (±4.2) years; the mean age at onset was 22 (±6.5) years; the mean duration of illness was 14.7 (±7.3) years and the mean number of psychotic exacerbation was 5 (±3.7). The most prescribed antidepressants were; sertraline (36.9%), venlefaxine (23.8%) and essitalopram (20.2%). SSRI's were prescribed 57 (73.1%), where as SNRI's 21 times (26.9%). There was no significant difference between SSRI (78.6%) and SNRI (21.4%) treatments in terms of psychotic exacerbation under antidepressant medication. Full remission of depressive symptoms was achieved in 21 patients (53.8%). Remission rates were significantly higher (p<0.01) in SNRI treated depressed schizophrenic patients (85.7%) compared to SSRI treated patients (50.9%). In 8 of the 39 patients (20.5%) antidepressant treatment was terminated due to side effects. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that SSRI's were more often prescribed compared to other classes of antidepressants in emerging depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients despite full remission with SNRI's is more common. There was no significant difference between SSRI and SNRI treatment in terms of psychotic exacerbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurcan Hanci
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Özlem Çetin Eker
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Özlem Miraloğlu
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Meral Argun Uslu
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Güven Özkaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Salih Saygın Eker
- Department of Psychiatry, Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey
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Sim F, Sweetman I, Kapur S, Patel MX. Re-examining the role of benzodiazepines in the treatment of schizophrenia: a systematic review. J Psychopharmacol 2015; 29:212-23. [PMID: 25049261 DOI: 10.1177/0269881114541013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benzodiazepine prescribing for schizophrenia occurs in clinical practice and antipsychotic trials. This review examined the clinical outcomes for benzodiazepines in schizophrenia. METHOD A systematic search identified randomised controlled trials that evaluated benzodiazepines in comparison with placebo or antipsychotics, and also as adjuncts to antipsychotics. Relevant clinical outcome data was extracted. RESULTS Twenty six studies were included with some reporting multiple comparisons. Seven short-term studies compared benzodiazepines with placebo: benzodiazepine superiority was found in two out of five studies for global improvements and two out of four studies for psychiatric/behavioural outcomes. Eleven studies compared benzodiazepines with first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs): four out of nine studies (including two long-term studies) reported greater global improvements for antipsychotics; four out of five studies showed no treatment differences for psychiatric/behavioural outcomes. Fourteen studies compared benzodiazepines (as adjunct to antipsychotics) vs antipsychotics alone (mostly FGAs); benzodiazepine superiority was found for global improvement in one out of eight studies and inferiority in two out of eight short-term studies whereas superiority was found for psychiatric/behavioural outcomes in three out of 12 short-term studies and inferiority in three out of 12 studies. CONCLUSION Benzodiazepine superiority over placebo was found for global, psychiatric and behavioural outcomes, but inferiority to antipsychotics on longer-term global outcomes. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the addition of benzodiazepines to antipsychotics; thus the use of benzodiazepines in clinical practice and antipsychotic trials should be limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye Sim
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Shitij Kapur
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maxine X Patel
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
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Sweileh WM, Odeh JB, Zyoud SH, Sawalha AF, Ihbeasheh MS. Conformance to schizophrenia treatment guidelines in North West-Bank, Palestine: focus on antipsychotic dosing and polytherapy. BMC Psychiatry 2013; 13:179. [PMID: 23816223 PMCID: PMC3700822 DOI: 10.1186/1471-244x-13-179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 06/28/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analysis of the prescribing patterns of antipsychotic drugs can improve therapeutic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern of antipsychotics and its conformance to international treatment guidelines. METHODS A cross sectional study at primary psychiatric centers was carried out. Patients' medical files were used to obtain demographic, medication and clinical information. International guidelines for schizophrenia were used to create conformance indicators. All statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. RESULTS 250 patients were included in this study. A total of 406 antipsychotic agents were used; 348 (85.7%) were first generation antipsychotics (FGA). The prevalence of antipsychotic combination was 50.4% (n=126). There was no significant difference in positive (p=0.3), negative (p=0.06) and psychopathology (p=0.5) scores of schizophrenia symptoms among patients on monotherapy versus those on antipsychotic combination. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the annual cost of antipsychotic monotherapy versus combination therapy. One hundred and five patients (42%) were using optimum dose of (300 - 600 mg CPZeq) while the remaining were using sub or supra therapeutic doses. Analysis showed that use of depot, use of anticholinergic agents and increasing amount of total CPZeq were significant factors associated with antipsychotic combination. CONCLUSIONS This study indicated that antipsychotic prescribing was not in conformance with international guidelines with respect to maintenance dose and combination therapy. Type of antipsychotic treatment regimen, combination versus monotherapy, was not associated with better clinical or economic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M Sweileh
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Jihad Bani Odeh
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Ansam F Sawalha
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Manal S Ihbeasheh
- Division of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
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Kukreja S, Kalra G, Shah N, Shrivastava A. Polypharmacy in psychiatry: a review. Mens Sana Monogr 2013; 11:82-99. [PMID: 23678240 PMCID: PMC3653237 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1229.104497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric polypharmacy refers to the prescription of two or more psychiatric medications concurrently to a patient. It can be categorised as same-class, multi-class, adjunctive, augmentation and total polypharmacy. Despite advances in psychopharmacology and a better understanding of the principles of therapeutics, its practice is increasing rapidly. The prevalence of polypharmacy in psychiatry varies between 13%-90%. There are various clinical and pharmaco-economic factors associated with it. Dealing with polypharmacy requires an understanding of its associated factors. Education, guidelines and algorithms for the appropriate management of various conditions are effective ways to avoid irrational polypharmacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kukreja
- Research Associate, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Sion General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai 400 022, India
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Lochmann van Bennekom MWH, Gijsman HJ, Zitman FG. Antipsychotic polypharmacy in psychotic disorders: a critical review of neurobiology, efficacy, tolerability and cost effectiveness. J Psychopharmacol 2013; 27:327-36. [PMID: 23413275 DOI: 10.1177/0269881113477709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to review the scientific evidence for neurobiological rationale, efficacy, tolerability and cost effectiveness of antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP). DATA SOURCES A systematic literature search of Medline, Embase, Ovid and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews until April 2012 was carried out. RESULTS Theories behind APP have only modest pre-clinical and clinical evidence. We found limited statistical evidence supporting modest efficacy of APP in patients with psychotic symptoms refractory to clozapine. APP is associated with increased mortality, metabolic syndrome, decreased cognitive functioning, high dose prescription and non-adherence. It brings up extra costs, lacking evidence for cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS Pre-clinical studies underpinning neurobiological hypotheses in APP are lacking. Evidence supporting efficacy of APP is limited with modest beneficial clinical relevance. APP is associated with several serious adverse effects and increased health costs. In the absence of more convincing pre-clinical support and clinical evidence we advise adherence to existing guidelines and limiting combinations of antipsychotics (in consideration with other pharmacotherapeutic, somatic and psychotherapeutic options) to patients with clozapine-refractory psychosis in well-evaluated individual trials that might need 10 weeks or more.
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