International Clinical Psychopharmacology最新文献

Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) has become prevalent over the years, but several concerns have been raised over APP. Accumulating evidence suggests that aripiprazole long-acting injectable (LAI) may reduce the rate of APP, but the association remains speculative. This retrospective observational study included 127 patients with psychosis and observed them for 1.8 ± 1.3 years, up to 4 years. Prescription data of antipsychotics (APs), mood stabilisers, benzodiazepines, and anti-extrapyramidal side effect medications were obtained at baseline and the last observation. Daily chlorpromazine equivalent (CPZ) dose of APs decreased from 124.40 ± 235.35 mg to 77.95 ± 210.36 mg ( P = 0.027). The daily dose of anticholinergics and beta-blockers also significantly decreased after introducing aripiprazole LAI. Among the patients having APP, the number of concurrent APs along with daily CPZ dose of APs decreased after initiation of aripiprazole LAI from 1.28 ± 0.62 to 0.85 ± 0.73 ( P < 0.001) and 298.33 ± 308.70 mg to 155.43 ± 280.53 mg ( P = 0.004), respectively. Treatment with aripiprazole LAI for up to 4 years in patients with psychosis was associated with a reduced number of prescribed APs in patients having an APP and a reduced dose of APs and concurrent psychotropic medications.

The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is steadily increasing across Korea. We analyzed ADHD patients with ADHD medications (Rx) characteristics and treatment patterns compared to patients without Rx and identified the differences between pediatric-/adult- and active-/transient-patients with Rx. Using a nationwide claims dataset from 2020 to 2021, we conducted a prevalence-based cross-sectional study and analyzed the recent patients' characteristics and patterns among ADHD patients. Among 132 017 ADHD patients with Rx, differences from 20 312 without Rx across all characteristics except sex. We found significant differences in characteristics and treatment patterns between pediatric-/adult- and active-/transient-patients with Rx. Age-specific sex ratios notably diverged in pediatric patients (61.2%), but remained similar in adults, revealing significant psychiatric comorbidities differences. Active-patients peaked at 6-11 years (41.4%), while transient-patients at 18-30 years (36.1%). Predominantly, methylphenidate (89.7%), atomoxetine (27.8%), and clonidine (2.8%) were prescribed, with 85% experiencing treatment changes within methylphenidate formulations. In pediatric patients, extended-release methylphenidate was preferred (56.1%), adults favored oral delivery system methylphenidate (71.5%), and active-patients had higher treatment rates than transient-patients across all patterns, with low monotherapy rates. This study provides epidemiologic insights into recent characteristics and treatment patterns of ADHD patients with Rx in Korea, providing valuable evidence for identifying those actively receiving ADHD treatment in future healthcare policy decisions.

Introduction: Cerebellar alterations, including both volumetric changes in the cerebellar vermis and dysfunctions of the corticocerebellar connections, have been documented in psychotic disorders. Starting from the clinical observation of a bipolar patient with cerebellar hypoplasia, the purpose of this review is to summarize the data in the literature about the association between hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and psychotic disorders [schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD)].

Methods: A bibliographic search on PubMed has been conducted, and 18 articles were finally included in the review: five used patients with BD, 12 patients with SCZ and one subject at psychotic risk.

Results: For SCZ patients and subjects at psychotic risk, the results of most of the reviewed studies seem to suggest a gray matter volume reduction coupled with an increase in white matter volumes in the cerebellar vermis, compared to healthy controls. Instead, the results of the studies on BD patients are more heterogeneous with evidence showing a reduction, no difference or even an increase in cerebellar vermis volume compared to healthy controls.

Conclusions: From the results of the reviewed studies, a possible correlation emerged between cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and psychotic disorders, especially SCZ, ultimately supporting the hypothesis of psychotic disorders as neurodevelopmental disorders.

Information on patterns of prescription of long-acting injection (LAI) antipsychotics among people who are incarcerated is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate prescribing rates for first-generation antipsychotic (FGA)-LAI versus second-generation antipsychotic (SGA)-LAI and to identify the factors associated with the prescription of one of the two classes of LAI. A cross-sectional study was conducted among incarcerated adult males hosted in Monza detention center between January 2013 and April 2023. Socio-demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected. Descriptive and univariate statistics as well as logistic regression analyses were performed. Data were available for 135 consecutive incarcerated adult males with different mental disorders who received a LAI as part of their treatment. 75.6% of our sample was treated with FGA-LAIs, with haloperidol as the most commonly prescribed drug, followed by zuclopentixol and aripiprazole. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder and concomitant administration of antidepressants were statistically significant predictors of SGA-LAI prescription. Some patients' characteristics may influence prescription patterns in prison. Further longitudinal studies with larger samples should confirm these findings.

Neuropsychiatric disorders are common manifestations in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS-DiGeorge Syndrome). Although many patients with 22q11.2DS receive antipsychotic treatment for psychotic disorders, little is known about the safety and tolerability of antipsychotics in 22q11.2DS and resistant psychosis. The aim of this case series is to describe the effectiveness as well as safety and tolerability profile coming from the real-world observation of three clinical cases affected by 22q11.2DS and treatment-resistant psychosis. We administered the following tests: the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, the Positive and Negative Severity Scale, the Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Hopelessness Scale. All these questionnaires were administered at the first visit (T0), and then 3 (T1) 6 (T2) and 12 months after (T3). We observed a clinical improvement that remained stable at 12 months. Furthermore, in our patients, the clinical effectiveness was achieved with a very low dose of clozapine (<150 mg/day) concerning the standard dose used in idiopathic schizophrenia (>300 mg/day to 600 mg/day).

In this retrospective 3-year mirror-image study, 81 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) were categorized according to whether they were prescribed long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) or not upon discharge from the inpatient forensic psychiatric unit. Antipsychotic adherence, which was staged based on the 'proportion of days covered' method, as well as other clinical outcomes was compared between pre- and post-index mirror periods. In both Oral-only (n = 46) and Oral + LAI (n = 35) groups, the number of hospitalizations, convictions and months spent in the hospital were significantly lower in the post-index period than the pre-index period. Differences in these three variables between pre- and post-index periods were NS between the two groups. A mixed effect ordinal logistic regression model with random intercept showed that the odds ratio of obtaining a higher treatment adherence score in the post-index period was more pronounced in the Oral + LAI group than in the Oral-only group, considering adherence at baseline and the length of stay during the index hospitalization as potential confounders. Discharge with LAIs in a forensic psychiatric cohort of SSD was associated with a greater mid- to long-term improvement in antipsychotic medication adherence compared to discharge with oral-only antipsychotics.

About 3-7% of the worldwide population is diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition, including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Nonetheless, the aetiology of these conditions is unclear and support options are limited or not effective for all those diagnosed. Cumulating evidence, however, supports a role of the immune system in neurodevelopment, and immune dysregulations have been implicated in neurodevelopmental atypicalities. This knowledge offers tremendous opportunities, especially the possibility to adopt immunomodulatory compounds, which are already available and safe to use, for the management of neurodevelopmental difficulties. This perspective discusses the potential of immune-based interventions in neurodevelopmental care. Here, the application of existing immunomodulatory compounds to symptom management is justified by findings of immune dysregulations across neurodevelopmental conditions and preliminary, encouraging immune-based clinical trials. Still, key considerations are presented, specifically the necessity of immune biomarkers to ensure the right support option for the right (subgroup of) individuals within the neurodevelopmental spectrum.

Objective: While social cognition is shown to be impaired in several mental disorders, the effects of cannabis on social cognition are still not clear. Past studies have used the multifaceted empathy test (MET) to study social cognition. This study aims to test the validity of the MET Spanish version and to evaluate the effects of cannabis use on social cognition.

Methods: In total 116 participants from a Cannabis Social Club (CSC) completed the MET and the reading the mind in the eyes test (RMET) under the effects of cannabis and were compared to 86 university students (control group). Internal consistency and convergent validity were assessed. Cognitive empathy (CE) and emotional empathy (EE) were tested in both groups.

Results: The MET CE scale shows low internal consistency, while the EE scale shows high internal consistency. Items showed similar difficulty for both groups. Cannabis users showed deficient overall emotional recognition, with reduced scores associated with positive stimuli. Overall scores for EE were similar for both groups, but the experimental group scored lower with negative stimuli when compared to controls.

Conclusion: This study validates the MET Spanish version for its use in future studies. Results confirmed deficient emotional recognition in cannabis users and a dampened reaction to negative stimuli for the first time.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an increasingly prevalent but still poorly characterized disorder. Causal and modulating factors include hormones fluctuations, such as estrogen, progesterone, and allopregnolone, pathways imbalances, such as oxytocin and kynurenine, chronobiological factors, and brain imaging alterations. Treatment may differ from the traditional major depression management, while selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline are commonly used and suggested by guidelines, neurosteroids such as brexanolone and the more convenient zuranolone have been recently approved. Newer neurosteroids such as ganaxolone, valaxanolone, and lysaxanolone are currently under development, but also esketamine and psychedelics are promising potential treatments. Other somatic treatments including brain stimulation techniques and light therapy also showed benefit. PPD is therefore increasingly understood as, at least partially, independent from major depressive disorder. Specific and individualized treatments including pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies are progressively being introduced in the routine clinical practice.