Search

Akathisia as well as younger age, early illness onset and discharge are important risk factors for suicidality in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to analyze on a single case basis the relationship between a sudden increase in suicidality, anxiety symptoms, medication dosing and clinicianand patient-rated akathisia. A small subsample of patients demonstrated a positive relationship between suicidality and akathisia scores within the titration period of the study medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Assessment of depression severity is of key importance, since several clinical guidelines recommend choice of treatment dependent on the depression severity grade. Using diff erent tools to assess baseline severity may result in different outcomes. Methods: This paper describes the results of a multicentre, naturalistic study investigating the relationship between depression symptom severity (using 4 diff erent measures of symptom severity) and clinical outcome among patients hospitalised for depression (N = 1 014). Moreover, the impact of differences between methods of measuring depression severity has been investigated. Statistical analyses (univariate measurements, logistic regression models) were conducted to detect coherences and differences between the various methods of severity categorisation. Results: Results revealed diff erent associations between outcome and classification methods. Response or remission rates varied if baseline severity was assessed by diff erent instruments. Moreover, the number of responders increased with higher baseline severity grades of depression, whereas the number of remitters decreased. Additional analyses dependent on outcome criteria using continuous instead of categorical data revealed similar results. Discussion: Baseline severity may be only one of many other important clinical variables that mediate clinical outcome, but it is surely an important one deserving further research and consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this double-blind randomized study was to evaluate the response to antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia patients with predicted high/low risk of nonresponse identified by applying a set of well-established scales and predictors of outcome and to compare efficacy between ziprasidone and haloperidol., Methods: One hundred twelve schizophrenia patients (ziprasidone: n=54; haloperidol: n=58) were rated weekly on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFAS), the Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS), and Hillside Akathisia Scale (HAS)., Results: Ninety-two patients (82%) were predicted to have a high risk of nonresponse. No significant difference regarding PANSS improvement in this subsample was found comparing ziprasidone and haloperidol (p=0.563). Also, for the total patient sample, no significant difference was found regarding the course of the PANSS total score, GAF (p=0.921), and SOFAS (p=0.658) between ziprasidone and haloperidol. Haloperidol resulted in higher scores on the SAS (p=0.001) and HAS (p=0.011)., Discussion: An alarmingly high number of patients were at high risk of nonresponse to antipsychotic treatment., Competing Interests: The authors report no financial conflict of interests within the context of this article., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

The aim of this study was to evaluate antidepressant add-on treatment within the acute treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorder patients. Antidepressant add-on was evaluated in 365 patients within a naturalistic multicenter study. Patients with/without antidepressant add-on were compared regarding clinical and treatment-related variables, response and remission, and remission of depressive and negative symptoms. The efficacy of antidepressant add-on treatment was furthermore analyzed applying marginal structure models. Twenty-three percent of the patients received antidepressant add-on for a mean duration of 50.28 (33.42) days. Patients with the diagnosis of a schizoaffective disorder, multiple illness episodes, and a longer duration of their illness as well as those with significantly fewer baseline positive symptoms, more negative and depressive symptoms, more side effects, and less subjective well-being were augmented with antidepressants. At discharge no significant effect of antidepressant add-on treatment was observed in terms of a 25% improvement (p=0.2623), a 50% improvement (p=0.3946), remission (p=0.0552), or remission of depressive (p=0.6336) and negative symptoms (p=0.8756). Also, when analyzing marginal structure models considering the diagnostic subgroups, no significant effect was found. Add-on with antidepressants is common. A final recommendation in terms of this strategy's efficacy cannot be given., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: In terms of the study at hand the authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive effects of aripiprazole in inpatients with schizophrenia., Methods: This was an investigator-initiated, open label eight-week trial evaluating 56 inpatients with the DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia. Efficacy was assessed weekly using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and tolerability was assessed each week using the Udvalg for Klinske Undersogelser side effect rating scale (UKU). Cognitive function was assessed at baseline, week 4 and week 8., Results: Aripiprazole showed significant improvement in PANSS total score and all subscores between baseline and endpoint visit. The substance was very well tolerated. Patients improved significantly in verbal memory, reaction time and reaction quality/attention from baseline to week eight. Furthermore, mean z-values of individual cognitive domains summarized in a global cognitive index improved significantly from baseline to week eight., Discussion: Our results suggest that aripiprazole provides a valuable treatment option for patients with schizophrenia.