Effects of antipsychotic drugs on memory functions of schizophrenic patients.

In this research we investigated the effects of 4 antipsychotic drugs with different anticholinergic components on different memory functions of schizophrenic patients. Drugs were administered in cumulative doses and memory was tested 90 min after each drug was administered. The results show that chlorpromazine and thioridazine impaired short-term verbal memory after 6 h of sequential administration. Trifluoperazine and haloperidol improved short-term verbal memory from the third to the fifth administration. Immediate memory, long-term memory and visual short-term memory were not impaired by any drug.     

Hypothermia caused by antipsychotic drugs in a schizophrenic patient

In a schizophrenic patient, hypothermia was caused by combined treatment with zotepine, biperiden, and fluphenazine, although combined treatment with zotepine and biperiden had caused no side effects. Other side effects closely resembled those in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.     

Central D2-dopamine receptor occupancy in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic drugs

Using positron emission tomography and the carbon 11-labeled ligand raclopride, central D2-dopamine receptor occupancy in the putamen was determined in psychiatric patients treated with clinical doses of psychoactive drugs. Receptor occupancy in drug-treated patients was defined as the percent reduction of specific carbon 11-raclopride binding in relation to the expected binding in the absence of drug treatment. Clinical treatment of schizophrenic patients with 11 chemically distinct antipsychotic drugs (including both classic and atypical neuroleptics such as clozapine) resulted in a 65% to 85% occupancy of D2-dopamine receptors. In a depressed patient treated with the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, no occupancy was found. The time course for receptor occupancy and drug levels was followed after withdrawal of sulpiride or haloperidol. D2-dopamine receptor occupancy remained above 65% for many hours despite a substantial reduction of serum drug concentrations. In a sulpiride-treated patient, the dosage was reduced in four steps over a nine-week period and a curvilinear relationship was demonstrated between central D2-dopamine receptor occupancy and serum drug concentrations. The results demonstrate that clinical doses of all the currently used classes of antipsychotic drugs cause a substantial blockade of central D2-dopamine receptors in humans. This effect appears to be selective for the antipsychotics, since it was not induced by the antidepressant nortriptyline.     

Switching female schizophrenic patients to quetiapine from conventional antipsychotic drugs: effects on hyperprolactinemia

INTRODUCTION: Conventional antipsychotic medications are associated with elevated prolactin levels, resulting in hyperprolactinemia and a number of unwanted side effects. Several atypical antipsychotics, on the other hand, are less likely to evoke hyperprolactinemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia induced by conventional antipsychotic drugs, examine changes in serum prolactin levels and psychiatric symptoms after switching to quetiapine, and identify the relevant characteristics of patients who may be suitable to switch to quetiapine. METHOD: Sixty-nine of 74 consecutive female patients who had received conventional antipsychotic drugs were initially included in the study. Of these, 49 (71 %) patients suffered from hyperprolactinemia, of which a further 25 were subsequently switched to quetiapine. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and serum prolactin levels were measured just before and at 4 and 8 weeks after switching. RESULTS: Eight of the 25 (32 %) "switch" patients dropped out due to psychotic exacerbation during the 8 weeks. In the remaining 17 (68 %) patients, serum prolactin levels were significantly decreased without any significant change in PANSS scores after switching. The 17 patients who completed the switch had previously demonstrated significantly lower positive symptom scores compared to the 8 dropout patients. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that 71 % of female patients receiving conventional antipsychotic drugs may suffer from hyperprolactinemia and that approximately two-thirds of patients can be switched to quetiapine, resulting in an improvement in hyperprolactinemia. The main characteristic of the switched patients may be fewer positive symptoms.     

The electroencephalographic sleep pattern in schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine or classical antipsychotic drugs

The effects of antipsychotic agents on sleep were tested by examining the nocturnal electroencephalographic recordings of 14 drug-naïve schizophrenic patients and comparing these with recordings from 12 patients treated with clozapine and 10 treated with classical neuroleptics (haloperidol: n=7; flupentixol: n=3). In both of the treated groups, sleep continuity measures and rapid eye movement (REM) density were significantly higher than in the drug-naïve group. Clozapine-treated patients showed significantly more stage two sleep, more stable non-REM sleep (stages two, three and four) and less stage one than patients treated with haloperidol or flupentixol. Clozapine had no effect on the amount of REM sleep. Although mean REM latency was almost twice as long in the clozapine compared with the other two groups, this difference was not statistically significant. The present study suggests considerable differences between the influence of typical and atypical antipsychotic agents on sleep. However, the results of this cross-sectional study should be confirmed using a longitudinal intraindividual approach.     

Improvement of schizophrenic patients' subjective well-being under atypical antipsychotic drugs

Recent research indicates that subjective well-being is a major determinant of medication compliance in schizophrenia. However, it is yet unresolved whether atypical neuroleptics differ regarding subjective side-effects. A self-report instrument has been constructed to evaluate 'subjective well-being under neuroleptics' (SWN). The primary aims of the present study were to develop a short form of the SWN and to investigate the extent to which the atypical antipsychotic improves the patient's subjective well-being.The short form of the SWN was constructed following an item analysis based on data from 212 schizophrenic patients medicated with either typical or atypical antipsychotics. The short form of the SWN showed sufficient internal consistency and good construct validity. The SWN was only moderately correlated with positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores or changes in psychopathology (r=-0.20 to -0.37). SWN-ratings in patients receiving olanzapine were superior compared to those of patients medicated with either clozapine or risperidone on three of five domains of well-being. Clozapine reduced global psychiatric symptoms significantly more than risperidone. It is concluded that the assessment of subjective well-being under antipsychotic treatment provides an independent outcome measure which is relevant to compliance.     

七种抗精神病药对精神分裂症患者维持治疗一年的有效性及安全性研究

目的 比较氯丙嗪、舒必利、氯氮平、利培酮、奥氮平、奎硫平、阿立哌唑7种抗精神病药对精神分裂症患者1年维持治疗的有效性及安全性.方法 对服用7种药物之一、病程≤5年稳定期的1227例精神分裂症患者给予1年的维持治疗,以治疗中断率、中断前治疗时间并结合临床疗效评价抗精神病药的总体有效性,采用不良事件和实验室检查评价安全性,每间隔3个月评估1次.结果 随访1年,1227例患者中共有541例(44.1%)患者中断治疗.7个药物组间治疗中断率(P=0.283)及中断前治疗时间(P=0.400)的差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);495例(40.3%)患者完成1年随访并达到临床痊愈标准,临床痊愈率在7个药物组间的差异无统计学意义(χ2=3.211,P>0.05).7个药物组总的不良反应发生率(88.3%～95.6%)的差异无统计学意义(χ2=8.345,P>0.05),但镇静作用(χ2=100.836)、锥体外系不良反应(χ2=68.074)、月经紊乱(χ2=71.295)及体质量增加(χ2=13.527)等不良反应在不同药物间的差别有统计学意义(P<0.01和0.05).结论 7种抗精神病药治疗精神分裂症患者1年的临床疗效相当,但药物的不良反应各异.     

抗精神病药对精神分裂症患者体重的影响

目的 为了探讨抗精神病药对精神分裂症患者体重的影响。方法 295例服用抗精神病药的精神分裂症患者进行了临床调查。结果 67．12％患者出现体重增加；体重增加从多到少的药物依次是氯氮平、奥氮平、氯氮平合并利培酮、氯丙嗪、利培酮、氯氮平合并舒必利；氯氮平、氯丙嗪、利培酮体重增加较人组前有显著差异；女性患者、初次服抗精神病药者、合并心境稳定剂者体重增加亦明显。结论 大部分抗精神病药可导致体重增加，应在治疗前及治疗中定期进行体重监测。     

Effect of antipsychotic medication on speed of information processing in schizophrenic patients

The authors evaluated the effects of antipsychotic medication and schizophrenia on speed of information processing. Medicated (N - 20) as well as unmedicated (N = 16) schizophrenic patients showed more evidence of slow information processing than did depressed control subjects (N = 20). The medicated schizophrenic patients had higher levels of general psychopathology but also showed superior information processing speed compared with the unmedicated schizophrenic patients. These data confirm that the schizophrenic patients are slow information processors and that antipsychotic medication probably does not cause, and may actually reverse, slowness of information processing in schizophrenic patients.     

Sulpiride: evaluation of antipsychotic activity in schizophrenic patients.

Sulpiride is a new antipsychotic agent chemically different from recognized psychotropic compounds. The animal profile and the rapid urinary excretion without metabolism also distinguishes this drug from other neuroleptics. Previous studies have indicated therapeutic efficacy and few side effects. Sulpiride was evaluated in 10 hospitalized, chronic schizophrenic patients over a 10 week period. The overall findings support those studies reporting neuroleptic activity. Although no side effects were encountered, a mild leukocytosis was observed in one patient and broadening and flattening of T-waves was observed in another when each received high doses. Toxic levels appear to be well beyond the therapeutic range.     

Augmentation with amisulpride for schizophrenic patients nonresponsive to antipsychotic monotherapy

Despite the effectiveness of antipsychotic medications in treatment of schizophrenia, about 30% of patients who receive an adequate treatment have significant persisting symptoms. The problem of treatment-resistant psychosis is an important and difficult one. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of amisulpride augmentation in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about resistant schizophrenic and schizoaffective patients treated with the combinations of risperidone and amisulpride and ziprasidone and amisulpride. Data were collected from patient records. A total of 15 resistant schizophrenic patients (7 men, 8 women, 54.0 +/- 16.9 years old) were included in the study. Before addition of amisulpride, the patients were treated with monotherapy by atypical neuroleptics (clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, or ziprasidone). The mean amisulpride dose was 693.3 +/- 279.6 mg/d. The mental state of 12 (80%) patients treated with combination was improved. Three (20%) patients showed no change in their mental state. Only 2 patients treated with a combination of risperidone and amisulpride had mild side effects. The results are preliminary and require confirmation in a randomized controlled trial. The authors suggest that amisulpride may be a promising option as an augmentation strategy in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients.     

抗精神病药对首发精神分裂症患者认知功能及事件相关电位的影响

目的:观察抗精神病药对首发精神分裂症患者认知功能和事件相关电位P300的影响.方法:对67例患者(病例组),采用随机对照研究连续观察12周,其中利培酮组32例,奎硫平组35例,另选择正常对照组32名.进行阳性与阴性症状量表(PANSS)、韦氏记忆量表(WMS)和事件相关电位P300的测评.结果:首发精神分裂症患者在长时记忆、短时记忆、瞬时记忆及记忆商数(MQ)受损较为明显,与正常对照组比较差异有显著性(P＜0.05).P300电位成分中P2、N2及P3潜伏期明显延长,P2及P3波幅明显降低,与正常对照组比较差异均有显著性(P均＜0.05).奎硫平组及利培酮组患者治疗后WMS的再认、联想、理解及MQ均明显高于治疗前,两组患者治疗后WMS各项目之间比较差异均无显著性;两组患者在治疗前后P300各指标之间差异无显著性.结论:首发精神分裂症患者存在认知功能障碍,奎硫平与利培酮对首发精神分裂症患者认知功能的作用相当.     

A comparative study on the antipsychotic properties of desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin and ceruletide in schizophrenic patients

The neuropeptides desenkephalin-gamma-endorphin (DE gamma E) and ceruletide were administered intramuscularly to patients with schizophrenic psychoses following a double-blind placebo-controlled design, including a total of 44 subjects. Neuroleptic medication was continued during the experimental period, which was started with one placebo injection for all patients. One week later subjects received a single intramuscular injection with 3 mg DE gamma E, 40 micrograms ceruletide or placebo. After an interval of 10 days, the patients received six similar injections over a period of 2 weeks. Treatment with either peptides resulted in a decrease of psychotic symptomatology as compared to placebo treatment. The beneficial effect of the peptides lasted at least 2 weeks after the experimental treatment period. Of the 14 patients treated with placebo only, three showed a slight response. Of the 30 patients treated with the neuropeptides, eight did not respond (DE gamma E: 3; ceruletide: 5), eight had a slight response (DE gamma E: 6; ceruletide: 2) and 14 responded moderately or markedly (DE gamma E: 6; ceruletide: 8). No obvious difference between the effects of the two neuropeptides was found, besides a somewhat earlier onset of the effect of ceruletide. Patients presenting relatively less negative psychotic symptoms were particularly susceptible to treatment with either peptide. Apart from slight and short-lasting gastrointestinal complaints after the first injections with ceruletide in some patients, no side effects were observed.     

Discontinuation of antipsychotic drugs in chronic schizophrenic patients. II. Psychological and psychopathological test differences between patients with and without relapse]

After the discontinuation of the neuroleptic treatment (open design), 10 out of 30 hospitalized chronic schizophrenic patients showed before the end of 4 weeks a significant increase of their symptomatology. This deterioration made the application of neuroleptics necessary. Before the discontinuation of the neuroleptic treatment the group of patients with later relapse and the group without relapse showed only slight differences concerning psychopathological symptoms but significant differences concerning test performance. After 2 weeks without medication a pronounced impairment of performance was found in patients with later relapse. At this time the two groups showed no more significant differences in the psychological tests. At the same time significant differences concerning the psychopathological symptoms had developed.