ASHP therapeutic position statement on strategies for identifying and preventing pneumococcal resistance.

The incidence of drug-resistant S. pneumoniae continues to increase, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Health care providers should seize the opportunity to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials and aggressive vaccination with the pneumococcal vaccines as a means to lessen this significant health problem.     

Second-generation antipsychotic medications in the treatment of mood disorders: focus on aripiprazole

Second-generation antipsychotic medications offer a broader range of therapeutic efficacies than first-generation agents. Consequently, our field has witnessed a rapid expansion of the use of second-generation antipsychotic drugs for several conditions beyond psychosis. The use of second-generation antipsychotic medications has been most pronounced in mood disorders, especially in bipolar disorders. Information about the agents clozapine, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone and aripiprazole in terms of their efficacy and tolerability in bipolar disorder is now available. Aripiprazole, a new agent whose proposed mechanism(s) of action differs from that of other agents, has been shown in placebo-controlled comparative trials in bipolar patients to be an effective and well tolerated treatment option for this patient group. The role of second-generation antipsychotic medications in the therapeutic armamentarium for bipolar disorders will be determined by clinical experience, by additional phase IV studies and by trials that compare second-generation antipsychotics with each other and also with mood-stabilizing medications. There is also a pressing need for additional information on the long-term efficacy and safety of each second-generation antipsychotic agent during maintenance therapy for bipolar disorders.     

Effects of atypical antipsychotic drug treatment on amphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release in patients with psychotic disorders.

Clozapine, risperidone, and other new "atypical" antipsychotic agents are distinguished from traditional neuroleptic drugs by having clinical efficacy with either no or low levels of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS). Preclinical models have focused on striatal dopamine systems to account for their atypical profile. In this study, we examined the effects of clozapine and risperidone on amphetamine-induced striatal dopamine release in patients with psychotic disorders. A novel 11C-raclopride/PET paradigm was used to derive estimates of amphetamine-induced changes in striatal synaptic dopamine concentrations and patients were scanned while antipsychotic drug-free and during chronic treatment with either clozapine or risperidone. We found that amphetamine produced significant reductions in striatal 11C-raclopride binding during the drug-free and antipsychotic drug treatment phases of the study which reflects enhanced dopamine release in both conditions. There were no significant differences in % 11C-raclopride changes between the two conditions indicating that these atypical agents do not effect amphetamine-related striatal dopamine release. The implications for these data for antipsychotic drug action are discussed.     

第二代抗精神病药物治疗对精神疾病儿童体质量及代谢的影响

目的 探讨利培酮或喹硫平长期治疗儿童精神疾病后,对肥胖及相关代谢失调的影响.方法 选取年龄2～18岁的具有精神类疾病的患者130例作为研究对象,所有患者治疗前均未服用过第二代抗精神药物(SGA),采用自然年度纵向调查法,研究分析了患儿的身体质量指标、生化指标、代谢参数.在12个月的研究周期内,共46例患儿(利培酮组25例,喹硫平组21例)的资料用于分析.结果 SGA治疗12个月后,患儿的体质量显著增加,利培酮组平均增加10.6(7.8～13.6)kg,喹硫平组平均增加9.5(6.3～12.7)kg,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).同时,两组患儿的体质量指数Z(BMI z)评分也显著增高,儿童患超重或者肥胖的发生率也显著增加.快速血糖平均水平及高密度脂蛋白与总胆固醇比值明显增高,增高量分别为0.24(0.04-0.43)mmol·L-1和0.49(0.16～0.81)mmol·L-1.结论 儿童抗精神药物治疗12个月期间,儿童腰围显著增加、血脂指标异常,故儿童肥胖及代谢失调的风险显著升高.这一研究结果,对早期发现及代谢副作用治疗的有序检测具有重要意义.     

Cerebro- and cardiovascular conditions in adults with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications

OBJECTIVE: To report on the relative risk of cerebro- and cardiovascular disorders associated with antipsychotic treatment among adults with schizophrenia. METHOD: Medical and pharmacy claims data from the South Carolina Medicaid program were extracted to compare the prevalence rates for four coded cerebrovascular (cerebrovascular disease; cerebrovascular accident; cerebrovascular hemorrhage; and peripheral vascular disease) and four cardiovascular (myocardial infarction; ischemic heart disease; arrhythmias; and cardiomyopathy) conditions. The analysis employed a retrospective cohort design with a 3 years time period as the interval of interest. Schizophrenic adults (18-54) (n = 2251) prescribed one of six atypical or two conventional antipsychotic medications were identified and comprised the analysis set. RESULTS: Incidence rates for cerebrovascular disorders ranged from 0.5 to 3.6%. No significant association between antipsychotic usage and cerebrovascular disorders was noted largely due to the low base rate. Incidence rates for overall cardiovascular conditions ranged from 6 to 20%. The odds of developing cardiomyopathy were significantly lower for aripiprazole (OR = -3.45; p = 0.02), while the odds of developing hypertension were significantly lower for males (OR = -1.37; p = 0.009) but significantly higher for patients prescribed ziprasidone (OR = 1.91; p = 0.01) relative to conventional antipsychotics. CONCLUSION: No significant association between antipsychotic usage and cerebro- or cardiovascular disorders was noted.     

住院精神病患者抗精神病药应用现状调查

目的 了解住院精神病患者抗精神病药的应用情况，为临床用药提供参考。方法 抽样调查本院2003年6月508例住院精神病患者抗精神病药应用情况。结果 本次调查共涉及423例患者24种治疗方案，其中单用1种抗精神病药的治疗方案有7种246例(58．15％)，联用2种抗精神病药的有15种173例(40．90％)，联用3种抗精神病药的有1种2例(0．47％)。抗精神病药治疗方案居前5位的依次为：氯氮平、氯氮平 碳酸锂、氯氮平 舒必利、氯丙嗪和利培酮。抗精神病药使用率占前5位的是氯氮平(51．9％)、利培酮(19．29％)、舒必利(17．12％)、氯丙嗪(15．35％)和奋乃静(9．05％)。结论 本院单用1种抗精神病药的治疗方案占主导地位，氯氮平的使用率为第1位。     

Correlates of specialty substance use treatment among adults with opioid use disorders

AimsTo identify factors associated with the receipt of specialty substance use treatment among adults with opioid use disorders (OUD).DesignCross-sectional study based on 2010–2014 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).Setting and participantsAdults with a past-year OUD (n = 2488). The sample is representative of non-institutionalized US adults.MeasurementsPast-year OUD was determined using DSM-IV criteria. Past-year specialty substance use treatment was defined as receiving treatment for drug use at any of the following locations: rehabilitation facilities, hospitals (inpatient only), outpatient mental health centers, private doctors' offices, or methadone clinics. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to measure the independent association between potential correlates and specialty substance use treatment receipt.FindingsOf adults with an OUD, 8.3% received past-year specialty substance use treatment. In a fully adjusted logistic regression model, the following factors were associated with increased odds of receiving specialty substance use treatment: ≥ 35 years old (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 2.55, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.04–6.26); unemployment (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.02–3.61); not in the labor force (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.15–4.06); never been married (aOR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.04–4.39); arrested in past 12 months (aOR = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.45–7.99); opioid dependence (aOR = 3.82, 95% CI = 2.06–7.10); alcohol use disorder (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.44–4.11); and another drug use disorder (aOR = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.95–5.32). Living in a non-metropolitan county (aOR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12–0.68) and fair/poor health (aOR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.17–0.86) were associated with decreased odds of receiving specialty substance use treatment.ConclusionsThese findings suggest a need for the following efforts: strategies to increase individuals' recognition of their need for OUD treatment, expansion of insurance coverage for substance use treatment, expansion of earlier intervention services, adoption of a chronic care approach to substance use treatment, and an expansion of treatment capacity for rural communities.     

Outpatient treatment of adults with coexisting substance use and mental disorders

This study examined the six-month and one-year treatment statuses of 118 patients admitted to an abstinence-oriented, outpatient facility serving dually disordered adults. Findings revealed that persons who have been underserved by the mental health and substance abuse fields can be engaged in treatment and will respond favorably to it. Overall, demographic characteristics, admission diagnoses, and past treatment history did not predict treatment outcomes. Rather, patients who participated more fully in treatment had better recoveries than did those who did not engage in treatment. In addition, patients who complied and responded to treatment during their first six months in treatment were more likely to comply and respond to treatment during the second six months of treatment. These results should encourage other clinicians to develop innovative services that meet the needs of dually disordered adults.     

Atomoxetine treatment of adults with ADHD and comorbid alcohol use disorders

OBJECTIVE: Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have higher rates of alcohol and drug use disorders than adults without ADHD. The study aim was to determine if atomoxetine was superior to placebo in improving ADHD and alcohol use in recently abstinent adults with ADHD and comorbid alcohol use disorder. METHODS: Adults with DSM-IV diagnoses of ADHD and alcohol abuse and/or dependence were abstinent from alcohol at least 4 days (maximum 30 days) before study randomization. Participants received atomoxetine (25-100mg daily) or placebo for 12 weeks. ADHD symptoms were assessed using ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS) total score. Time-to-relapse to heavy alcohol use was analyzed using a 2-sided log-rank test based on Kaplan-Meier estimates and cumulative heavy drinking events over time were evaluated post hoc with recurrent-event analysis. RESULTS: Subjects received atomoxetine (n=72) or placebo (n=75) and 80 subjects completed the 12-week double-blind period (n=32 and 48, respectively). ADHD symptoms were significantly improved in the atomoxetine cohort compared to placebo (AISRS total score mean [S.D.], atomoxetine: -13.63 [11.35], P<.001; placebo: -8.31 [11.44], P<.001, difference: P=.007; effect size=0.48). No significant differences between treatment groups occurred in time-to-relapse of heavy drinking (P=.93). However, cumulative heavy drinking days were reduced 26% in atomoxetine-treated subjects versus placebo (event ratio=0.74, P=.023). There were no serious adverse events or specific drug-drug reactions related to current alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: This 3-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of atomoxetine in adults with ADHD and comorbid alcohol use disorder demonstrates clinically significant ADHD improvement, and inconsistent effects on drinking behavior.     

Hospitalization risks in the treatment of schizophrenia: comparison of antipsychotic medications

This study used administrative claims data to compare the relative risks for hospitalization among commercially insured patients with schizophrenia receiving atypical and typical antipsychotic drugs. Cox proportional hazard regression estimates, adjusted for differences in patient characteristics, suggested that among patients treated with the 4 atypical antipsychotic drugs, only olanzapine had a significantly higher risk for hospitalization than the typical antipsychotic drugs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.75). In addition, risk for hospitalization with olanzapine was significantly higher than that for risperidone (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.03-1.74) and numerically higher than that for quetiapine (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 0.94-2.07). Overall, olanzapine was associated with a higher risk for hospitalization than the typical antipsychotic drugs and among the atypical antipsychotic drugs, risperidone and, potentially, quetiapine.