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Peitl V, Puljić A, Škrobo M, Nadalin S, Fumić Dunkić L, Karlović D. Clozapine in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia and Its Augmentation with Electroconvulsive Therapy in Ultra-Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041072. [PMID: 37189691 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clozapine is considered the gold standard for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) who have previously tried other antipsychotics at adequate doses (two or more, with at least one being atypical). However, despite optimal treatment, a subgroup of TRS patients with what is known as ultra-treatment-resistant schizophrenia (UTRS) fails to respond to clozapine, which occurs in 40–70% of cases. The most common approach to manage UTRS involves augmenting clozapine with pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions, with a growing body of evidence that supports the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as an augmenter. This prospective non-randomized 8-week study, which followed the TRIPP Working Group guidelines and is one of few that separate TRS from UTRS, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of clozapine in TRS patients and the efficacy of ECT augmentation of clozapine in UTRS patients. Patients with TRS were assigned to receive clozapine alone (clozapine group), whereas UTRS patients received bilateral ECT in addition to their current medication regimen (ECT plus clozapine group). The severity of symptoms was evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and at the end of the 8-week trial. Both treatment approaches resulted in improved CGI and PANSS scores. The results suggest that both clozapine and ECT are effective treatment options for patients with TRS and UTRS, respectively, and that adherence to guidelines should provide a better frame for future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vjekoslav Peitl
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Antonia Puljić
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mislav Škrobo
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sergej Nadalin
- Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević”, 35000 Slavonski Brod, Croatia
| | - Lidija Fumić Dunkić
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dalibor Karlović
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Croatia, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Grover S, Kathiravan S. Clozapine research from India: A systematic review. Asian J Psychiatr 2023; 79:103353. [PMID: 36493690 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103353] [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: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although clozapine is much researched in western literature, a review on Indian research on clozapine published in 2010 reported limited data and need for further research in this area. AIM We aimed to conduct a systematic review of research on clozapine from India from 2010 to mid-2022 and also compare the same with research output before 2010. METHODOLOGY A systematic various search engines, i.e., PUBMED, Medknow, Hinari and Google Scholar was done using the key words clozapine and India. Published articles with clozapine in the title and having an author from India, published during 2010 to July 2022 were included. RESULTS Initial Internet and hand searches yielded 280 articles, out of which 126 articles were excluded due to various reasons and 154 articles, were included for the review. This included 84 case reports, 49 original articles, 11 review articles and 10 letters to the editor as comments. We found an increase in the number of publications during the period of 2010-2022 compared to 1997-2009 in all types of publications. Over the years a significant proportion of the articles focused on various side effects of clozapine, factors associated with response and non-response to clozapine and evaluation of outcomes other than efficacy/effectiveness. However, all the studies were limited to a single centre with no multicentric studies on clozapine. CONCLUSION Over the last 12 years or so, there is increase in the number of publications on clozapine. However, there is lack of multicentric studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Grover
- Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
| | - Sanjana Kathiravan
- Department of Psychiatry, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
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Zhuo C, Zhou C, Cai Z, Chen J, Yang L, Li Q, Zhang Q, Fang T, Tian H, Lin C, Song X. Electrical stimulus combined with venlafaxine and mirtazapine improves brain Ca 2+ activity, pre-pulse inhibition, and immobility time in a model of major depressive disorder in schizophrenia. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:610-617. [PMID: 36162671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of major depressive disorder in patients with schizophrenia (SZ-MDD) has been reported to be about 32.6 %, but it varies considerably depending on the stage (early or chronic) and state (acute or post-psychotic) of schizophrenia. The exploration of ideal strategies for the treatment of major depressive disorder in the context of schizophrenia is urgently needed. Thus, the present study was conducted to investigate the treatment effects of clozapine, electrical stimulation (ECS; the mouse model equivalent of electroconvulsive therapy for humans), venlafaxine, and mirtazapine for SZ-MDD. METHODS A mouse model of SZ-MDD was established with MK801 administration and chronic unpredictable mild stress exposure. Clozapine and ECS, alone and with mirtazapine and/or venlafaxine, were used as treatment strategies. In-vivo two-photon imaging was performed to visualize Ca2+ neural activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Mouse performance on behavioral assays was taken to reflect acute treatment effects. RESULTS ECS + venlafaxine + mirtazapine performed significantly better than other treatments in alleviating major depressive disorder, as reflected by PFC Ca2+ activity and behavioral assay performance. Clozapine + venlafaxine + mirtazapine did not have an ideal treatment effect. Brain Ca2+ activity alterations did not correlate with behavioral expression in any treatment group. CONCLUSIONS In this mouse model of SZ-MDD, ECS + venlafaxine + mirtazapine improved brain Ca2+ activity, pre-pulse inhibition, and immobility time. These findings provide useful information for the further exploration of treatment methods for patients with SZ-MDD, although the mechanisms underlying this comorbidity needed to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjun Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Real Time Tracing Brain Circuits of Nerology and Psychiatry (RTBNP_Lab), Tianjin Medical University Affiliated Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 300140, China; the key Laboratory of Psychiatric-Neuroimaging-Genetics and Comorbidity (PNGC_Lab) of Tianjin Anding Hospital, Tianjin Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China; Brain Micro-imaging Center of Psychiatric Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou 325000, China; Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Chunhua Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 05000, China
| | - Ziyao Cai
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Jiayue Chen
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China
| | - Qianchen Li
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China
| | - Tao Fang
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China
| | - Hongjun Tian
- Key Laboratorary of Multiple Organs Damage in the Patients with Mental Illness (MODPM_Lab) of Tianjin Fourth Center Hospital, Tianjin 100140, China.
| | - Chongguang Lin
- Key Laboratory of the Macro-Brain Neuroimaging Center of Animal Model, Wenzhou Seventh Peoples Hospital, Wenzhou 325000, China.
| | - Xueqin Song
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Biological Psychiatry International Joint Laboratory of Henan/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 045000, China.
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Ainsworth NJ, Avina-Galindo AM, White RF, Zhan D, Gregory EC, Honer WG, Vila-Rodriguez F. Impact of medications, mood state, and electrode placement on ECT outcomes in treatment-refractory psychosis. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1184-1191. [PMID: 36028155 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment-refractory psychosis (TRP) is a significant clinical challenge. While clozapine is frequently effective, alternate or augmentation strategies are often necessary. Evidence supports effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), but questions remain about optimal treatment parameters and impacts of concomitant pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE /Hypothesis: To analyze the impact of clozapine, anticonvulsant medication, mood state, and ECT electrode placement on outcomes in TRP. We hypothesized that ECT would lead to greater reduction in positive symptoms, particularly in patients receiving clozapine. METHODS Retrospective study in a tertiary TRP program. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used for clinical outcomes, with positive subscore as primary outcome. Clinical and ECT data were analyzed using a linear modelling approach, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS A total of 309 patients were included. ECT plus clozapine associated with greater improvement in positive, general, and total symptoms than ECT alone. ECT associated with greater improvement in negative symptoms in depressed patients. Bifrontal placement was mostly equivalent to bitemporal, with greater reduction of positive symptoms in patients receiving clozapine, and associated with lower electrical dose in patients on anticonvulsants. Clozapine increased seizure duration, while anticonvulsants decreased it. Anticonvulsant use in ECT patients associated with equivalent to slightly improved symptom reduction. CONCLUSIONS ECT's benefit in TRP may be greatest in patients receiving clozapine. ECT can improve negative symptoms in depressed TRP patients. Bifrontal placement is effective in TRP. Clozapine and anticonvulsants have opposite effects on seizure duration, but anticonvulsants may not adversely affect clinical outcomes of ECT for TRP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Ainsworth
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - A Michelle Avina-Galindo
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Randall F White
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Psychosis Program, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Denghuang Zhan
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth C Gregory
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William G Honer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Psychosis Program, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Fidel Vila-Rodriguez
- Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Gammon D, Cheng C, Volkovinskaia A, Baker GB, Dursun SM. Clozapine: Why Is It So Uniquely Effective in the Treatment of a Range of Neuropsychiatric Disorders? Biomolecules 2021; 11:1030. [PMID: 34356654 PMCID: PMC8301879 DOI: 10.3390/biom11071030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clozapine is superior to other antipsychotics as a therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder with increased risk of suicidal behavior. This drug has also been used in the off-label treatment of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Although usually reserved for severe and treatment-refractory cases, it is interesting that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has also been used in the treatment of these psychiatric disorders, suggesting some common or related mechanisms. A literature review on the applications of clozapine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to the disorders mentioned above was undertaken, and this narrative review was prepared. Although both treatments have multiple actions, evidence to date suggests that the ability to elicit epileptiform activity and alter EEG activity, to increase neuroplasticity and elevate brain levels of neurotrophic factors, to affect imbalances in the relationship between glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and to reduce inflammation through effects on neuron-glia interactions are common underlying mechanisms of these two treatments. This evidence may explain why clozapine is effective in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Future increased investigations into epigenetic and connectomic changes produced by clozapine and ECT should provide valuable information about these two treatments and the disorders they are used to treat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dara Gammon
- Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, The Netherlands; (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Catherine Cheng
- Neurochemical Research Unit and Bebensee Schizophrenia Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (C.C.); (G.B.B.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Anna Volkovinskaia
- Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, The Netherlands; (D.G.); (A.V.)
| | - Glen B. Baker
- Neurochemical Research Unit and Bebensee Schizophrenia Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (C.C.); (G.B.B.)
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Serdar M. Dursun
- Neurochemical Research Unit and Bebensee Schizophrenia Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada; (C.C.); (G.B.B.)
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
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