Current and emerging long-acting antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia

Aberrant salience mediates the interplay between emotional abuse and positive symptoms in schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION

Childhood trauma and adversities (CTA) and aberrant salience (AS) have a pivotal role in schizophrenia development, but their interplay with psychotic symptoms remains vague. We explored the mediation performed by AS between CTA and psychotic symptomatology in schizophrenia.

METHODS

We approached 241 adults suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), who have been in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months, excluding the diagnosis of dementia, and recent substance abuse disorder, and cross-sectional evaluated through the Aberrant Salience Inventory (ASI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short-Form (CTQ-SF), and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS). We tested a path-diagram where AS mediated the relationship between CTA and psychosis, after verifying each measure one-dimensionality through confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The final sample comprised 222 patients (36.9% female), with a mean age of 42.4 (± 13.3) years and an average antipsychotic dose of 453.6 (± 184.2) mg/day (chlorpromazine equivalents). The mean duration of untreated psychosis was 1.8 (± 2.0) years while the mean onset age was 23.9 (± 8.2) years. Significant paths were found from emotional abuse to ASI total score (β = 0.39; p < .001) and from ASI total score to PANSS positive (β = 0.17; p = .019). Finally, a statistically significant indirect association was found from emotional abuse to PANSS positive mediated by ASI total score (β = 0.06; p = .041; CI 95% [0.01, 0.13]).

CONCLUSION

Emotional abuse has an AS-mediated effect on positive psychotic symptomatology. AS evaluation could allow a better characterization of psychosis as well as explain the presence of positive symptoms in adults with SSDs who experienced CTA.

Adherence, health care utilization, and costs between long-acting injectable and oral antipsychotic medications in South Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder require long-term antipsychotic treatment with antipsychotic medications, but poor medication adherence can lead to increased health care utilization and costs. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) offer potential therapeutic advantages in that they require less frequent dosing and improved medication adherence. South Carolina has the highest adoption of LAIs among US states, making it an ideal population for comparing the effectiveness of LAIs vs oral antipsychotics (OAPs) in treating schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of LAIs compared with OAPs on medication adherence, health care resource utilization, and costs among South Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

METHODS

South Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries with at least 1 claim for an LAI or OAP between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018, aged 18 to 65, with at least 2 claims with diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were included. Propensity scores (PSs) were calculated using logistic regression adjusting for confounders and predictors of the outcome. We estimated the "average treatment effect on the treated" by employing PS-weighted t-tests and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

A total of 3,531 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 1,537 (44.5%) treated with LAIs and 1,994 (56.5%) treated with OAPs. In PS-weighted analyses, the LAI cohort had a greater proportion of days covered than the OAP cohort with a 365-day fixed denominator (69% vs 64%; P < 0.0001), higher medication possession ratio with a variable denominator while on therapy (85% vs 80%; P < 0.0001), and higher persistence (82% vs 64%; P < 0.0001). The average number of inpatient visits and emergency department visits did not significantly differ between cohorts (0.28 hospitalizations, P = 0.90; 3.68 vs 2.96 emergency department visits, P = 0.19). The number of outpatient visits, including visits for medication administration, were greater in the LAI cohort (23.1 [SD 24.2]) vs OAP (16.9 [SD 21.2]; P < 0.0001); however, including the costs for medication administration visits, outpatient costs (per member) were approximately $2,500 lower in the LAI cohort (P < 0.0001). The number of pharmacy visits was greater in the OAP cohort (LAI 21.0 [SD 17.0] vs OAP 23.0 [SD 15.0]; P = 0.006). All-cause total costs were greater in the LAI cohort ($26,025 [SD $29,909]) vs the OAP cohort ($17,291 [SD $25,261]; P < 0.0001) and were driven by the difference in pharmaceutical costs (LAI $15,273 [SD $16,183] vs OAP $4,696 [SD $10,371]; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among South Carolina Medicaid beneficiaries, treatment with LAIs for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder was associated with greater medication adherence rates. Patients using LAIs had higher drug costs and total costs, but lower outpatient and total nondrug costs compared with those using OAPs.

Evaluating the efficacy and safety of the currently available once-every-two months long-acting injectable formulations of aripiprazole for the treatment of schizophrenia or as a maintenance monotherapy for bipolar I disorder in adults

INTRODUCTION

An aripiprazole long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic is now available for gluteal administration every 2 months via two different formulations: aripiprazole lauroxil (AL) and aripiprazole monohydrate (Ari 2MRTU). These longer dosing regimens of aripiprazole LAI offer new potential benefits for patients.

AREAS COVERED

The authors review the evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole LAIs given every 2 months for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (BD) in adults. The article culminates with the authors' expert perspectives on the subject.

EXPERT OPINION

AL 1064 mg every 2 months has established efficacy for the treatment of schizophrenia based on pharmacokinetic bridging studies and prospective data for treatment of an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. In an open-label trial, Ari 2MRTU showed efficacy for the treatment of schizophrenia and BD type I based on pharmacokinetic parameters (comparable to aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg); it also showed efficacy regarding the secondary endpoints. Multiple doses of AL 1064 mg or Ari 2MRTU 960 mg are generally well tolerated, in line with the safety profile of oral aripiprazole, with the exception of the injection-site reactions. While AL may require a 1-day initiation regimen, Ari 2MRTU 960 covers all the recommended doses of oral aripiprazole (10-20 mg).

Postoperative psychological factors and quality of life but not shoulder brace adherence affect clinical outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

Despite the high prevalence, there is no consensus for postsurgical management after rotator cuff repair. We aimed to assess the impact of psychological well-being on patients who underwent rotator cuff repair. We also investigated correlations and possible predictors between patient demographics and adherence to the use of the shoulder brace and outcomes in terms of shoulder functionality and quality of life.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study with prospective data collection enrolling 120 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy for rotator cuff tear repair. Each patient was clinically evaluated after a mean follow-up of 24.2 (±9.8) months using (1) the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scale, (2) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), (3) the Rotator Cuff Quality of Life (RC-QoL), (4) the visual analog scale, and (5) the Medical Adherence Measure.

RESULTS

The final sample consisted of 100 patients (45 females, 45%) averaging 60.9 (±8.5) years. The average brace wearing time was 3.4 (±0.6) weeks, with an adherence superior to 80% in 84% of cases, and 96% of patients were living with family members. The mean postoperative DASH scores were 20.1 (±16.7), 23.4 (±25), and 18.9 (±21.5) for the general, work, and sport sections, respectively. The mean Medical Adherence Measure score reached 72.5 (±14.2) points, and the RC-QoL mean score was 30.4% (±20.5). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression scores' continuous mean values were 5.1 (±3.4) and 3.9 (±3.6), respectively. The DASH, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression, and RC-QoL scores directly correlated with each other, and all these questionnaires directly correlated with the visual analog scale scores. Moreover, we found a direct correlation (r = 0.204, P = .033) between the female sex and adherence to the brace and a direct correlation (r = 0.242, P = .015) between adherence to the brace and the number of weeks it was worn according to the medical recommendation. A correlation between lower educational qualifications and poorer outcomes was found. No correlation emerged between adherence to the brace and functional results. According to the regression analysis, diabetes was found to be a predictor of worse postoperative DASH scores (β = 0.245, P = 0.28).

CONCLUSION

A lower perceived quality of life was associated with worse functional results, anxiety and depression symptoms, and pain after rotator cuff repair surgery. The adherence to the use of the shoulder brace was associated with the female sex and a longer prognosis, but no correlation emerged between adherence to the brace and functional outcomes.

Invega Hafyera (Paliperidone Palmitate): Extended-Release Injectable Suspension for Patients With Schizophrenia

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the safety, efficacy, and potential role in therapy of once in 6 months paliperidone palmitate formulation (PP6M; Invega Hafyera). PP6M is a long-acting injectable antipsychotic recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia. Data Sources: A PubMed literature search was conducted using the following terms: paliperidone palmitate and long-acting antipsychotic injections (January 1, 2017, to November 1, 2022). FDA product labeling was also reviewed for pertinent data. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All relevant English-language articles focused on the efficacy and safety of PP6M were considered for inclusion. Data Synthesis: A multicenter, randomized, active controlled relapse prevention noninferiority study showed that PP6M is comparable to paliperidone palmitate once in 3 months formulation (PP3M) in terms of efficacy and safety in clinically stable schizophrenia patients. Place in Therapy: PP6M is indicated in the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia, who need treatment over a prolonged period. It improves adherence and decreases the rate of relapse and hospitalizations among patients with schizophrenia. It is useful for patients who may have difficulty accessing health care or would prefer the convenience of less frequent injections. Conclusion: PP6M with its long duration of action and lowered frequency of administration (once every 6 months) expands the therapeutic choices available to patients with schizophrenia. More studies in patients with schizophrenia with PP6M, and perhaps other mental illnesses (eg, schizoaffective disorder), are required to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of PP6M.

L, Segura-Garcia C, De Fazio P. Effectiveness of SGA-LAIs on Clinical, Cognitive, and Social Domains in Schizophrenia: Results from a Prospective Naturalistic Study

We hypothesized that shifting from oral second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) to their long-acting injectable (LAI) counterpart would be beneficial for the psychopathological, cognitive, social, and general health domains in outpatients suffering from schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the prospective usefulness of SGA-LAI treatment by carrying out a head-to-head comparison of two different medications (i.e., aripiprazole monohydrate (Ari-LAI) and paliperidone palmitate 1 and 3 month (PP1M, PP3M)) in a real-world setting, assessing the effectiveness and tolerability of Ari-LAI and PP1M/PP3M over a 15 month follow-up. A total of 69 consecutive individuals affected by schizophrenia were screened for eligibility. Finally, 46 outpatients (29 treated with Ari-LAI, 13 with PP1M, and four with PP3M) were evaluated through clinical, functional, and neuropsychological assessment administrated at baseline and after 3-, 12-, and 15-month follow-up periods. Moreover, periodic general medical evaluations were carried out. We estimated an overall improvement over time on the explored outcomes, without differences with respect to the type of LAI investigated, and with a global 16.4% dropout rate. Our findings suggest that switching from oral SGA to SGA-LAIs represents a valid and effective treatment strategy, with significant improvements on psychopathological, cognitive, social, and clinical variables for patients suffering from schizophrenia, regardless of the type of molecule chosen.

Achieving long-term goals through early personalized management of schizophrenia: expert opinion on the role of a new fast-onset long-acting injectable antipsychotic

Definition of an appropriate and personalized treatment plan focused on long-term outcomes is crucial in the management of schizophrenia. Following review of the literature, a panel of six leading psychiatrists discussed the importance of clear and shared long-term goals when initiating antipsychotic treatment in light of their clinical experience. The importance of establishing shared and progressive treatment objectives was stressed, which should be tailored based on the patient's characteristics, goals, and preferences. Consensus emerged on the key role that therapeutic alliance and patient empowerment play throughout the course of treatment. Reduction in symptoms in the acute phase along with good efficacy and tolerability in the maintenance phase emerged as essential features of a therapy that can favor achievement of long-term outcomes. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics enhance adherence to treatment compared to oral formulations and have been shown to be effective in the maintenance phase. Currently available LAIs are characterized by a delayed onset of action and require a loading dose or oral supplementation to achieve therapeutic concentrations. Risperidone ISM^® is a novel LAI antipsychotic with fast and sustained release of antipsychotic, reaching therapeutic plasma levels within a few hours after administration without oral supplementation or loading doses. Risperidone ISM^® has been shown to rapidly control symptoms in patients with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia and to be effective and well tolerated as maintenance treatment irrespective of the severity of initial symptoms. It thus represents a valuable and novel therapeutic option in management of schizophrenia.

Tolerability profile of paliperidone palmitate formulations: A pharmacovigilance analysis of the EUDRAVigilance database

Introduction

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) have proven to be effective in the maintenance treatment of patients suffering from schizophrenia, and their safety and tolerability profiles represent a key factor in their long-term use and choice in clinical practice. Paliperidone palmitate (PP) is the only second-generation LAI (SGA-LAI), available in both one- (PP1M) and 3-month (PP3M) formulations. However, real-world prospective studies on PP1M and PP3M are still few and mostly conducted on small samples. In this context, we aimed to better define the safety and tolerability profile of PP using real world pharmacovigilance data.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the publicly available data regarding Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs), presenting PP1M and/or PP3M as suspected drugs, reported on EUDRAVigilance between 2011 and June 30th, 2022. ICSRs relative to at least one SGA-LAI other than PP, reported between 2003 and June 30th, 2022, were also examined as reference group. Data were evaluated with a descriptive analysis, and then, as disproportionality measures, crude reporting odds ratio (ROR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.

Results

A total of 8,152 ICSRs met the inclusion criteria, of those 77.7% (n = 6,332) presented as suspected drug PP1M, 21.2% (n = 1,731) PP3M, while 89 cases indicated both PP1M and PP3M. Significantly higher probabilities of reporting in PP-related reports were observed for the primary Standardized MedDRA Queries "Sexual Dysfunctions" (ROR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.23-1.70), "Haemodynamic oedema, effusions and fluid overload" (ROR = 1.42; 1.18-1.70), as well as "Fertility disorders" (ROR = 2.69; 1.51-4.80).

Discussion

Our analysis indicates that the tolerability and safety profiles of PP are in line with what is known for the other SGA-LAIs. However, differences regarding endocrine system ADRs have been noticed. The results presented in this work do not discourage the prescription of SGA-LAI formulations but aim to enhance their safety.

Psychometric Properties of the 9-Item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9): Validation of the Italian Version in a Large Psychiatric Clinical Sample

OBJECTIVE

The nine-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) is one of the most frequently used tools for assessing patients' involvement in medical decision-making, but so far, it not been validated in Italian. We aimed to validate the Italian version of the SDM-Q-9 in a clinical sample of patients suffering from major psychiatric disorders.

METHOD

We involved 307 consecutive patients affected by major psychiatric disorders (including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, affective disorders and eating disorders) in a real-world outpatient clinical setting. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the latent structure of the SDM-Q-9. Cronbach's alpha and correlations between the SDM-Q-9 and the Observing Patient Involvement (OPTION) scale were calculated to measure internal consistency and convergent validity respectively.

RESULTS

The final sample was made up of 289 participants (response rate 94.1%) who completed the assessment. CFA confirmed the unidimensional structure as in the original version (χ2/df= 1.69; CFI= 0.98; TLI= 0.97; RMSEA= 0.05; SRMR= 0.08). Internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's α = .86. Regarding construct validity, we found several correlations between the SDM-Q-9 and OPTION scale.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the Italian version of SDM-Q-9 performs well if compared to other languages validated versions, so it is a useful patient-centred measure to assess the involvement in medical decision-making (SDM) of patients from clinical samples from the Italian-speaking population.

Antidepressants and Vertebral and Hip Risk Fracture: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although antidepressant drugs appear to play an active role in increasing fracture risk, their weight is still unclear. We conducted a PRISMA compliant systematic review and meta-analysis through PubMed/Scopus/Cochrane libraries and registered with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021254006) to investigate the relationship between antidepressant drugs categories, including SSRIs, SNRIs, and TCAs, and the risk of hip and vertebral fractures. After screening 3122 items, we finally found 26 papers for qualitative analysis and 11 for quantitative synthesis. A total of 15,209,542 adult and elderly patients were identified, with a mean follow-up of 51 months and a major prevalence of women. We identified results largely for SSRIs, with only a small amount of data for SNRIs, TCAs, and NaSSA. No data were found among the most recent categories of antidepressants, such as vortioxetine and esketamine. All included studies reported hip fractures, while three of them also included vertebral fractures. Overall, we observed a significant effect of SSRIs on fracture risk with a mean effect of 0.98 (95% CI = 0.75–1.20). This meta-analysis reveals that the use of SSRIs increases the risk of fractures. Clinicians’ awareness in antidepressant prescription should optimize their potential while reducing this risk.

The Role of Attitudes Toward Medication and Treatment Adherence in the Clinical Response to LAIs: Findings From the STAR Network Depot Study

Background: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are efficacious in managing psychotic symptoms in people affected by severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The present study aimed to investigate whether attitude toward treatment and treatment adherence represent predictors of symptoms changes over time. Methods: The STAR Network "Depot Study" was a naturalistic, multicenter, observational, prospective study that enrolled people initiating a LAI without restrictions on diagnosis, clinical severity or setting. Participants from 32 Italian centers were assessed at three time points: baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up. Psychopathological symptoms, attitude toward medication and treatment adherence were measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10) and the Kemp's 7-point scale, respectively. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate whether attitude toward medication and treatment adherence independently predicted symptoms changes over time. Analyses were conducted on the overall sample and then stratified according to the baseline severity (BPRS < 41 or BPRS ≥ 41). Results: We included 461 participants of which 276 were males. The majority of participants had received a primary diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (71.80%) and initiated a treatment with a second-generation LAI (69.63%). BPRS, DAI-10, and Kemp's scale scores improved over time. Six linear regressions-conducted considering the outcome and predictors at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up independently-showed that both DAI-10 and Kemp's scale negatively associated with BPRS scores at the three considered time points. Linear mixed-effects models conducted on the overall sample did not show any significant association between attitude toward medication or treatment adherence and changes in psychiatric symptoms over time. However, after stratification according to baseline severity, we found that both DAI-10 and Kemp's scale negatively predicted changes in BPRS scores at 12-month follow-up regardless of baseline severity. The association at 6-month follow-up was confirmed only in the group with moderate or severe symptoms at baseline. Conclusion: Our findings corroborate the importance of improving the quality of relationship between clinicians and patients. Shared decision making and thorough discussions about benefits and side effects may improve the outcome in patients with severe mental disorders.

Clozapine Management in Schizophrenia Inpatients: A 5-Year Prospective Observational Study of Its Safety and Tolerability Profile

BACKGROUND

Clozapine is well known for its efficacy and clinical superiority compared to other antipsychotics in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). However, it is frequently underutilized worldwide because of its acute adverse events, as well as for its long-term cardiometabolic and hematological consequences.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate 5-year safety in chronic TRS inpatients with continuous clozapine use.

METHODS

Patients with TRS and clozapine treatment were evaluated for 5 years. All participants were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Glasgow Antipsychotic Side-effect Scale for Clozapine (GASS-C), Social Performance Scale (PSP) and Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Clinical, cardiometabolic and hematological data were collected periodically. General linear models (GLM) repeated measures controlling for CLZ dose were utilized to determine differences in variables across the time.

RESULTS

Overall, 189 inpatients were screened for study participation. The final sample included twenty-one TRS patients (16 males, 76%) with an average age of 57.6 years, all with 5-year continuous use of clozapine (mean dose 266 mg/day). There was not a significant effect of time on BPRS (p=0.774), PSP (p=0.855) and SPMSQ (p=0.066); differences remained not significant after controlling for CLZ dose (p=0.585, p=0.467 and p=0.105, respectively). No changes were found in blood and clinical parameters except for red blood cell count, which decreased over time (p=0.024; η2= 0.952). Patients reported a significant BMI decrease (-8.98 kg, p=0.008) between baseline and 5 years last observation.

CONCLUSION

The findings show how the application of a structured dietary, clinical and therapeutic monitoring program in psychiatric care facilities could allow the safe and effective long-term cardiometabolic and hematological management of clozapine. The unique role that clozapine plays in the current treatment of patients with TRS requires greater clinical awareness. Although its acute and chronic side effects are notorious, its safety management is feasible and broadens its potential practical application.