Association of Adverse Drug Effects With Subjective Well-Being in Patients With Schizophrenia Receiving Stable Doses of Risperidone

A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Antipsychotic Drugs on the Quality of Life of Patients with Schizophrenia

Pharmacological antipsychotic drug interventions represent the cornerstone of the management of patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic spectrum disorders. The choice of the "best" treatment should be made on the basis of several clinical domains. However, despite available treatments, the quality of life reported by patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotics is still very poor, and this outcome is rarely taken into account in trials assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of antipsychotic treatments. Therefore, we performed a systematic review in order to assess the impact of antipsychotic treatment on patients' quality of life. In particular, we aimed to identify any differences in the improvement in quality of life according to the (a) type of formulation of antipsychotic drugs (i.e., oral vs. depot vs. long-acting injectable); (b) type of the drug (first vs. second vs. third generation); and (c) patients' clinical characteristics. One hundred and eleven papers were included in the review. The main findings were as follows: (1) quality of life is usually considered a secondary outcome in trials on the efficacy and effectiveness of drugs; (2) second-generation antipsychotics have a more positive effect on quality of life; and (3) long-acting injectable antipsychotics are associated with a more stable improvement in quality of life and with a good safety and tolerability profile. Our systematic review confirms that quality of life represents a central element for selecting the appropriate treatment for people with schizophrenia. In particular, the availability of new treatments with a better tolerability profile, a proven effectiveness on patients' cognitive and social functioning, and with a more stable blood concentration might represent the appropriate strategy for improving the quality of life of people with schizophrenia.

Factors associated with health-related quality of life in long-stay inpatients with chronic schizophrenia

Aim

Few studies have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in long-stay inpatients with chronic schizophrenia in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the factors associated with HRQoL among these patients.

Methods

Out of 238 patients with chronic schizophrenia admitted to three hospitals, 101 inpatients provided informed consent to participate in the study. The patients' HRQoL was assessed using two instruments: the EuroQol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) as a generic index and the Subjective Well-being Under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale, Japanese Version (SWNS-J) as a disease-specific index. We examined the factors associated with these HRQoL indices using multiple linear regression models.

Results

The patients' mean age was 62.9 years, and 51.5% were female. The mean (standard deviation) EQ-5D score and SWNS-J total score were 0.776 (0.177) and 83.5 (16.5), respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the EQ-5D score was significantly and negatively associated with the female sex, benzodiazepine use, and Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale scores. In contrast, the SWNS-J total score was significantly and negatively associated with first-generation antipsychotics use, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores, Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale scores, and Global Assessment of Functioning scale scores.

Conclusion

This study identified the factors associated with two HRQoL indices among long-stay inpatients with chronic schizophrenia in Japan. Although the analyses showed differences in the associated factors between the generic EQ-5D and the disease-specific SWNS-J, extrapyramidal symptoms as adverse effects of antipsychotic treatment were found to be associated with both indices.

DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A (rs 1800497 C>T) genotypes are associated with susceptibility to second generation antipsychotic-induced akathisia

Although the advent of atypical, second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) has resulted in reduced likelihood of akathisia, this adverse effect remains a problem. It is known that extrapyramidal adverse effects are associated with increased drug occupancy of the dopamine 2 receptors (DRD2). The A1 allele of the DRD2/ANKK1, rs1800497, is associated with decreased striatal DRD2 density. The aim of this study was to identify whether the A1(T) allele of DRD2/ANKK1 was associated with akathisia (as measured by Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale) in a clinical sample of 234 patients who were treated with antipsychotic drugs. Definite akathisia (a score ≥ 2 in the global clinical assessment of akathisia) was significantly less common in subjects who were prescribed SGAs (16.8%) than those prescribed FGAs (47.6%), p < 0.0001. Overall, 24.1% of A1+ patients (A1A2/A1A1) who were treated with SGAs had akathisia, compared to 10.8% of A1- (thus, A2A2) patients. A1+ patients who were administered SGAs also had higher global clinical assessment of akathisia scores than the A1- subjects (p = 0.01). SGAs maintained their advantage over FGAs regarding akathisia, even in A1+ patients who were treated with SGAs. These results strongly suggested that A1+ variants of the DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A allele do confer an associated risk for akathisia in patients who were treated with SGAs, and these variants may explain inconsistencies found across prior studies, when comparing FGAs and SGAs.

Monitoring and documentation of side effects from depot antipsychotic medication: an interdisciplinary audit of practice in a regional mental health service

This audit reviewed current practice within a rural mental health service area on the monitoring and documentation of side effects of antipsychotic depot medication. A sample of 60 case files, care plans and prescriptions were audited, which is 31% of the total number of service users receiving depot injections in the mental health service region (n= 181). The sample audited had a range of diagnoses, including: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder, depression, alcoholic hallucinosis and autism. The audit results revealed that most service users had an annual documented medical review and a documented prescription. However, only five (8%) case notes examined had documentation recorded describing the condition of the injection site, and alternation of the injection site was recorded in only 28 (47%) case notes. No case notes examined had written consent to commence treatment recorded. In 57 (95%) of case notes, no documentation of recorded information on the depot and on side effects was given. The failure to monitor and record some blood tests was partly attributed to a lack of clarity regarding whose responsibility it was. A standardized checklist has been developed as a result of the audit and this will be introduced by all teams across the service.

Subjective well-being in schizophrenia as measured with the Subjective Well-Being under Neuroleptic Treatment scale: a review

OBJECTIVE

The Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment scale (SWN) is the most widely used self-rating scale in recent research of subjective well-being in schizophrenia. We reviewed all available publications on relevant research of subjective well-being using the SWN, in order to evaluate measurement of subjective well-being with a single instrument.

METHOD

A MEDLINE and Embase search was performed for studies published between January 1994 and August 2010, analysing controlled and open clinical trials using the SWN.

RESULTS

A total of 52 publications were identified covering 44 studies. Strong evidence exists for improvement of subjective well-being during treatment. Atypical antipsychotics are associated with a higher level of well-being. However, dosage is more important than the kind of medication. Striatal dopamine D(2) receptor occupancy is correlated with subjective well-being. Early positive response of subjective well-being is predictive of a better outcome. Research on determinants of subjective well-being is rapidly expanding, focusing mostly on the effects of medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective well-being of schizophrenia patients is a valuable outcome measure. It can be improved by optimizing antipsychotic treatment. More research on psychological and genetic predictors of subjective well-being is needed.

The relationship between akathisia and subjective tolerability in patients with schizophrenia

Akathisia remains a significant issue even in the era of atypical antipsychotics. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of akathisia with various domains of subjective tolerability in order to contribute to the renewed interest in akathisia and the subjective experience of antipsychotic treatment. Fifty schizophrenic outpatients receiving stable doses of risperidone were evaluated for akathisia, schizophrenic symptoms, and subjective tolerability. Subjective tolerability was comprehensively assessed using the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale. Analysis of covariance revealed that the akathisia group had a significantly higher total score as well as higher subscale scores of extrapyramidal side effect, psychic side effect, and autonomic side effect on the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale. Further analysis using binary logistic regression analysis revealed that these variables were significantly associated with akathisia. The results of our study suggest that akathisia is significantly associated with a wide range of subjective tolerability profiles, implying the necessity to effectively manage akathisia even its mild forms considering its strong association with subjective tolerability in general.