Simultaneous Comparison of Efficacy and Tolerability of Second-Generation Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia: Mixed-Treatment Comparison Analysis Based on Head-to-Head Trial Data

A 3-year prospective study on the metabolic effect of aripiprazole, quetiapine and ziprasidone: A pragmatic clinical trial in first episode psychosis patients

Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder with an excess morbidity and mortality partly due to a higher incidence of metabolic disturbances and cardio-vascular events. The exposure to antipsychotic treatment has been observed linked to these metabolic abnormalities. This study explores the metabolic effects of aripiprazol, quetiapine and ziprasidone in drug-naïve patients with a first-episode of psychosis, at long-term. Two-hundred and two patients with first-episode of psychosis were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive quetiapine, ziprasidone, or aripiprazole. Clinical, sociodemographic and anthropometric measures, as well as lipid and glyceamic parameters, were recorded at baseline and after three years of initiating antipsychotic treatment. Body weight and BMI increased significantly after 3 years of follow-up (F = 35.0, p<0.001; and F = 37.6, p<0.001, respectively). Most of the increase in weight occurred within the first year of treatment. The proportion of patients meeting criteria for obesity (5.6% vs 25.7%; p<0.001), hypercholesterolemia (23.2% vs 41.7%; p<0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (5.8% vs 23.0%; p<0.001) increased significantly. Head-to-head comparisons between antipsychotic groups revealed that the ziprasidone group presented significantly smaller increments in weight (p = 0.034) and BMI (p = 0.020) than aripiprazole group. After 3 years of having presented a first episode of psychosis, patients show significant increments in body weight and BMI, as well as in lipid and glycaemic parameters leading to clinical metabolic disturbances. In this context, the first year is the critical period for weight gain and development of metabolic changes. In this study, ziprasidone produced smaller weight gain than aripiprazole.

Brexpiprazole: A Review in Schizophrenia

Brexpiprazole (Rxulti^®, Rexulti^®) is an oral atypical antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in the EU (in adult patients) and the USA, as well as in some other countries, including Japan. Like aripiprazole, it is a partial agonist at dopamine D₂ and serotonin 5-HT_1A receptors and an antagonist at serotonin 5-HT_2A receptors. However, brexpiprazole displays less intrinsic activity at D₂ receptors and, coupled with actions at 5HT_1A, 5HT_2A and noradrenaline α_1B receptors that are at least as potent as its action at D₂ receptors, is predicted to demonstrate a lower propensity for activating adverse events and extrapyramidal symptoms than aripiprazole. Brexpiprazole 2-4 mg/day produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall symptomatology and psychosocial functioning compared with placebo in adults with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. As maintenance treatment, brexpiprazole 1-4 mg/day significantly delayed the time to relapse compared with placebo in patients who were already stabilized on the drug and was associated with stabilization or continued improvement in patients' symptoms and functioning. Brexpiprazole was generally well tolerated, exhibiting an adverse event profile characterized by a relatively low incidence of activating and sedating adverse effects, small changes in QT interval and metabolic parameters that were not clinically significant, and moderate weight gain. Clinical evidence to date suggests it usefully extends the range of therapeutic options for schizophrenia.

The psychopharmacology of catatonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and dystonia

Although highly prevalent, motor syndromes in psychiatry and motor side effects of psychopharmacologic agents remain understudied. Catatonia is a syndrome with specific motor abnormalities that can be seen in the context of a variety of psychiatric and somatic conditions. The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a lethal variant, induced by antipsychotic drugs. Therefore, antipsychotics should be used with caution in the presence of catatonic signs. Antipsychotics and other dopamine-antagonist drugs can also cause motor side effects such as akathisia, (tardive) dyskinesia, and dystonia. These syndromes share a debilitating impact on the functioning and well-being of patients. To reduce the risk of inducing these side effects, a balanced and well-advised prescription of antipsychotics is of utmost importance. Clinicians should be able to recognize motor side effects and be knowledgeable of the different treatment modalities.

The effects of brexpiprazole and aripiprazole on body weight as monotherapy in patients with schizophrenia and as adjunctive treatment in patients with major depressive disorder: an analysis of short-term and long-term studies

The aim of this analysis was to explore the effects of brexpiprazole and aripiprazole on body weight when used as monotherapy to treat schizophrenia and as adjunctive treatment to antidepressant treatment (ADT) for major depressive disorder (MDD) in short-term (4/6 weeks) and long-term (≤52 weeks) studies. Body weight data were obtained from the clinical studies of each drug (brexpiprazole and aripiprazole), in schizophrenia and adjunctive treatment of MDD. Data were pooled and analyzed to assess the mean change in body weight and to determine the incidence of a clinically relevant change in body weight from baseline (≥7% increase or decrease, at any time) in each treatment group. The overall weight profiles for brexpiprazole and aripiprazole in the short-term and long-term treatment of schizophrenia, and MDD (adjunctive to ADT), were similar. In short-term schizophrenia studies, the mean weight increase was 1.2 kg for brexpiprazole and 0.6 kg for aripiprazole. In short-term MDD studies (adjunctive to ADT), the mean weight increase was 1.5 kg for brexpiprazole and 1.6 kg for aripiprazole. In the long-term schizophrenia studies, at week 52, the mean weight increase was 2.1 kg for brexpiprazole and 3.0 kg for aripiprazole. In long-term MDD studies (adjunctive to ADT), at week 52, the mean weight increase was 3.2 kg for brexpiprazole and 4.0 kg for aripiprazole. Clinically relevant increases or decreases in body weight were also similar for brexpiprazole and aripiprazole. Overall, in the treatment of schizophrenia, and in adjunctive treatment of MDD, brexpiprazole and aripiprazole have a similar effect on body weight over the course of 1 year.

The metabolic side effects of 12 antipsychotic drugs used for the treatment of schizophrenia on glucose: a network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotics have serious metabolic side effects on blood glucose. However, the comparative influence of these drugs on blood glucose levels has not been comprehensively evaluated. We conducted a network meta-analysis to create a hierarchy of the side effects of 12 antipsychotic drugs on changes in blood glucose levels.

METHODS

A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases (last search June 2016) was conducted to identify studies that reported randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing changes in blood glucose levels between patients receiving one of 12 antipsychotic drugs or a placebo for the treatment of schizophrenia or related disorders. The studies we searched were limited to those published in English. Two reviewers independently extracted data. The primary outcome of interest was changes in fasting glucose levels.

RESULTS

We included 47 studies with 114 relevant arms. Of the antipsychotic drugs, only olanzapine was associated with significantly increased glucose levels compared to a placebo (mean difference (MD) = 3.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.14 to 7.76). Moreover, olanzapine was associated with a significantly greater change in the glucose levels than ziprasidone (MD = 5.51, 95% CI = 1.62 to 9.39), lurasidone (MD = 5.58, 95% CI = 0.53 to 10.64) or risperidone (MD = 3.05, 95% CI = 0.87 to 5.22). Ziprasidone and lurasidone were associated with minimal glucose changes compared to the other antipsychotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Olanzapine was associated with a significantly greater change in blood glucose levels than ziprasidone, lurasidone, risperidone or placebo treatment. The application of a hierarchy of glucose metabolism-related side effects may help clinicians tailor the choice of antipsychotic drug to meet the needs of individual patients.

[Tardive movement disorders with antipsychotics – a case of aripirazole-induced tardive dystonia and review of the literature]

Extrapyramidal adverse events (EPS) occur less frequently with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) than with first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs). Tardive dyskinesia (TD), but not tardive dystonia (TDt), also seems to occur less often in adults. TD was found to occur less frequently in children and adolescents treated with FGAs than in adults. No data are available on TDt, and the data pertaining to SGAs are limited and conflicting. SGAs differ in their profile of adverse events. Aripiprazole is less frequently associated with adverse metabolic or cardiac events, but more often with EPS, at least in children and adolescents. To date, there are several case reports of TD or TDt with aripiprazole in adults. Symptomatology, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology, prevalence, and therapy of TDt are presented here based on a case report of TDt during aripiprazole therapy in a 13-year-old girl. During medication with SGAs, the occurrence of EPS, including tardive movement disorders, should be considered and regularly monitored.

Efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of 8 atypical antipsychotics in Chinese patients with acute schizophrenia: A network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to create hierarchies of the efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of eight atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of Chinese patients with acute schizophrenia.

METHOD

We systematically searched for RCT articles published between January 1st 2005 and December 31st 2014 in electronic databases (Medline, Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrial.gov for studies in English and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang, and VIP Information/Chinese Scientific Journals Database for studies in Chinese). The primary outcome was efficacy, as measured by the change of PANSS total score. Pairwise comparisons were performed using random-effects model by the Dersimonian-Laird method and network meta-analyses were performed in a Bayesian set.

RESULTS

Sixty high-quality RCTs with 6418 participants were included. A pattern of superiority from olanzapine, paliperidone and amisulpride was seen in the primary outcome. Only paliperidone was found better than aripiprazole (odds ratio, 0.49 [95% credible intervals, 0.25 to 0.99]), ziprasidone (0.42 [0.21 to 0.85]) and quetiapine (0.36 [0.13 to 0.93]) in terms of all-cause discontinuation. The best and worst drugs in terms of weight gain, EPS and somnolence were aripiprazole and olanzapine, clozapine and amisulpride, aripiprazole and clozapine, respectively. The rank of efficacy did not change substantially in sensitivity analyses or in meta-regressions.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provided the hierarchies of eight antipsychotics in efficacy, acceptability and tolerability. These findings are expected to help Chinese clinicians to select the appropriate antipsychotic drug for their patients.

In Vivo Systems Response Profiling and Multivariate Classification of CNS Active Compounds: A Structured Tool for CNS Drug Discovery

This paper describes the application of in vivo systems response profiling in CNS drug discovery by a process referred to as the Integrative Screening Process. The biological response profile, treated as an array, is used as major outcome for selection of candidate drugs. Dose-response data, including ex vivo brain monoaminergic biomarkers and behavioral descriptors, are systematically collected and analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares (PLS) regression, yielding multivariate characterization across compounds. The approach is exemplified by assessing a new class of CNS active compounds, the dopidines, compared to other monoamine modulating compounds including antipsychotics, antidepressants, and procognitive agents. Dopidines display a distinct phenotypic profile which has prompted extensive further preclinical and clinical investigations. In summary, in vivo profiles of CNS compounds are mapped, based on dose response studies in the rat. Applying a systematic and standardized work-flow, a database of in vivo systems response profiles is compiled, enabling comparisons and classification. This creates a framework for translational mapping, a crucial component in CNS drug discovery.

Assessing the burden of treatment-emergent adverse events associated with atypical antipsychotic medications

BACKGROUND

Treatment of schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD) with atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) show improved efficacy and reduced side effect burden compared with older antipsychotic medications. However, a risk of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) remains. TEAEs are hard to quantify and perspectives on the importance of TEAEs differ across patients and between patients and physicians. The current study is a qualitative assessment that investigates TEAEs of AAPs from both patient and physician perspectives to provide better understanding of the occurrence and burden of TEAEs associated with these medications.

METHODS

Focus groups comprised of patients with MDD and interviews with patients with schizophrenia were conducted at two qualitative research facilities, along with a physician focus group at one of the facilities. Information collected from patients included an exhaustive list of TEAEs experienced, and the frequency and level of bother of each TEAE; from psychiatrists, information included an exhaustive list of TEAEs based on personal observations and patient report, frequency of TEAEs, clinically important TEAEs, and levels of patient-perceived bother. Standard qualitative analysis methods were used to identify, quantify, characterize, and summarize patterns found in the data collected.

RESULTS

A total of 42 patients (25 with MDD and 17 with schizophrenia) and 4 psychiatrists participated in the study. TEAEs reported as bothersome across both patients groups included cognitive issues, weight gain and/or increased appetite, low energy, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and need to sleep/excessive sleep/excessive sleepiness. TEAEs considered more bothersome by patients with schizophrenia were weight gain, low energy, EPS, mental anxiety, and increased positive symptoms; those considered more bothersome by patients with MDD were cognitive issues, somnolence/sedation, and flat/restricted affect. TEAEs considered most clinically important by psychiatrists included metabolic syndrome, weight gain, neutropenia, hyperglycemia, and QT prolongation; those TEAEs considered most bothersome to patients from physicians' perspectives included weight gain, reduced sexual desire or performance, EPS, akathisia, and hormonal issues.

CONCLUSIONS

The wide range of TEAEs that are both frequent and bothersome and the variation in perceived burden according to diagnosis highlight the need for a tailored TEAE-awareness approach when choosing an AAP.

Revisiting Antipsychotic-induced Akathisia: Current Issues and Prospective Challenges

BACKGROUND

Akathisia continues to be a significant challenge in current neurological and psychiatric practice. Prompt and accurate detection is often difficult and there is a lack of consensus concerning the neurobiological basis of akathisia. No definitive treatment has been established for akathisia despite numerous preclinical and clinical studies.] Method: We reviewed antipsychotic-induced akathisia including its clinical presentation, proposed underlying pathophysiology, current and under investigation therapeutic strategies.

CONCLUSION

Despite the initial promise that second generation antipsychotics would be devoid of akathisia effects, this has not been confirmed. Currently, there are limited therapeutic options for the clinical practice and the evidence supporting the most widely used treatments (beta blockers, anticholinergic drugs) is still absent or inconsistent.

Body mass index and blood glucose in psychiatric and general practice populations

Aims and method Using a retrospective observational approach, we aimed to discern whether there was a difference in metabolic parameters between psychiatric and general practice populations in the same locality. Second, we aimed to establish differences in metabolic parameters of patients taking olanzapine, clozapine or aripiprazole. Results Patients with psychiatric illness had a body mass index (BMI) comparable to that of the general practice population (28.7 v. 29.7 kg/m(2)), but blood glucose was significantly lower in the general practice population (4.8 v. 6.1 mmol/L). Olanzapine was associated with the lowest BMI (26.1 kg/m(2)) and aripiprazole the highest (32.2 kg/m(2)), with no difference in blood glucose between antipsychotics. Clinical implications Awareness of environmental factors and how they affect individuals is important and medications are not the only cause of metabolic effects. There may be a channelling bias present, meaning practitioners are cognisant of potential metabolic effects prior to prescribing. Overall monitoring of physical health is important regardless of potential cause.

Adverse events and treatment failure leading to discontinuation of recently approved antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: A network meta-analysis

Objective:We aimed to gather evidence of the discontinuation rates owing to adverse events or treatment failure for four recently approved antipsychotics (asenapine, blonanserin, iloperidone, and lurasidone).Methods: A systematic review followed by pairwise meta-analysis and mixed treatment comparison meta analysis(MTC) was performed, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the use of the above-mentioned drugs versus placebo in patients with schizophrenia. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Scielo, the Cochrane Library, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts(January 2015). The included trials were at least single blinded. The main outcome measures extracted were discontinuation owing to adverse events and discontinuation owing to treatment failure.Results: Fifteen RCTs were identified (n = 5400 participants) and 13 of them were amenable for use in our meta-analyses. No significant differences were observed between any of the four drugs and placebo as regards discontinuation owing to adverse events, whether in pairwise meta-analysis or in MTC. All drugs presented a better profile than placebo on discontinuation owing to treatment failure, both in pairwise meta-analysis and MTC. Asenapine was found to be the best therapy in terms of tolerability owing to failure,while lurasidone was the worst treatment in terms of adverse events. The evidence around blonanserin is weak.Conclusion: MTCs allowed the creation of two different rank orders of these four antipsychotic drugs in two outcome measures. This evidence-generating method allows direct and indirect comparisons, supporting approval and pricing decisions when lacking sufficient, direct, head-to-head trials.

The clinical challenges of akathisia

Akathisia is one of the most vexing problems in neuropsychiatry. Although it is one of the most common side effects of antipsychotic medications, it is often difficult to describe by patients, and is difficult to diagnose and treat by practitioners. Akathisia is usually grouped with extrapyramidal movement disorders (ie, movement disorders that originate outside the pyramidal or corticospinal tracts and generally involve the basal ganglia). Yet, it can present as a purely subjective clinical complaint, without overt movement abnormalities. It has been subtyped into acute, subacute, chronic, tardive, withdrawal-related, and "pseudo" forms, although the distinction between many of these is unclear. It is therefore not surprising that akathisia is generally either underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which is a serious problem because it can lead to such adverse outcomes as poor adherence to medications, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, and, in some cases, aggression, violence, and suicide. In this article, we will attempt to address some of the confusion surrounding the condition, its relationship to other disorders, and differential diagnosis, as well as treatment alternatives.

Lurasidone for the treatment of bipolar depression: an evidence-based review

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating and difficult-to-treat psychiatric disease that presents a serious burden to patients' lives as well as health care systems around the world. The essential diagnostic criterion for BD is episodes of mania or hypomania; however, the patients report that the majority of their time is spent in a depressive phase. Current treatment options for this component of BD have yet to achieve satisfactory remission rates. Lurasidone is a drug in the benzisothiazole class approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in June 2013 for the acute treatment of bipolar depression. Its pharmacological profile features high-affinity antagonism at D2, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT7 receptors; moderate-affinity antagonism at α2C-adrenergic receptors; low- to very low-affinity antagonism at α1A-adrenergic, α2A-adrenergic, H1, M1, and 5-HT2C receptors; and high-affinity partial agonism at 5-HT1A. Preliminary findings from two recent double-blinded clinical trials suggest that lurasidone is efficacious in treating bipolar I depression, with clinical effects manifesting as early as the first 2-3 weeks of treatment (as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impressions Scale for use in bipolar illness). Its therapeutic benefit appears to be comparable to the current US Food and Drug Administration-indicated treatments: quetiapine and olanzapine-fluoxetine, according to a measure of effect size known as number needed to treat. These studies reported relatively limited extrapyramidal and metabolic side effects as a result of treatment with lurasidone, with the most common side effect being nausea. Safety data drawn from these studies, as well as a more extensive body of schizophrenia research, indicate that in comparison with other atypical antipsychotics, treatment with lurasidone is less likely to result in metabolic side effects such as weight gain or disturbances of serum glucose or lipid levels. Lurasidone holds clinical potential as a novel, efficacious pharmacological treatment for bipolar depression. However, current data on its use for the treatment of BD are limited, and more extensive research, both longer in duration as well as independently conducted, is needed.