Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and Nonpsychiatric Control Subjects in Clinical Trials.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with serious mental illness (SMI), specifically relating to psychiatric morbidity, pandemic-induced stress, and ability to cope with pandemic-related precautionary measures, restrictions, and disruptions to daily life. Design: A cross-sectional survey study of 277 clinical trial patients was conducted. This sample included nonpsychiatric controls (n=139) and patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), or schizophrenia (n=138) located at five clinical trial sites across the United States. A univariate analysis was performed to obtain general frequencies of the sample. Unpaired t-tests were used in comparing the groups on numerical variables, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to identify differences when comparing three or more categories. Results: Patients with SMI were more likely to report wearing face masks, avoiding large gatherings, and endorsing the use of precautionary measures, despite receiving a COVID-19 vaccine (p<0.001). A total of 70.3 percent (n=97) of all patients with SMI reported experiencing at least one episode of symptom worsening, 48 percent reported experiencing suicidal ideation, and 66 percent reported a need for increased mental healthcare due to COVID-19-related distress. Patients with SMI reported higher levels of stress, compared to controls, with patients with MDD having the highest levels of stress (p<0.001). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate an increased vulnerability to symptom worsening in patients with SMI during a pandemic and suggest the need to account for pandemic-induced psychological stress in clinical trial design, subject selection, and symptoms ratings.

Long-term efficacy and safety of once-monthly Risperidone ISM® in the treatment of schizophrenia: Results from a 12-month open-label extension study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of Risperidone ISM® in patients with schizophrenia, a multicenter, open-label extension of the PRISMA-3 study was conducted. METHODS: Eligible placebo (unstable) and Risperidone ISM® (stabilized) rollover patients from a previous 12-week double-blind phase and de novo stable patients received once-monthly intramuscular injections of Risperidone ISM® 75 or 100 mg for 12 months. The long term-efficacy assessment included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scales. Safety evaluation included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), injection site reactions (ISR), laboratory tests and several safety scales. RESULTS: Altogether, 215 patients entered the study (55 unstable, 119 stabilized and 41 stable patients). Most patients (74.9%) completed, and discontinuation rates were broadly similar across the study subgroups, mainly due to withdrawal of consent (12.1%). PANSS total and subscales scores decreased from baseline to endpoint in all groups, with the largest decrease for unstable patients. Improvement from baseline to 12 months was also shown for CGI-S and CGI-I scores for both unstable and stabilized patients; the CGI-S and CGI-I scores remained almost unchanged for the stable group. At least one treatment-related TEAE was reported in 39.1% of patients; the most common were headache (12.1%), hyperprolactinemia (9.8%) and asthenia (5.1%). ISR were reported in 8 (0.3%) patients; injection site pain score was low across the 2355 doses assessed. CONCLUSION: Risperidone ISM® is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated long-term treatment of schizophrenia in adults, regardless of the initial disease severity or whether patients were previously treated with Risperidone ISM® during an acute exacerbation or switched from stable doses of oral risperidone.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Patients at Clinical Trial Sites.

Introduction: Recent research on the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that individuals who suffer from serious mental illness (SMI) are at heightened risk of infection and have increased mortality due to their illness and/or lack of access to healthcare. Consequently, progress in developing new treatments for SMIs has been disrupted, with many interruptions to clinical trials in psychiatry due to concerns regarding the pandemic and its risks to patients with SMI. Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with SMI, specifically relating to psychiatric morbidity, pandemic-induced stress, and ability to cope with pandemic-related precautionary measures, restrictions, and disruptions to daily life. Design: A cross-sectional survey study of 94 clinical trial patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), or schizophrenia was conducted in three geographically distinct clinical trial sites between June and September 2020. Prevalence rates were calculated for sample characteristics and demographics, and low versus high stress groups were compared on survey variables using Pearson's Chi-squared test of independence. Results: The results from the surveys indicated that COVID-19 knowledge, awareness, and the use of precautionary safety measures (e.g., handwashing, personal protective equipment [PPE], and social distancing) were robust and mirrored the general population. While the majority of patients reported experiencing moderate or extreme levels of distress (61.5%, n=56), high levels of stress were correlated with positive coping skills. Conclusion: These findings suggest that clinical trial patients with SMI can safely participate in clinical trials despite the increase safety risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Drug Development for Mental Illness: How Psychiatry Clinical Trial Sites are Meeting the Challenge of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: The goal was to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric drug development and clinical trials. Main Points of Discussion: Disruption of pharmaceutical industry- sponsored clinical trials for psychiatric disorders by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted by concerns regarding the safety of trial participants and the feasibility of trial conduct, has adversely impacted psychiatric drug development. In response, psychiatry trial sites have modified clinical trials and adapted trial conduct, through the use of social distancing, personal protective equipment, laboratory testing, and remote assessments, to reduce the risks of COVID-19. We review the implications of these modifications for participant safety, safe trial conduct, and data integrity. Conclusion: Given these implications, ongoing communication and consultation are needed between trials sites, sponsors, and all other stakeholders to ensure continued progress in psychiatric drug development during the pandemic.

Efficacy and safety of once-monthly Risperidone ISM® in schizophrenic patients with an acute exacerbation.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Risperidone ISM® against placebo in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted between June 2017 and December 2018 (NCT03160521). Eligible patients received once-monthly intramuscular injections of Risperidone ISM® (75 or 100 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score from baseline to week 12. The key secondary efficacy outcome was change from baseline in Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S) score. Altogether, 438 patients were randomized (1:1:1) and 390 included in the modified ITT efficacy set. The PANSS total score (mean difference, 95% CI) improved significantly from baseline to day 85 with Risperidone ISM® 75 and 100 mg, with placebo-adjusted differences of -13.0 (95% CI, -17.3 to -8.8); (p < 0.0001), and -13.3 (-17.6 to -8.9); (p < 0.0001), respectively. Significantly improved mean changes were also obtained for CGI-S score from baseline to day 85 for both doses of Risperidone ISM® compared with placebo -0.7 (-1.0 to -0.5); p < 0.0001, for both doses. The statistically significant improvement for both efficacy outcomes were observed as early as 8 days after first injection. The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events were increased blood prolactin (7.8%), headache (7.3%), hyperprolactinemia (5%), and weight increase (4.8%). Neither new nor unexpected relevant safety information was recorded. Risperidone ISM® provided rapid and progressive reduction of symptoms in patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia without need of oral risperidone supplementation or loading doses. Both doses were safe and well tolerated.

Dopamine D2 receptor occupancy of lumateperone (ITI-007): a Positron Emission Tomography Study in patients with schizophrenia.

Dopamine D2 receptor occupancy (D2RO) is a key feature of all currently approved antipsychotic medications. However, antipsychotic efficacy associated with high D2RO is often limited by side effects such as motor disturbances and hyperprolactinemia. Lumateperone (ITI-007) is a first-in-class selective and simultaneous modulator of serotonin, dopamine and glutamate in development for the treatment of schizophrenia and other disorders. The primary objective of the present study was to determine D2RO at plasma steady state of 60 mg ITI-007, a dose that previously demonstrated antipsychotic efficacy in a controlled trial, administered orally open-label once daily in the morning for two weeks in patients with schizophrenia (N = 10) and after at least a two-week washout period from standard of care antipsychotics. D2RO was determined using positron emission tomography with 11C-raclopride as the radiotracer. Mean peak dorsal striatal D2RO was 39% at 60 mg ITI-007 occurring 1 h post-dose. Lumateperone was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in this study. There were no clinically significant changes in vital signs, ECGs, or clinical chemistry laboratory values, including prolactin levels. There were no adverse event reports of akathisia or other extrapyramidal motor side effects; mean scores on motor function scales indicated no motor disturbances with lumateperone treatment. This level of occupancy is lower than most other antipsychotic drugs at their efficacious doses and likely contributes to the favorable safety and tolerability profile of lumateperone with reduced risk for movement disorders and hyperprolactinemia. If approved, lumateperone may provide a new and safe treatment option for individuals living with schizophrenia.

A phase II study to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of Risperidone ISM multiple intramuscular injections once every 4 weeks in patients with schizophrenia.

This study characterized the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of Risperidone ISM, a new long-acting intramuscular formulation, for monthly administration without oral supplementation. Patients with schizophrenia received multiple intramuscular injections of 75 mg in the gluteal or deltoid muscle at 28-day intervals. Of the 70 randomized patients, 67 received at least one dose of study medication. The mean Cmax of the active moiety was achieved 24-48 h (tmax) after each administration, regardless of injection site. They ranged over four consecutive doses from 39.6 to 53.2 and 54.1 to 61 ng/ml, when given in gluteal or deltoid muscle, respectively. Active moiety achieved therapeutic levels by 2 h after dose, and the levels were maintained throughout the 4-week dosing period. No significant changes across the study were observed on either Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale or Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale. Overall, 63 (94%) patients experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). One serious TEAE (dystonia) was related to study treatment. The most frequently reported TEAEs were hyperprolactinaemia (57.7%) and injection site pain (32.8%). Risperidone ISM achieved therapeutic levels from the first hours after drug administration and provided a sustained release throughout the 4-week dosing period over multiple intramuscular injections and was found to be safe and well tolerated.

Global improvement with cariprazine in the treatment of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia: A pooled post hoc analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Global rating scale measures are useful for assessing the clinical relevance of patient change. Cariprazine, a dopamine D3 and D2 receptor partial agonist, is FDA-approved for the adult treatment of acute manic/mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia. Post hoc evaluations of Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) scores from the cariprazine pivotal trials in both indications were conducted. METHODS: Data from 3 bipolar mania and 3 schizophrenia trials were pooled by indication (bipolar disorder = 1033; schizophrenia = 1466). Cariprazine- and placebo-treated patients were categorised by baseline CGI-S scores; the proportion of patients who improved from more severe categories at baseline to less severe categories at end-point was evaluated using a logistic regression model. Correlations between Young Mania Rating Scale and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score changes and category shifts were also evaluated. RESULTS: In both disease states, more cariprazine- than placebo-treated patients had improved CGI-S scores at end-point; more placebo-treated patients had worse end-point scores. More cariprazine- vs placebo-treated patients shifted from the extremely/severely ill to mildly ill/better category (bipolar disorder = 55% vs 36%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; P = .09; schizophrenia = 42% vs 18%, OR = 3.4, P<.01). ORs was statistically significant in favour of cariprazine in shifts from marked and moderate illness to borderline/normal in both indications (P < .05). Correlations between rating scale improvement and category shift were greatest in patients with extreme/severe baseline illness for bipolar disorder (-0.853) and schizophrenia (-0.677). CONCLUSIONS: Post hoc analyses showed that more cariprazine- than placebo-treated patients with bipolar mania or schizophrenia had statistically significant and clinically meaningful CGI-S improvement.

AZD8529, a positive allosteric modulator at the mGluR2 receptor, does not improve symptoms in schizophrenia: A proof of principle study.

INTRODUCTION: Activation of metabotropic glutamate (mGluR2/3) receptors has been proposed as an alternative mechanism to dopaminergic-based antipsychotics to correct glutamatergic deficits hypothesized to underlie schizophrenia symptoms. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of AZD8529, a selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) at the mGlu2 receptor, in symptomatic patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive AZD8529 40 mg, risperidone 4 mg, or placebo as monotherapy. Treatment lasted for 28 days, and clinical efficacy was assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between patients treated with AZD8529 versus placebo in change from baseline to endpoint in PANSS total, negative and positive symptom subscale, or CGI-S scores. In contrast, risperidone demonstrated significant efficacy relative to placebo. CONCLUSION: These results do not support a role for the mGluR-2 PAM AZD8529 as an antipsychotic and indicate that positive modulation of mGluR type 2 receptors alone is not sufficient for antipsychotic effects in acutely ill schizophrenia patients.

Cariprazine in the treatment of schizophrenia: a proof-of-concept trial.

This 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of low-dose (1.5-4.5 mg/day) and high-dose (6-12 mg/day) cariprazine in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia (NCT00404573). The primary efficacy measure was change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score, analyzed using a last observation carried forward approach. Other efficacy measures included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (secondary) and PANSS subscales (additional). There were no significant differences between the two doses of cariprazine and placebo in PANSS total score change or any other efficacy parameter after multiplicity adjustment. However, low-dose cariprazine versus placebo showed significantly greater reductions in PANSS total (P=0.033) and PANSS negative (P=0.027) scores without multiplicity adjustment. Common treatment-emergent adverse events (incidence≥5% and twice that in the placebo group in either cariprazine dose group) were akathisia, restlessness, tremor, back pain, and extrapyramidal disorder. In this study, the overall cariprazine treatment effect was not statistically significant, but patients treated with low-dose cariprazine showed significantly greater improvement in schizophrenia symptoms relative to placebo-treated patients. Cariprazine was generally well tolerated. Results of this study suggest that cariprazine may be effective in treating schizophrenia and future research is warranted.

The selective neurokinin 3 antagonist AZD2624 does not improve symptoms or cognition in schizophrenia: a proof-of-principle study.

Problems with the efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics on negative symptoms and cognition have highlighted the need for further development of drugs targeting central nervous system neurotransmitter systems other than dopamine. One target in development is neurokinin 3 (NK(3)) tachykinin receptors, which are coreleased and interact with dopamine. This study investigates the efficacy, tolerability, and cognitive effects of AZD2624, a selective, orally active NK(3) receptor antagonist, in symptomatic patients with schizophrenia. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: AZD2624 40 mg, placebo, or olanzapine 15 mg. Treatment lasted for 28 days, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale and Improvement Scales, and cognition as assessed by CogState were used as primary outcome measures. There were no significant differences in patients treated with AZD2624 versus placebo on change in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale; in addition, no change in CogState measures was found. Results of the trial do not support a role for the NK(3) antagonist AZD2624 as a therapeutic treatment for acute schizophrenia when used as monotherapy.

Efficacy of iloperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: initial phase 3 studies.

Iloperidone is an atypical antipsychotic in development for the treatment of schizophrenia. This report examines efficacy results from three 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active comparator-controlled studies in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Multiple doses of iloperidone were studied. Active comparators (haloperidol 15 mg/d, or risperidone 4-8 mg/d) were included to confirm trial validity. The primary protocol-defined efficacy variable in Study 1 was change from baseline to end point in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total scores; in Studies 2 and 3, it was change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-derived Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores. Results were assessed through analysis of covariance using last observation carried forward in the intent-to-treat population. In total, 1943 patients were randomized. At least 1 iloperidone dosing group in each study demonstrated significantly better efficacy than placebo (Study 1, iloperidone 12 mg/d [P = 0.047]; Study 2, 4-8 mg/d [P = 0.012] and 10-16 mg/d [P = 0.001]; and Study 3, 20-24 mg/d [P = 0.010]). Active controls were also significantly more effective than placebo in each trial, thus validating the trials. Additional analysis in patients who received active treatment for at least 2 weeks indicated comparable efficacy score reductions at 6 weeks for patients receiving iloperidone 20 to 24 mg/d versus those receiving haloperidol or risperidone. Risk for motor-related adverse events (eg, akathisia and extrapyramidal symptoms) was lower with iloperidone than with risperidone and haloperidol and was generally similar to placebo. These trials indicate that iloperidone is effective for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Beyond emergency services : The continuing relationship maintenance program

We have presented a preliminary report of an inespensive antisuicide program for high-risk, chronically suicidal persons. This program, called "Continuing Relationship Maintenance" is based on recent advances in theory and practice, including new developments in the training and employment of paraprofessionals and volunteer workers. In addition this experimental program is being carried out within a methodologic framework designed to yield a direct evaluation of results in comparison to costs (AU)