Factors Associated with Medication Adherence to Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics: Results from the STAR Network Depot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are prescribed to people with severe psychiatric disorders who show poor adherence to oral medication. The present paper examined factors potentially associated with medication adherence to LAI treatment. METHODS: The STAR (Servizi Territoriali Associati per la Ricerca) Network Depot Study was a multicenter, observational, prospective study that enrolled 461 subjects initiating a LAI from 32 Italian centers. After 6 and 12 months of treatment, we evaluated differences between participants with high (≥5 points) and low (<5 points) medication adherence using Kemp's 7-point scale in sociodemographic, clinical, psychopathological, and drug-related variables. Factors that differed significantly between the two groups were entered for multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Six months after enrollment, participants with high medication adherence were younger, living with other people, had lower Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores, lower adverse events, and a more positive attitude toward medication than participants with low adherence. Multivariate regression confirmed lower BPRS resistance and activation scores, absence of adverse events, and positive attitude toward medication as factors significantly associated with good adherence. After 12 months, all BPRS subscales were significantly lower in the high adherence group, which also showed a more positive attitude toward medication. BPRS resistance and attitude toward medication were confirmed as factors associated with medication adherence. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that adherence to LAI is principally related to attitude toward medication and traits of suspiciousness/hostility. Quality of patient-clinician relationship and tailored psychoeducational strategies may positively affect adherence in people undergoing psychopharmacological treatment, including LAI.

Apixaban in low-weight patients with cancer-associated thrombosis: A cross sectional study of drug levels.

INTRODUCTION: Apixaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, has been shown to be at least as safe and probably more effective than dalteparin for the treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) as reported in the ADAM-VTE and Caravaggio studies, which included a low percentage of underweight patients. Lower-weight-based dosing is supported by cancer-specific studies such as half-dose edoxaban in the Hokusai-VTE cancer trial in individuals weighing <60 kg. OBJECTIVE: To examine apixaban plasma trough levels in low-weight individuals with CAT, stably anticoagulated with full or half-dose apixaban. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 61 routinely treated patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism comparing three groups: patients weighing >60 kg treated with apixaban 5 mg twice daily, patients weighing ≤60 kg also receiving apixaban 5 mg twice daily, and patients weighing ≤60 kg given half-dose apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily). Apixaban plasma steady-state trough levels were determined on a single occasion. RESULTS: Mean apixaban plasma trough levels were similar for patients weighing >60 kg on full-dose apixaban to those weighing ≤60 kg taking 2.5 mg twice daily (mean, 109 ng/dL; 95% confidence interval [CI], 74-145; standard deviation [SD]: 77.6; and mean,101 ng/dL, 95% CI, 67-135; SD: 80, respectively). Mean values for low-weight patients (≤60 kg) on the full 5 mg twice-daily dosing tended to be higher (mean, 136 ng/dL; 95%CI, 70-201; SD:114), without statistical significance (P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the rationale for studying weight-based adjustments in apixaban dosing in prospective studies evaluating safety and efficacy of dose reduction in low-weight patients with cancer.

Cognitive impairment in late life bipolar disorder: Risk factors and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Late Life Bipolar Disorder (LLBD) is associated with a high prevalence of cognitive impairments, but few studies have examined their risk factors and clinical correlates METHODS: Participants with bipolar disorder older than 60 (n = 86) were recruited from psychiatric outpatient and inpatients units. Patients were assessed with various instruments, including the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. The distribution of disorder-specific and general risk factors was compared between patients with LLBD plus cognitive impairments (mild cognitive impairment or dementia) and those with LLBD but no cognitive impairment. Analyses were first conducted at the bivariate level, then using multiple regression. The association with disability, aggressive behavior and suicidal ideation was also explored. RESULTS: Cognitive impairments in LLBD were associated with a diagnosis of type 1 bipolar disorder (OR = 6.40, 95%CI: 1.84 - 22.31, p = 0.004), fewer years of education (OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.69 - 0.91, p = 0.001) and higher severity of physical diseases (OR 26.54, 95%CI: 2.07 - 340.37, p = 0.01). Moreover, cognitive impairments were associated with an increased likelihood of disability and recent aggressive behavior, but not suicidal ideation. LIMITATIONS: retrospective design, conflation of MCI and dementia, not all subjects were in euthymia CONCLUSIONS: In LLBD, the presence of cognitive impairments was associated with a diagnosis of type I bipolar disorder, lower education and more severe physical comorbidities. In turn, MCI or dementia were associated with increased disability and aggressive behavior. These findings may aid the identification of patients at risk for cognitive deterioration in everyday clinical practice.