Tratamiento de la esquizofrenia en México: recomendaciones de un panel de expertos.

La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad compleja que actualmente no tiene cura. Existen, sin embargo, numerosas terapias que, solas o en combinación, son eficaces para tratar los síntomas de la enfermedad y mantenerla bajo control. La elección del tratamiento debe ser siempre individualizada, y basarse en la presentación clínica de la enfermedad, el estado general del paciente y la eficacia del fármaco, si bien hay que considerar también el costo y el acceso a servicios y al fármaco, que en México tiene algunas limitaciones. Un panel de 12 expertos mexicanos se reunió de forma virtual para revisar los últimos datos publicados y establecer unas recomendaciones de tratamiento en México, basadas en la evidencia, que garanticen una atención médica integral, homogénea, eficiente y con calidad.Schizophrenia is a complex illness that currently has no cure. There are, however, numerous therapies that, alone or in combination, are effective in treating the symptoms of the disease and keeping it under control. The choice of treatment must always be individualized, and based on the clinical presentation of the disease, the general condition of the patient and the efficacy of the drug, although the cost and access to services and to the drug must also be considered, as in Mexico it has some limitations. A panel of 12 Mexican experts met virtually to review the latest published data and establish evidence-based treatment recommendations in Mexico that guarantee comprehensive, homogeneous, efficient, and quality medical care.

Family History of Psychiatric Disorders and Clinical Factors Associated With a Schizophrenia Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar disorder (BD) have both shared and unique genetic risk factors and clinical characteristics. The aim of the present study was to identify potential risk factors significantly associated with SCH, relative to a BD reference group. METHODS: Data were obtained from medical records of patients that entered a major Mexico City hospital during 2009-2010 presenting psychotic symptoms (n = 1132; 830 cases of SCH, 302 cases of BD; 714 men and 418 women). SCH and BD diagnoses were compared with respect to a number of family and clinical characteristics. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to respectively identify factors selectively associated with the SCH diagnosis relative to the BD diagnosis and explore the relationship between PANSS scores and parental age at time of birth to the age of SCH onset. RESULTS: Patients with SCH showed greater functional impairment than those with BD. Family history of mental illness, premorbid schizoid-like personality, and obstetric trauma were significantly associated with the SCH diagnosis. The association of obstetric trauma with SCH was greatest in male patients with a family history of mental illness. In women, increased paternal and decreased maternal age at time of the patient's birth were associated with an earlier age of SCH onset. CONCLUSION: Male gender, showing premorbid schizoid-like personality, familial SCH, and obstetric trauma are risk factors that distinguish SCH from BD. Additionally, our results suggest that risk for SCH relative to BD may be importantly influenced by interactions between familial risk, gender, and obstetric trauma.

Tratamiento de la esquizofrenia en México: recomendaciones de un panel de expertos / Treatment of schizophrenia in Mexico: recommendations from an expert panel

Resumen La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad compleja que actualmente no tiene cura. Existen, sin embargo, numerosas terapias que, solas o en combinación, son eficaces para tratar los síntomas de la enfermedad y mantenerla bajo control. La elección del tratamiento debe ser siempre individualizada, y basarse en la presentación clínica de la enfermedad, el estado general del paciente y la eficacia del fármaco, si bien hay que considerar también el costo y el acceso a servicios y al fármaco, que en México tiene algunas limitaciones. Un panel de 12 expertos mexicanos se reunió de forma virtual para revisar los últimos datos publicados y establecer unas recomendaciones de tratamiento en México, basadas en la evidencia, que garanticen una atención médica integral, homogénea, eficiente y con calidad.

Abstract Schizophrenia is a complex illness that currently has no cure. There are, however, numerous therapies that, alone or in combination, are effective in treating the symptoms of the disease and keeping it under control. The choice of treatment must always be individualized, and based on the clinical presentation of the disease, the general condition of the patient and the efficacy of the drug, although the cost and access to services and to the drug must also be considered, as in Mexico it has some limitations. A panel of 12 Mexican experts met virtually to review the latest published data and establish evidence-based treatment recommendations in Mexico that guarantee comprehensive, homogeneous, efficient, and quality medical care.

Amoxapine as an atypical antipsychotic: a comparative study vs risperidone.

Amoxapine is marketed as an antidepressant. However, its in-vitro profile, receptor occupancy and preclinical effects are very similar to atypical antipsychotics. Amoxapine has also shown efficacy as an atypical antipsychotic in open trials. The objective of this study was to compare the antipsychotic and side effect profile of amoxapine and risperidone in a randomised assignment, standardized dosing, double-blind trial of acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia. A total of 48 schizophrenic patients were enrolled and randomized in a double-blind 6-week trial to receive either risperidone (up to 5 mg/day) or amoxapine (up to 250 mg/day). Positive, negative, affective symptoms and motor side effects were measured using standardized weekly assessments. Prolactin levels were also determined at baseline and at the end of the study. A total of 39 patients (amoxapine, n=22; risperidone, n=21) completed the trial. Both pharmacological treatments, amoxapine 228.0 mg/day (SD=34.6) and risperidone 4.5 mg/day (SD=0.7), showed equivalent improvement in positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. Amoxapine was associated with less EPS and less prolactin elevation than risperidone. These data support previous reports about the efficacy of amoxapine as an atypical antipsychotic. Since amoxapine is off-patent, it may be a valuable low-cost alternative to new atypical antipsychotics, particularly in low-income countries where the majority of the patients are still treated with typical antipsychotics.

The effects of amisulpride on five dimensions of psychopathology in patients with schizophrenia: a prospective open-label study.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of antipsychotics can be evaluated using the dimensional models of schizophrenic symptoms. The D2/D3-selective antagonist amisulpride has shown similar efficacy and tolerability to other atypical antipsychotics. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of amisulpride on the dimensional model of schizophrenic symptoms and tolerability in latin schizophrenic patients. METHOD: Eighty schizophrenic patients were enrolled and 70 completed a prospective open-label 3-month study with amisulpride. The schizophrenic symptoms, psychosocial functioning and side-effects were evaluated with standardized scales. RESULTS: The patients showed significant improvement in the five dimensions evaluated. Amisulpride (median final dose 357.1 mg/d) was well-tolerated without treatment-emergent extrapyramidal side-effects. CONCLUSION: Amisulpride showed efficacy on different psychopathological dimensions and was well tolerated, leading to consider this drug a first line choice for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Low delta sleep predicted a good clinical response to olanzapine administration in schizophrenic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenic patients show sleep abnormalities, consisting mainly of decreased delta sleep time, short rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency, and a reduction in sleep continuity variables. Olanzapine is a novel antipsychotic drug with an atypical profile. The goals of the present study were to determine if pre-treatment sleep variables and the initial response to olanzapine administration on the sleep variables can predict the clinical improvement after eight weeks of treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one schizophrenic (DSM-IV) patients were studied. They were clinically evaluated using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia. Sleep recordings were as follows: one acclimatization nigh, one night of baseline recordings, and two nights in which the patients receives olanzapine 10 mg, one hour before bedtime. For sleep-comparison purposes, a group of normal volunteers were also studied with acclimatization and baseline nights. After the sleep recordings ended patients continued with the administration of 10 mg/d of olanzapine, that was titrated as needed up to 20 mg/d or down to 5 mg/d. Evaluations were conducted weekly. RESULTS: Awakening and sleep latency variables were significantly higher in schizophrenic patients compared to normal volunteers. Delta sleep was lower in patients than in normal subjects, with no detectable values in some of the schizophrenics. There was not correlation at baseline, between psychopathological scores and delta sleep or other sleep variables. The acute administration of olanzapine 10 mg produced an improvement in continuity sleep variables as well as increase in deltas sleep percentage. Having less than 10% of delta sleep at baseline predicted a good clinical outcome. Eleven of 18 patients showed good clinical improvement after eight weeks of treatment with olanzapine, those were the subjects that had an augmentation of delta sleep above 10% with the first two doses of olanzapine, with minimal side effects. CONCLUSIONS: To have low delta sleep at baseline and the effect of the augmentation of this variable in schizophrenic patients seems to predict a good response to olanzapine. Olanzapine was therapeutically useful, well-tolerated medication, with a favorable safety profile.

Validity of the Spanish version of the Personal and Social Performance scale in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale is a reliable and valid instrument that utilizes objective parameters for the assessment of social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the PSP scale. METHOD: In total, 100 patients with DSM-IV diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were recruited and assessed with the PSP, the GAF, the PANSS, and the CGI. Internal consistency for the PSP was obtained and discriminant validity was assessed by comparing PSP scores between inpatients and outpatients; correlations between PSP scores, the GAF, and the five factors of the PANSS were used to evaluate the convergent validity of the scale; reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficients and temporal stability was obtained using correlation coefficients between the PSP and CGI scores on a follow up assessment. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the PSP was 0.843. Inpatients showed lower scores on the PSP than did outpatients. Patients with low scores on the PSP reported fewer years of education, were more frequently unemployed, had a longer duration of illness, and had a shorter duration of antipsychotic treatment. The PSP scores showed a positive correlation with the GAF and a negative correlation with the cognitive, negative, and positive factors derived from the PANSS. The PSP scores showed significant correlations with the severity and improvement CGI scores at follow-up. Good inter-rater reliability was obtained. CONCLUSION: These findings support the Spanish version of PSP to be a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of social functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Clozapina: una revisión / Clozapine: a review

La esquizofrenia es el trastorno psiquiátrico que constituye el paradigma de la enfermedad mental. Su tratamiento continúa siendo un tema controvertido, especialmente cuando hablamos de efectos secundarios, remisión de los síntomas, funcionalidad y calidad de vida del individuo que la sufre. La clozapina, desde su introducción en 1959 y aceptación oficial por la FDA para el tratamiento de la esquizofrenia resistente en 1990, es el medicamento que más controversia ha causado debido a su perfil atípico y a su acción en múltiples receptores que condicionan efectos secundarios que, a pesar de no poner en riesgo la integridad del paciente (p. ej. sialorrea, sedación), sí pueden representar una amenaza para su calidad de vida, o por efectos que pueden por sí mismos poner en riesgo la vida del paciente (p. ej. agranulocitosis, miocarditis); sin embargo, el conocimiento de la molécula, sus indicaciones de uso y la monitorización necesaria son acciones que permiten el uso de la sustancia de una forma segura, que beneficie al paciente y por lo tanto a su familia, principalmente por la acción terapéutica no solo de mejoría en síntomas psicóticos positivos y negativos, sino por su efecto incisivo en el riesgo suicida y la agresividad, mayor que otros antipsicóticos, además de su uso en pacientes que cuentan con patologías concomitantes como enfermedad de Parkinson, discinesia tardía, entre otras (AU)

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that is the paradigm of mental illness. Its treatment remains a controversial issue, especially as regards side effects, remission of symptoms, function, and the quality of life of the individual who suffers from it. Clozapine, since its introduction in 1959, and its formal acceptance by the FDA for treatment resistant schizophrenia in 1990, is the drug that has led to most controversy, due to its atypical profile action at multiple receptors. These actions determine the side effects (e.g., hyper-salivation, sedation), and although not placing the integrity of the patient at risk, can be a threat to their quality of life. There are other side effects that can, in themselves, endanger the patient's life (e.g., agranulocytosis, myocarditis). However, the knowledge of the molecule, its indications for use, as well as mandatory monitoring, are actions that allow the safe use of the substance that can benefit the patients, and therefore their families. This is mainly due to the therapeutic action not only improving the positive and negative psychotic symptoms, but also its significant effect on suicidality and aggressiveness, which is greater than other antipsychotics. It can also be used in patients with concomitant diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, and tardive dyskinesia (AU)

Diurnal variations of extrapyramidal symptoms induced by haloperidol in schizophrenic subjects.

Despite the fact that the circadian variations in the density of striatal dopaminergic D2 receptors are well documented, there are few reports concerning whether these variations may regulate the extrapyramidal symptoms produced by antipsychotic drugs. To test this hypothesis, we selected 18 male hospitalized schizophrenic subjects, who had been treated for 2 wk with 10 mg haloperidol three times a day. The extrapyramidal symptoms were evaluated 1 h after each haloperidol administration (e.g. 09:00, 14:00 and 19:00 hours). The diurnal profiles of haloperidol-induced extrapyramidal symptoms showed that akathisia and dystonia were milder in the morning and increased in severity during the night. However, Parkinsonian symptoms were more severe during the morning evaluations than during the evening tests. The difference in the diurnal pattern of the haloperidol-induced side-effects, suggests that receptor-related mechanisms with a different circadian profile contribute to the induction of the extrapyramidal symptoms.

The different effects produced by a evening dose versus daily distributed doses of haloperidol

Comparaçä0 dos efeitos terapeuticos e secundarios do haloperidol administrado em doses repartidas no dia contra os efeitos da dose noturna. Em observaçöes clínicas preliminares se encontrou que a hora do dia em que os medicamentos antipsicóticos säo administrados parece que atua na severidade dos efeitos secundários, o que sugere a participaçäo de algum mecanismo circadiano. Para determinar se a hora da administraçäo dos medicamentos aantipsicóticos determina a produçäo dos efeitos tanto terapêuticos com colaterais, comparam-se os efeitos produzidos pela administraçäo do haloperidol em doses distribuidas no dia, contra os efeitos produzidos pela administraçäo em doses noturnas. A avaliaçäo de evoluçäo antipsicotica dos pacientes esquizofrenicos hospitalizados, se realizou mediante a escala dos sintomas positivos e negativos(PANSS). Näo se encontraram diferenças no efeito terapeutico do haloperidol administrado em doses repartidas ou noturnas, em quanto à sub-escala dos sintomas negativos (F(4,87) = 1.709, p = 0,1731) nem dos sintomas gerais (F(4,870 = 2.01, p=0.1187)