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BACKGROUND: Increased serum prolactin and weight gain are common side effects of atypical antipsychotics but few studies have assessed the long-term pattern of these adverse effects. AIM: Compare the effects of risperidone and quetiapine on serum prolactin and weight over 12 months of treatment among female patients with first-episode schizophrenia. METHODS: Eighty female inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia were randomly assigned to receive risperidone (n=40) or quetiapine (n=40) for 12 months. Prolactin concentration, weight and height were measured one day before starting treatment and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after initiating treatment. Severity of symptoms was assessed at the same time periods using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). RESULTS: Thirty-one patients in the risperidone group and 33 patients in the quetiapine group completed the 12 months of treatment. PANSS scores decreased at each follow-up assessment for both groups; the improvement was significantly greater in the risperidone group after 3 months and 6 months of treatment but by the 9th month of treatment the level of improvement in the two groups was similar. In the quetiapine group serum prolactin remained stable throughout the 12 months but in the risperidone group the serum prolactin level increased 3.5- to 5.2-fold over the one-year follow-up. Weight gain was seen in both groups, particularly during the first 3 months of treatment: 62% of the increase in BMI in both groups had occurred by the end of the 3rd month of treatment. No between-group differences in weight changes were observed. The correlation between changes in weight and changes in prolactin levels were weakly positive: rs=0.17(p=0.104) in the risperidone group and r=0.07 (p=0.862) in the quetiapine group. CONCLUSIONS: Risperidone and quetiapine had similar efficacy in the first year of treatment of first-episode schizophrenia though risperidone was more rapidly effective. Use of risperidone was associated with chronic hyperprolactinemia but this did not occur with quetiapine. Long-term use of both drugs was associated with sustained weight gain; the timing and magnitude of the weight gain is similar for the two drugs. Weight gain was not strongly related to changes in prolactin levels.
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BACKGROUND: Laryngectomy, a common treatment for laryngeal cancer, is a disabling operation that can induce tremendous stress, but little is known about how to alleviate the psychological effects of the operation. AIM: Compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication in treating anxiety and depression among throat cancer patients after laryngectomy. METHODS: Review of medical records of the psychological outpatient clinic in the Third People's Hospital of Huzhou City between March 2009 and May 2013 identified 63 patients with post-laryngectomy depression or anxiety disorders who received 8 weeks of one-on-one treatment with CBT (in which patients responded in writing because they were unable to speak) and 56 patients who received 8 weeks of treatment with buspirone (n=11), sertraline (n=9) or both busipirone and sertraline (n=36). The treatment provided (CBT or medications) was based on the stated preference of the patient. The Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administered before and after treatment. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment the mean SAS and SDS scores had decreased significantly in both groups and the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety and depression (based on SAS and SDS cutoff scores) had dropped dramatically. There were, however, no significant differences between the two treatment methods. In the medication group 32% of participants experienced one or more adverse reactions during treatment, but none of these were severe enough to require withdrawal from treatment. CONCLUSIONS: CBT is an effective, short-term treatment for reducing the anxiety and depressive symptoms that often occur after an individual is diagnosed with cancer or treated for cancer. There is robust evidence that treatment of these psychological symptoms can improve both the quality of life and course of illness in cancer patients, so oncologists and other clinicians need to regularly screen patients with cancer and other chronic life-threatening conditions for anxiety and depression and, if present, actively promote the treatment of these symptoms. This study shows that CBT can be effective for cancer patients even when they are unable to speak.
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SUMMARY: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but life-threatening condition induced by neuroleptic medications. Its main symptoms include the rapid onset of fever, severe extrapyramidal symptoms, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and impaired consciousness. In severe cases, acute renal failure and circulatory failure can develop, which can rapidly lead to death. In this case report, we discuss the etiology, pathophysiology and management of this condition in a female patient with NMS induced by perospirone. The case highlights the need for clinicians to be vigilant: rapid identification of NMS and vigorous symptomatic treatment of NMS symptoms is the key to decreasing the case-fatality of this rare but serious adverse reaction to antipsychotic medications.
