RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Currently available antipsychotics have limited efficacy in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia and new drugs with wider spectrums of clinical efficacy are very desirable. Cariprazine is a newer antipsychotic acting as dopamine D3- and in lesser extent D2-receptor partial agonist found to be effective in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate cariprazine early effects at the first stage of therapy of schizophrenia patients with predominantly negative symptoms. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Open-lable observational assessment of 60 adult schizophrenia patients (F20 on ICD-10, 49% males) with predominantly negative symptoms (PANSS-FSNS ≥15, PANSS-FSPS <19) treated by cariprazine (starting daily dose 1.5 mg followed by upward titration by 1.5 mg weekly up to 6 mg if needed) were assessed with PANSS, CAINS, CDSS and SAS scales at baseline and on week 1, 2, and 4. Efficacy criteria were. RESULTS: Most patients (75%) improved during 28 days of cariprazine treatment. Negative symptoms mean total scores on PANSS-NS and CAINS significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 4.3 and 4.9 respectively at the end of assessment (day 28). Cariprazine tolerability was good, only 4 patients discontinued because of TEAEs (akathisia, insomnia). CONCLUSIONS: The study results preliminary suggest initial effect of cariprazine on negative symptoms at least in some schizophrenia patients with predominantly negative symptoms starting from 1-2 weeks of treatment and available for observation and assessment and could be useful for determination of early clinical predictors for efficacy. Considering limitations of observational open-lable design with no control groups these data need to be confirmed.
