Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia
Introduction Although antipsychotics are first-line treatments for schizophrenia, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are often used as concomitant medications in acutely exacerbated patients due to their anxiolytic and sedative effects. Cariprazine (CAR), a D3-preferring dopamine D2/D3 partial agonist antipsyc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002838/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616167785857024 |
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| author | C. Correll B. Sebe R. Csehi K. Acsai Á. Barabássy |
| author_facet | C. Correll B. Sebe R. Csehi K. Acsai Á. Barabássy |
| author_sort | C. Correll |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
Although antipsychotics are first-line treatments for schizophrenia, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are often used as concomitant medications in acutely exacerbated patients due to their anxiolytic and sedative effects. Cariprazine (CAR), a D3-preferring dopamine D2/D3 partial agonist antipsychotic, has been examined in many clinical studies for the treatment of acute schizophrenia, with and without benzodiazepines.
Objectives
To delineate the effects of benzodiazepine-use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia.
Methods
Pooled data of cariprazine-treated (1.5-6mg/day) and
placebo-treated patients from four short-term, randomised, double-blind trials (NCT00404573, NCT01104766, NCT01104779, NCT00694707) were analysed. Baseline characteristics (age, duration of illness) and efficacy outcome parameters (Total and Hostility Factor Score of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]) were compared in patients receiving benzodiazepines (for more ≥3 consecutive days) and not receiving benzodiazepines (<3 consecutive days).
Results
Altogether, 36.7% and 40.7% of the CAR-treated and PBO-treated patients required BZDs. BZD-taking was associated with a higher age in both the CAR-treated (p=0.0002) and PBO-treated (p<0.0001) patients, and with longer illness-duration in both treatment groups (p<0.0001). PANSS Total Score at baseline was similar for BZD users and non-users (CAR: LS Mean=96.36 and 96.27; PBO: LS Mean=95.55 and 96.66). Change from baseline in the PANSS Total Score was greater for patients who did not use BZD vs those who did (CAR: LS Mean= -23.8 vs LS Mean 17.2, p<0.0001; PBO: LS Mean= -14.0 vs LS Mean 12.9, p=0.5776).
Conclusions
These findings may suggest that requiring benzodiazepines is a potential indicator of longer illness duration and poorer response in acute schizophrenia.
Disclosure
I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:37:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1675846b85c42fb875ab986f969a7ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:37:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1675846b85c42fb875ab986f969a7ca2023-11-17T05:09:19ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S98S9810.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.283Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophreniaC. Correll0B. Sebe1R. Csehi2K. Acsai3Á. Barabássy4The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Department Of Psychiatry, Glen Oaks, United States of AmericaGedeon Richter Plc, Medical Division, Budapest, HungaryGedeon Richter Plc, Medical Division, Budapest, HungaryGedeon Richter Plc, Medical Division, Budapest, HungaryGedeon Richter Plc, Medical Division, Budapest, Hungary Introduction Although antipsychotics are first-line treatments for schizophrenia, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are often used as concomitant medications in acutely exacerbated patients due to their anxiolytic and sedative effects. Cariprazine (CAR), a D3-preferring dopamine D2/D3 partial agonist antipsychotic, has been examined in many clinical studies for the treatment of acute schizophrenia, with and without benzodiazepines. Objectives To delineate the effects of benzodiazepine-use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia. Methods Pooled data of cariprazine-treated (1.5-6mg/day) and placebo-treated patients from four short-term, randomised, double-blind trials (NCT00404573, NCT01104766, NCT01104779, NCT00694707) were analysed. Baseline characteristics (age, duration of illness) and efficacy outcome parameters (Total and Hostility Factor Score of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]) were compared in patients receiving benzodiazepines (for more ≥3 consecutive days) and not receiving benzodiazepines (<3 consecutive days). Results Altogether, 36.7% and 40.7% of the CAR-treated and PBO-treated patients required BZDs. BZD-taking was associated with a higher age in both the CAR-treated (p=0.0002) and PBO-treated (p<0.0001) patients, and with longer illness-duration in both treatment groups (p<0.0001). PANSS Total Score at baseline was similar for BZD users and non-users (CAR: LS Mean=96.36 and 96.27; PBO: LS Mean=95.55 and 96.66). Change from baseline in the PANSS Total Score was greater for patients who did not use BZD vs those who did (CAR: LS Mean= -23.8 vs LS Mean 17.2, p<0.0001; PBO: LS Mean= -14.0 vs LS Mean 12.9, p=0.5776). Conclusions These findings may suggest that requiring benzodiazepines is a potential indicator of longer illness duration and poorer response in acute schizophrenia. Disclosure I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002838/type/journal_articlebenzodiazepinecariprazineschizophréniaPharmacotherapy |
| spellingShingle | C. Correll B. Sebe R. Csehi K. Acsai Á. Barabássy Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia European Psychiatry benzodiazepine cariprazine schizophrénia Pharmacotherapy |
| title | Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| title_full | Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| title_fullStr | Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| title_short | Benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| title_sort | benzodiazepine use during cariprazine treatment in acute schizophrenia |
| topic | benzodiazepine cariprazine schizophrénia Pharmacotherapy |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002838/type/journal_article |
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