Exploration of symptom dimensions and duration of untreated psychosis within a staging model of schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Aim: Clinical staging of schizophrenia entails a new method that identifies clusters of symptoms and variation in level of remission, with the goal to create a framework for early intervention. Additionally, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) may influence symptom severity in the first episode of psychosis (FEP) and could necessitate refining of the staging model. However, consistent evidence concerning variation in symptom severity and DUP between stages is missing.

Exploring construct validity of clinical staging in schizophrenia spectrum disorders in an acute psychiatric ward.

Objective: clinical staging and profiling of schizophrenia spectrum disorders has been proposed to describe and define the heterogenous course of disease. We examined the construct validity of clinical staging in schizophrenia spectrum disorders by measuring differences in distribution and severity of relevant clinical profilers and therapeutic improvement (HoNOS) across clinical stages.

Methods: we performed a prospective cross-sectional study with 258 inpatiënts who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, recruited in an acute ward of a psychiatric hospital from 1-1-2015 until 31-12-2016.

Sexual dysfunction and hormonal changes in first episode psychosis patients on olanzapine or risperidone.

Atypical antipsychotics interfere with central and peripheral neurotransmitter systems and with hormonal production. In this study we compared the effect of olanzapine and risperidone on hormonal state and sexual function (by using the Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction, QSD) in 40 patients with a first episode psychosis. Results were compared to those of 34 healthy controls.

Subjective experience and dopamine D2 receptor occupancy in patients treated with antipsychotics: clinical implications.

Objectives: This paper gives an overview of studies on the association between dopaminergic neurotransmission and the subjective experience of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: We undertook a review of the literature.

Results: Dopaminergic neurotransmission may be relevant for subjective experience.

Subjective experience and D2 receptor occupancy in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia treated with low-dose olanzapine or haloperidol: a randomized, double-blind study.

Objective: The authors tested the hypothesis that a dopamine D(2) receptor occupancy level between 60% and 70% in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia would result in optimal subjective experience. In addition, they sought preliminary evidence on whether subjective experience is better with low-dose olanzapine than with low-dose haloperidol.

Method: Subjects (N=24) who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with either olanzapine, 7.