Switching a combination of first- and second-generation antipsychotic polypharmacy to antipsychotic monotherapy in long-term inpatients with schizophrenia and related disorders. The SwAP trial II: Results on side effects.

Objective: This study examined the effects of switching antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) to antipsychotic monotherapy (APM) on various side effects in inpatients with schizophrenia. Side effects of interest included psychic, autonomic, and sexual symptoms, as well as metabolic side effects and movement disorders.

Method: A 9-month parallel randomized open-label clinical trial was conducted involving 136 chronic inpatients from two psychiatric hospitals in the Netherlands.

The effect on relapse rate and psychiatric symptomatology: Switching a combination of first- and second-generation antipsychotic polypharmacy to antipsychotic monotherapy in long-term inpatients with schizophrenia and related disorders. A pragmatic randomized open-label trial (SwAP trial).

Background: There is little evidence to support the use of antipsychotic polypharmacy, and there are concerns about safety and side effects. Nonetheless, it is commonly used in the treatment of long-term inpatients with schizophrenia. This study investigated the effects of switching from a combination of first- and second-generation antipsychotics (FGA and SGA) to monotherapy (FGA or SGA) on relapse rates and psychiatric symptomatology.