Longitudinal clinical and functional outcome in distinct cognitive subgroups of first-episode psychosis: a cluster analysis.

Background: Cognitive deficits may be characteristic for only a subgroup of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and the link with clinical and functional outcomes is less profound than previously thought. This study aimed to identify cognitive subgroups in a large sample of FEP using a clustering approach with healthy controls as a reference group, subsequently linking cognitive subgroups to clinical and functional outcomes.

Methods: 204 FEP patients were included.

To continue or not to continue? Antipsychotic medication maintenance versus dose-reduction/discontinuation in first episode psychosis: HAMLETT, a pragmatic multicenter single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Antipsychotic medication is effective for symptomatic treatment in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. After symptom remission, continuation of antipsychotic treatment is associated with lower relapse rates and lower symptom severity compared to dose reduction/discontinuation. Therefore, most guidelines recommend continuation of treatment with antipsychotic medication for at least 1 year.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: review and meta-analysis.

Background: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a treatment for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. During the past decade, several trials have reported on the efficacy of rTMS treatment; however, the results were inconsistent.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of prefrontal rTMS for treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Guided discontinuation versus maintenance treatment in remitted first-episode psychosis: relapse rates and functional outcome.

Objective: To compare the consequences of a guided discontinuation strategy and maintenance treatment in remitted first-episode psychosis in terms of relapse rates and functional outcome.

Method: The study was conducted in 7 mental health care organizations and the Department of Psychiatry of the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands, covering a catchment area of 3.1 million inhabitants.

Niacin skin flushing in schizophrenic and depressed patients and healthy controls.

This study compares the skin reactions to the niacin flushing test of 16 schizophrenic patients with those of 17 depressed patients and 16 healthy controls. Methyl nicotinate (niacin) in a concentration of 0.1 M was applied to the forearm for 5 min.

Evaluation of the subjects' response to antipsychotics questionnaire.

The present study reports on the development of a new self-administered instrument to assess patients' responses to antipsychotic medication. The Subjects' Response to Antipsychotics (SRA) Questionnaire is a 74-item instrument with eight scales (Recovery, Weight Gain, Sexual Anhedonia, Sedation, Affective Flattening, Extrapyramidal Side-Effects, Diminished Sociability and Increased Sleep), and a total adverse responses score including additional items. Psychometric aspects were examined in a study of 320 inpatients and outpatients showing good internal consistency, reproducibility and external validity.

Predominant role of the 9-hydroxy metabolite of risperidone in elevating blood prolactin levels.

Objective: The atypical antipsychotic risperidone significantly raises plasma prolactin levels in patients, but clozapine, olanzapine, and quetiapine do not. The differences in neuroendocrine response may be connected with the metabolism of the medications. The authors examined the contributory role of risperidone's active metabolite 9-hydroxy-risperidone by measuring plasma concentrations of risperidone, 9-hydroxy-risperidone, and prolactin.

A randomized open-label study of the impact of quetiapine versus risperidone on sexual functioning.

Objective: To compare sexual functioning in patients treated with quetiapine or risperidone.

Methods: This open-label study included patients with schizophrenia or a related psychotic illness who were randomized to quetiapine (200-1200 mg/d) or risperidone (1-6 mg/d) for 6 weeks. Sexual dysfunction was assessed by a semistructured interview, the Antipsychotics and Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (ASFQ), based upon the Utvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU).

The spectrum of subjective effects of antipsychotic medication.

Background: This study examined the spectrum of subjective experiences which patients attribute to the use of antipsychotic medication.

Methods: We collected interview data and answers to structured questions based on a comprehensive checklist in 77 patients using various types of classical or atypical antipsychotic drugs.

Results: The responses of the patients could be categorized into psychological and somatic domains.

Influence of antipsychotic agents on neurological soft signs and dyskinesia in first episode psychosis.

First episode psychosis patients treated with atypical antipsychotics had significantly fewer signs of dyskinesia than patients treated with classical antipsychotics, but there were no significant differences regarding the total number of neurological soft signs (NSS). This suggests that the type of antipsychotic medication does not influence NSS, but that atypical antipsychotics are associated with less dyskinesia in the early stages of treatment.