Peripheral Oxytocin Predicts Higher-Level Social Cognition in Men Regardless of Empathy Quotient.

Introduction: Pharmaceutical oxytocin (OT) administration is being tested as a novel treatment for social deficits in various psychiatric populations. However, little is known about how naturally occurring variation in peripheral OT relates to differences in social cognition. This study investigates whether healthy individuals with very high or very low levels of empathy differ in endogenous OT and whether OT plasma levels can predict performance in a mentalizing task.

Comparison of Clomethiazole and Diazepam in the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Clinical Practice.

Background: The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the effectivity and tolerability of diazepam and clomethiazole in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in a large clinical sample.

Methods: The data of 566 patients admitted to an intensive care psychiatric unit in Germany (2010-2014) were evaluated. The course of withdrawal was analyzed on a matched sample (n = 152) consisting of a diazepam group (n = 76) and a clomethiazole group (n = 76).

A competitively designed version of the point subtraction aggression paradigm is related to proactive aggressive and psychopathic traits in males.

The Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP) is a well-validated and frequently applied behavioral paradigm for provocation and quantification of reactive aggressive behavior in laboratory settings. Here, we design and test a newly developed PSAP version in its ability to quantify proactive aggressive behavior. A group of 119 male volunteers was allocated to the conventional PSAP and two other variants of the PSAP.

Pharmacokinetic considerations in antipsychotic augmentation strategies: How to combine risperidone with low-potency antipsychotics.

Objectives: To investigate in vivo the effect of low-potency antipsychotics on metabolism of risperidone (RIS).

Methods: A therapeutic drug monitoring database containing plasma concentrations of RIS and its metabolite 9-OH-RIS of 1584 patients was analyzed. Five groups were compared; a risperidone group (n=842) and four co- medication groups; a group co-medicated with chlorprothixene (n=67), a group with levomepromazine (n=32), a group with melperone (n=46), a group with pipamperone (n=63) and a group with prothipendyl (n=24).

Cytochrome P450-mediated interaction between perazine and risperidone: implications for antipsychotic polypharmacy.

Background: Although clinically widespread, scientific evidence for antipsychotic polypharmacy is still limited. Combining different drugs increases the potential for drug-drug interactions, enhancing the risk of adverse drug reactions. We aimed to unravel the potential pharmacokinetic interactions between risperidone (RIS) and perazine.

Effects of alexithymia and empathy on the neural processing of social and monetary rewards.

Empathy has been found to affect the neural processing of social and monetary rewards. Alexithymia, a subclinical condition showing a close inverse relationship with empathy is linked to dysfunctions of socio-emotional processing in the brain. Whether alexithymia alters the neural processing of rewards, which is currently unknown.

Pharmacokinetic Drug-Drug Interactions of Mood Stabilizers and Risperidone in Patients Under Combined Treatment.

Background: The combination of anticonvulsant mood stabilizers with antipsychotic drugs may lead to clinically relevant drug-drug interactions. The objective of the study was to identify pharmacokinetic interactions of different mood stabilizers on the metabolism of risperidone (RIS) under natural conditions.

Methods: A large therapeutic drug monitoring database containing plasma concentrations of RIS and its metabolite 9-hydroxy-RIS (9-OH-RIS) of 1,584 adult patients was analyzed.

Body mass index (BMI) but not body weight is associated with changes in the metabolism of risperidone; A pharmacokinetics-based hypothesis.

Objective: We sought to unravel the influence of body weight and body mass index (BMI), both consistently reported as pharmacokinetic relevant parameters, on metabolism of risperidone in a naturalistic sample.

Methods: Conducting non parametrical tests we sought for correlations between plasma concentrations of RIS, 9-OH-RIS and AM and body weight and BMI in patients out of a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) database. Further, we stratified patients to three groups based upon BMI values and compared drug concentrations between groups.

Pharmacokinetic patterns of risperidone-associated adverse drug reactions.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate a correlation between plasma concentrations of risperidone (RIS), its active metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-OH-RIS) and the active moiety (AM) (RIS + 9-OH-RIS), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in a naturalistic sample.

Methods: Plasma concentrations of RIS, 9-OH-RIS, and AM in patients out of a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) database complaining ADRs were categorized according to the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser side effect rating scales (UKU) (n = 97) and compared to patients without ADRs (n = 398).

Results: Patients in the ADR group received a significantly lower daily dosage of risperidone (trimmed mean 3.

Pharmacokinetic considerations in the treatment of hypertension in risperidone-medicated patients - thinking of clinically relevant CYP2D6 interactions.

Background: Treatment of arterial hypertension in patients with severe mental illnesses often results in polypharmacy, potentially leading to drug-drug interactions. The objective of the study was to analyse the in vivo inhibitory potential of two antihypertensive drugs, amlodipine and metoprolol on CYP2D6 catalysed 9-hydroxylation of risperidone (RIS).

Methods: A therapeutic drug monitoring database with plasma concentrations of RIS and 9-hydroxyrisperidone (9-OH-RIS) of 1584 patients was analysed.

Risperidone-induced extrapyramidal side effects: is the need for anticholinergics the consequence of high plasma concentrations?

Antipsychotic drugs can induce various undesirable adverse motor reactions, such as extrapyramidal side effects (EPS). A widely accepted pharmacodynamic mechanism underlying EPS includes an increase in striatal D2-receptor occupancy. However, less is known about the pharmacokinetic background of EPS.

Measuring citalopram in blood and cerebrospinal fluid: revealing a distribution pattern that differs from other antidepressants.

The aim of this study was to measure blood and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of citalopram and its weakly active N-demethylated metabolite desmethylcitalopram to account for the distribution between the two compartments. The findings are discussed in the context with own preceding studies on the distribution pattern of different antidepressants. Concentrations of citalopram were measured in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 18 patients treated with daily doses of 10-40 mg.

Duloxetine enters the brain - But why is it not found in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Background: Antidepressants enter the brain to reach their site of action in a different extent. However, there has been no study to date about duloxetine's ability to enter the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Aim of this study was to measure blood and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of duloxetine and to account for the distribution between the two compartments.

Lamotrigine in pregnancy - therapeutic drug monitoring in maternal blood, amniotic fluid, and cord blood.

This study is the first to measure and correlate lamotrigine concentrations in maternal blood, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord blood and account for distribution of the drug between these three compartments. Concentrations of lamotrigine were measured in six mother-infant pairs at the time of delivery. Daily doses of lamotrigine ranged between 200 and 650 mg.