Effect of smoking habits and concomitant valproic acid use on relapse in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia receiving clozapine: A 1-year retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: No study has investigated the impact of smoking habits and concomitant valproic acid (VPA) use on clinical outcomes in maintenance treatment with clozapine. Thus, we aimed to examine the effect of smoking habits and concomitant VPA use on relapse during the first year after discharge in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) receiving clozapine.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with TRS who were initiated on clozapine during hospitalization and discharged between April 2012 and January 2021 in two tertiary psychiatric hospitals in Japan.

Comparison between olanzapine and aripiprazole treatment for 104 weeks after hospital discharge in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a multicenter retrospective cohort study in a real-world setting.

Rationale: The long-term effectiveness of olanzapine and aripiprazole in real clinical conditions at flexible doses in patients after hospital discharge has not been evaluated yet.

Objectives: This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Patients with schizophrenia (n = 398) were prescribed olanzapine (n = 303) or aripiprazole (n = 95) at hospital discharge.

Association between previous high-dose antipsychotic therapy and brexpiprazole discontinuation after the initiation of brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

The objective of this study was to identify the factors associated with brexpiprazole discontinuation after initiating brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. All patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were started on brexpiprazole in our institution between May 2018 and April 2019 were retrospectively screened. The continuation rate of brexpiprazole during a follow-up period of 16 weeks was examined.

Switching strategies for antipsychotic monotherapy in schizophrenia: a multi-center cohort study of aripiprazole.

Rationale: Changing antipsychotics of patients with chronic schizophrenia involves several risks. Switching to aripiprazole is especially difficult. We investigated switching methods and related factors for successful switching patients with chronic schizophrenia to aripiprazole.

Two-year effectiveness of risperidone and aripiprazole in the maintenance treatment of patients with recent-onset or chronic schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders: a retrospective multicenter study.

This study aimed to assess the comparative effectiveness of risperidone (RIS) versus aripiprazole (ARP) in patients with recent-onset or chronic schizophrenia during maintenance treatment and to examine the interaction between illness duration and the effectiveness of the treatment. All adult patients with schizophrenia and related disorders discharged from four psychiatric hospitals between 2006 and 2012 were screened and the 2-year continuation rates of monotherapy using RIS or ARP after discharge were examined retrospectively. The treatment continuation of the two drugs in patients with recent-onset (illness duration <5 years) or chronic schizophrenia (illness duration ≥5 years) and the moderator effect of illness duration on the effectiveness of the treatment were analyzed.

Optimal Dosing of Risperidone and Olanzapine in the Maintenance Treatment for Patients With Schizophrenia and Related Psychotic Disorders: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the optimal tolerability dose ranges of risperidone (RIS) and olanzapine (OLZ) administered during schizophrenia maintenance phase.

Methods: Two-year continuation rates of prescription at discharge were examined using a retrospective cohort study method. Adult patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, receiving antipsychotic monotherapy with RIS or OLZ at discharge, were included.

Efficacy of second-generation antipsychotics in patients at ultra-high risk and those with first-episode or multi-episode schizophrenia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the speed of response, doses, and safety of treatment with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) in patients at ultra-high risk (UHR) compared to those with schizophrenia.

Methods: A 12-week open-label, prospective study of SGAs was performed in UHR patients and those with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and multi-episode schizophrenia (MES). The subjects were 14-30 years old and were recruited at Zikei Hospital, Okayama, Japan from December 1, 2006 to December 1, 2011.

Plasma concentration of pigment epithelium-derived factor in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Context: Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a strong inhibitor of angiogenesis. Eyes with diabetic retinopathy have low levels of ocular PEDF; however, the PEDF levels in the blood of diabetics have still not been determined.

Objectives: Our objective was to determine the plasma levels of PEDF in diabetic patients and to determine the relationship with the stage of the diabetic retinopathy.

Quality of life for patients with schizophrenia in a Japanese psychiatric hospital.

Providing a good quality of life (QOL) has recently been recognized as a central purpose of health care in psychiatry. In this study, we performed a detailed evaluation of the subjective QOL of schizophrenic inpatients and examined the relationship of QOL to various patient characteristics. This study was conducted on schizophrenic inpatients and nursing staff members in a Japanese private psychiatric hospital.