Effects of olanzapine on plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites, cytokines, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in schizophrenic patients.

In the present study, we examined the effects of olanzapine on plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and cytokines (interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) using 32 olanzapine-treated schizophrenic patients and age and sex-matched 55 healthy individuals. Treatment with olanzapine for 8 weeks improved both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. It also increased the plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol levels, which were associated with the changes in the total scores of negative symptoms measured on the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, and decreased the plasma homovanillic acid levels.

Risperidone in the treatment of psychotic depression.

In the preset study, the authors investigated that effects of the antipsychotic drug risperidone on psychotic depression and examined the mechanism of risperidone to ameliorate psychotic depression. Fifteen patients met the DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder with psychotic features and the remaining five patients met those for bipolar I disorder (most recent episode depressed) with psychotic features (M/F: 8/12, age: 54+/-18). All patients were evaluated regarding their clinical improvement using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

An open study of risperidone liquid in the acute phase of schizophrenia.

An open-label study was performed to investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanisms of risperidone liquid in ameliorating positive symptoms in the acute phase of schizophrenia. Eighty-eight patients (M/F: 50/38; age: 18-74 years;, mean +/- SD =32 +/- 16 years) meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and treated with risperidone liquid (14 patients also used lorazepam) were evaluated with regard to their clinical improvement and extrapyramidal side effects using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and the Simpson and Angus scale (SAS), while plasma concentrations of HVA and MHPG were analysed by HPLC-ECD before and 4 weeks after risperidone liquid administration. Patients showing a 50% or greater improvement in PANSS scores were defined as responders.

Prediction of response to risperidone treatment with respect to plasma concencentrations of risperidone, catecholamine metabolites, and polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2D6.

In the present study, we examined the relationships between plasma concentrations of risperidone and clinical responses, extrapyramidal symptoms, plasma levels of cotinine and caffeine, or cytochrome (cyp)2D6 genotypes. In addition, we also investigated the relationships between plasma levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) or homovanillic (HVA) acid and clinical responses to risperidone. One hundred and 36 patients (male/female: 58/78, age 37+/-13 years) who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder and brief psychotic disorder, and who were being treated with risperidone alone, were evaluated regarding their clinical improvement and extrapyramidal symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Simpson and Angus (SAS), respectively, and plasma levels of cotinine, caffeine, MHPG and HVA were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Changes in plasma monoamine metabolites during acute lithium intoxication.

A case of acute lithium intoxication is presented in which plasma levels of 3-methyoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and homovanillic acid (HVA) were longitudinally measured during the intoxication period. Plasma levels of MHPH and 5-HIAA, but not HVA were increased during the intoxication period. These results suggest that toxic levels of lithium concentration occurred due to transient enhancement of serotonin and noradrenaline function.