A Multicenter, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Efficacy of Adjunctive Brexpiprazole 2 mg Daily in Japanese Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

Background And Objective: Inadequate response to antidepressant monotherapy is common among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The efficacy and safety of adjunctive brexpiprazole 2 mg/day has recently been confirmed during the 6-week, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 (BLESS) study, which evaluated brexpiprazole at 1 mg/day and 2 mg/day versus placebo as adjunctive therapy to antidepressant therapies in 740 Japanese patients with MDD and an inadequate response to antidepressant monotherapy. This study evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of adjunctive fixed-dose brexpiprazole 2 mg/day in Japanese patients with MDD.

Adjunctive brexpiprazole 1 mg and 2 mg daily for Japanese patients with major depressive disorder following inadequate response to antidepressants: a phase 2/3, randomized, double-blind (BLESS) study.

Aims: Inadequate antidepressant response interrupts effective treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The BLESS study evaluates the dosage, efficacy, and safety of brexpiprazole adjunctive therapy in Japanese patients with inadequate antidepressant therapy (ADT) response.

Methods: This placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group phase 2/3 study randomized Japanese MDD patients (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17-item total score ≥ 14; historical inadequate response to 1-3 ADTs) with inadequate response to 8-week single-blind, prospective SSRI/SNRI treatment to 6-week adjunctive treatment with brexpiprazole 1 mg, 2 mg, or placebo.

Longitudinal Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stress and Occupational Well-Being of Mental Health Professionals: An International Study.

Background: Increased levels of occupational stress among health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic have been documented. Few studies have examined the effects of the pandemic on mental health professionals despite the heightened demand for their services.

Method: A multilingual, longitudinal, global survey was conducted at 3 time points during the pandemic among members of the World Health Organization's Global Clinical Practice Network.

An international survey examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth use among mental health professionals.

Background: COVID-19 has profoundly affected the work of mental health professionals with many transitioning to telehealth to comply with public health measures. This large international study examined the impact of the pandemic on mental health clinicians' telehealth use.

Methods: This survey study was conducted with mental health professionals, primarily psychiatrists and psychologists, registered with WHO's Global Clinical Practice Network (GCPN).

Efficacy and safety of lurasidone in acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia: A 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lurasidone in acute schizophrenia in Japan and other countries.

Methods: Subjects (aged 18-74 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomized to lurasidone 40 mg/day or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at Week 6.

Lurasidone in the Long-Term Treatment of Bipolar I Depression: A 28-week Open Label Extension Study.

Background: Lurasidone has demonstrated efficacy for short-term treatment of bipolar depression in a diverse ethnic population including Japanese. This study evaluated the long-term safety and effectiveness of open-label lurasidone treatment in these patients.

Methods: Patients for this 28-week extension study were recruited from those who completed a 6-week double-blind study of lurasidone, 20-60 mg/day, lurasidone 80-120 mg/day, and placebo.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of lurasidone monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I depression.

Aim: Previous studies conducted primarily in the USA and Europe have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of lurasidone 20-120 mg/day for the treatment of bipolar I depression. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone monotherapy for the treatment of bipolar I depression among patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including those from Japan.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment for 6 weeks with lurasidone, 20-60 mg/day (n = 184) or 80-120 mg/day (n = 169), or placebo (n = 172).

Impaired brain function improved by L-carnitine in patients with cirrhosis: evaluation using near-infrared spectroscopy.

To evaluate the effects of L-carnitine on impaired brain function in patients with liver cirrhosis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included sequential 80 liver cirrhosis patients with impaired brain function evaluated using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Among them, L-carnitine was administered to 48 patients.

Longitudinal evaluation of visual P300 amplitude in clinical high-risk subjects: An event-related potential study.

Aim: We previously reported abnormal P300 and N200 in a visual oddball task, and progressive P300 amplitude reduction at 1-year follow-up in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. P300 reduction as well as intact P1/N1 were also observed in clinical high-risk subjects (CHR), but whether or not these components change over time is unknown. This study evaluates, longitudinally, the visual P300, as well as P1, N1, and N200, in CHR.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Blonanserin Transdermal Patches in Japanese Patients with Schizophrenia: A 52-Week Open-Label, Multicenter Study.

Background: Blonanserin transdermal patch therapy is now available in Japan for the treatment of schizophrenia and may provide several advantages over the tablet formulation.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of blonanserin transdermal patches in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: An open-label study was conducted in adults with schizophrenia at 37 sites in Japan.

Safety and effectiveness of lurasidone for the treatment of schizophrenia in Asian patients: Results of a 26-week open-label extension study.

Introduction: This study was designed to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia among Asian patients.

Methods: Patients (N = 281) with schizophrenia who had completed a randomized, double-blind (DB), 6-week comparison of lurasidone (40 and 80 mg/day) and placebo were enrolled in a 26-week extension study in which all patients received open-label (OL), flexible doses of lurasidone (40 or 80 mg/day). Effectiveness was measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scale.

Efficacy and safety of blonanserin transdermal patch in patients with schizophrenia: A 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.

Background: Blonanserin is a second-generation antipsychotic used for the treatment of schizophrenia. This study determined the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of a blonanserin transdermal patch in patients with acutely exacerbated schizophrenia.

Methods: This double-blind, multicenter, phase 3 study consisted of a 1-week observation period during which patients were treated with two patches of placebo, followed by a 6-week double-blind period where patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive once-daily blonanserin 40 mg, blonanserin 80 mg, or placebo patches.

Lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Asian patients.

Introduction: To evaluate efficacy and safety of lurasidone for the treatment of Asian patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Patients with schizophrenia from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with 40 or 80 mg/d of lurasidone or placebo. The primary efficacy measure was change from baseline to week 6 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo, and risperidone-controlled study of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: Results of an inconclusive 6-week trial.

Objective: The efficacy and safety of lurasidone in schizophrenia has been demonstrated in multiple controlled trials, primarily in US and European populations. The aim of the current study was To evaluate lurasidone for the treatment of schizophrenia among patients in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Methods: Hospitalized patients (N = 460) with schizophrenia were randomized to 6 weeks of fixed-dose lurasidone 40 mg/d, lurasidone 80 mg/d, risperidone 4 mg/d, or placebo.

Longitudinal Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol and Tobacco Use in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Workers 32 Months After the Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima News Project Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to predict increased alcohol and tobacco use in Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) workers 3 years after a nuclear disaster.

Methods: Surveys were conducted in two postdisaster waves (Wave 1: 2 to 3 months; Wave 2: 32 months). Adjusted risk ratio (aRR) was computed to assess the covariates of increased alcohol and tobacco use in Wave 2.

Plasma amino acid profile in major depressive disorder: Analyses in two independent case-control sample sets.

Some amino acids act as neurotransmitters themselves, or are precursors of neurotransmitters. Previous studies reported inconsistent results regarding their changes in blood in major depressive disorder (MDD), which prompted us to examine plasma levels of amino acids and related molecules in two independent case-control sample sets. In total, 511 subjects were recruited.