Regitze Sølling Wils1, Ditte Resendal Gotfredsen2, Carsten Hjorthøj3, Stephen F Austin4, Nikolai Albert5, Rikke Gry Secher6, Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup7, Ole Mors8, Merete Nordentoft9. 1. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: regitzewils@gmail.com. 2. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: dittegotfredsen@gmail.com. 3. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: carsten.hjorthoej@regionh.dk. 4. Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark; Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: Stephen.01.Austin@regionh.dk. 5. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: nikolai.albert@regionh.dk. 6. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: gry_secher@yahoo.dk. 7. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: Anne.Amalie.Elgaard.Thorup@regionh.dk. 8. Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: nielmors@rm.dk. 9. Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark. Electronic address: mn@dadlnet.dk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several national guidelines recommend continuous use of antipsychotic medication after a psychotic episode in order to minimize the risk of relapse. However some studies have identified a subgroup of patients who obtain remission of psychotic symptoms while not being on antipsychotic medication for a period of time. This study investigated the long-term outcome and characteristics of patients in remission of psychotic symptoms with no use of antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up. METHODS: The study was a cohort study including 496 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD 10: F20 and F22-29). Patients were included in the Danish OPUS Trial and followed up 10years after inclusion, where patient data was collected on socio-demographic factors, psychopathology, level of functioning and medication. FINDINGS: 61% of the patients from the original cohort attended the 10-year follow up and 30% of these had remission of psychotic symptoms at the time of the 10-year follow up with no current use of antipsychotic medication. This outcome was associated with female gender, high GAF-F score, participation in the labour market and absence of substance abuse. CONCLUSION: Our results describe a subgroup of patients who obtained remission while not being on antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up. The finding calls for further investigation on a more individualized approach to long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication.
BACKGROUND: Several national guidelines recommend continuous use of antipsychotic medication after a psychotic episode in order to minimize the risk of relapse. However some studies have identified a subgroup of patients who obtain remission of psychotic symptoms while not being on antipsychotic medication for a period of time. This study investigated the long-term outcome and characteristics of patients in remission of psychotic symptoms with no use of antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up. METHODS: The study was a cohort study including 496 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD 10: F20 and F22-29). Patients were included in the Danish OPUS Trial and followed up 10years after inclusion, where patient data was collected on socio-demographic factors, psychopathology, level of functioning and medication. FINDINGS: 61% of the patients from the original cohort attended the 10-year follow up and 30% of these had remission of psychotic symptoms at the time of the 10-year follow up with no current use of antipsychotic medication. This outcome was associated with female gender, high GAF-F score, participation in the labour market and absence of substance abuse. CONCLUSION: Our results describe a subgroup of patients who obtained remission while not being on antipsychotic medication at the 10-year follow-up. The finding calls for further investigation on a more individualized approach to long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication.
Authors: Seoyoung Kim; Sang Ho Shin; Barbara Santangelo; Mattia Veronese; Seung Kwan Kang; Jae Sung Lee; Gi Jeong Cheon; Woojoo Lee; Jun Soo Kwon; Oliver D Howes; Euitae Kim Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2020-09-14 Impact factor: 15.992
Authors: Saskia Steinmann; Amanda E Lyall; Mina Langhein; Felix L Nägele; Jonas Rauh; Suheyla Cetin-Karayumak; Fan Zhang; Marius Mussmann; Tashrif Billah; Nikos Makris; Ofer Pasternak; Lauren J O'Donnell; Yogesh Rathi; Marek Kubicki; Gregor Leicht; Martha E Shenton; Christoph Mulert Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2021-06-14 Impact factor: 5.435