UPDATE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA – Recent studies have suggested that dysfunctional nitric oxide (NO) signalling in the prefrontal cortex is involved in schizophrenia (Fejgin et al. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008; 33: 1874-1883; free full text at www.nature.com/npp/journal/v33/n8/full/1301587a.html). For example, in the phenylcyclidine model of schizophrenia, PCP-induced behavioural effects appear to be due in part to an increase in NO activity (Klamer et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2005; 15: 587-590; Johansson et al. Psychopharmacology (Berl); 1997; 131: 167-173).
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Positive symptoms common in non-converters to psychosis
May 25, 2011UPDATE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA – The North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS) is an ongoing collaborative research project by a consortium of research centres, including the University of Toronto. [For the background see Addington et al. Schizophr Bull 2007; 33: 665-672; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2526151/?tool=pubmed.]
5 patterns of antipsychotic drug response reported
May 25, 2011UPDATE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA – A pooled analysis of six randomized trials of olanzapine and comparator atypical antipsychotic agents (n=1990) reports that five distinct patterns of response can be identified in patients with schizophrenia starting treatment (Stauffer et al. Schizophr Res 2011; epublished April 12, 2011). Response patterns were measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
Delay in hospitalization with clozapine
May 25, 2011UPDATE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA – A U.K. study reports that time to hospitalization was significantly delayed in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder discharged on clozapine rather than on another antipsychotic medication (Nyakyoma & Morriss. Psychopharmacol Bull 2010; 43: 67-81).