TY - JOUR

T1 - Aripiprazole as an adjunct to clozapine therapy in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia

T2 - A retrospective chart review

AU - Bachmann, Christian J.

AU - Lehr, Dirk

AU - Theisen, Frank M.

AU - Preiß, M.

PY - 2009/7

Y1 - 2009/7

N2 - Introduction: Combination of antipsychotic substances is a therapeutic option increasingly applied in patients with schizophrenia, who do not respond to antipsychotic monotherapy. Recently, various reports on combination of clozapine with aripiprazole in adults have been published. As there is not yet data on adolescent patients, we aimed to study the above-mentioned augmentation strategy in this population. Methods: We included 15 patients with schizophrenia from a child and adolescent psychiatric department (8 male; mean age 19.3 [SD±1.2, range 17.221.2] years). Patients had been under clozapine treatment, followed by aripiprazole augmentation. Retrospectively, patients medical records were reviewed, using a rating scale in analogy to the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale. Results: Mean observation time was 11.1 [SD±9.7] months. Mean CGI-Severity scores improved significantly (p=0.003, d=0.76) from 5.3 (baseline) to 4.5 (endpoint; last observation carried forward (LOCF)). CGI-Improvement scores decreased from 3.7 (after 1 month) to 3.3 (endpoint; LOCF) (p=0.212, d=0.45). Conclusions: In adolescents with schizophrenia, aripiprazole augmentation of clozapine treatment might be an effective therapeutic strategy. Prospective studies for this age group are required to obtain more specific clinical data on clinical effectiveness.

AB - Introduction: Combination of antipsychotic substances is a therapeutic option increasingly applied in patients with schizophrenia, who do not respond to antipsychotic monotherapy. Recently, various reports on combination of clozapine with aripiprazole in adults have been published. As there is not yet data on adolescent patients, we aimed to study the above-mentioned augmentation strategy in this population. Methods: We included 15 patients with schizophrenia from a child and adolescent psychiatric department (8 male; mean age 19.3 [SD±1.2, range 17.221.2] years). Patients had been under clozapine treatment, followed by aripiprazole augmentation. Retrospectively, patients medical records were reviewed, using a rating scale in analogy to the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale. Results: Mean observation time was 11.1 [SD±9.7] months. Mean CGI-Severity scores improved significantly (p=0.003, d=0.76) from 5.3 (baseline) to 4.5 (endpoint; last observation carried forward (LOCF)). CGI-Improvement scores decreased from 3.7 (after 1 month) to 3.3 (endpoint; LOCF) (p=0.212, d=0.45). Conclusions: In adolescents with schizophrenia, aripiprazole augmentation of clozapine treatment might be an effective therapeutic strategy. Prospective studies for this age group are required to obtain more specific clinical data on clinical effectiveness.

KW - Health sciences

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70249147303&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1055/s-0029-1202266

DO - 10.1055/s-0029-1202266

M3 - Scientific review articles

C2 - 19585394

AN - SCOPUS:70249147303

VL - 42

SP - 153

EP - 157

JO - Pharmacopsychiatry

JF - Pharmacopsychiatry

SN - 0176-3679

IS - 4

ER -