Early Antipsychotic Response Predictors in Schizophrenia: A Naturalistic Study
Early Antipsychotic Response Predictors in Schizophrenia: A Naturalistic Study

Summary/Abstract: Studies on schizophrenia failed to find predictors of antipsychotic response, early response apart. We therefore hypothesized that early responders (ERs) could be identified by specific clinical characteristics. Two independent samples of schizophrenic patients were analyzed. Further, analyses were repeated merging the two samples (total=171). Factors associated with early response were also analyzed in patients taking first and second generation antipsychotics (FGAs and SGAs). A t test or a wilcoxon test was used to detect significant differences between ERs and early non responders (ENRs). In the investigation sample ERs had a lower illness duration (p=0.02), suffered from more severe positive (p=0.01), general (p=0.01) and hostile avoidance, that is represented by impulsivity, excitement, hostility and uncooperativeness, (p=0.01); these results were substantially confirmed in the replication sample and in the two samples merged. Results obtained in FGAs-treated patients were similar to those observed in the whole sample. In patients taking SGAs, ERs had more severe positive and depressive symptoms, without differences among other factors. In line with previous findings, the most relevant difference between ERs and ENRs was in the age, ERs being with a natural tendency younger (mean age ERs=39.6, ENRs=49.5). Regarding FGAs/SGAs differences, our results suggest that in ENRs treated with FGAs an increase of antipsychotic drug dosage seems to be of scarce benefit. Switching to a SGA might be of more clinical usefulness.

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