Association Between Serum Anticholinergic Activity and Psychiatric Symptoms of Chronic Schizophrenia

The cholinergic system in schizophrenia has been associated with treatments, adverse effects, and pathophysiological processes. Although the role of the cholinergic system in schizophrenia has been thoroughly investigated, few studies have examined the dynamics of human cholinergic systems in vivo. We compared serum anticholinergic activity (SAA) in patients with schizophrenia to that in healthy controls and investigated correlations between anticholinergic activity and various domains of psychiatric symptoms. Fifteen chronically medicated patients with schizophrenia and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. We measured SAA using a receptor-binding assay ([3H]-QNB). We also measured extrapyramidal motor symptoms and psychiatric symptoms, and assessed cognitive functioning with subscales of the Wechsler Memory Scale. Elevated levels of SAA (>1.95pmol/ml) were significantly more common among patients with schizophrenia than among healthy controls (P<0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between SAA and extrapyramidal motor symptoms in patients with schizophrenia (P=0.043). We found no significant association between SAA and other psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functions. These results indicate that SAA is greater among patients with schizophrenia than healthy controls, and that the anticholinergic effects might reduce extrapyramidal motor symptoms but exacerbate thought disorders. Further studies are warranted to confirm this finding in a larger cohort of non-medicated patients

Development and acceptability testing of a decision aid for considering whether to reduce antipsychotics in individuals with stable schizophrenia

Abstract Aim Continued antipsychotic treatment is the key to preventing relapse. Maintenance antipsychotic monotherapy and optimal dose use are recommended for individuals with stable schizophrenia because of their undesirable effects. Decision aids (DAs) are clinical conversation tools that facilitate shared decision‐making (SDM) between patients and health‐care providers. This study aimed to describe the development process and results of acceptability testing of a DA for individuals with stable schizophrenia, considering (i) whether to continue high‐dose antipsychotics or reduce to the standard dose and (ii) whether to continue two antipsychotics or shift to monotherapy. Methods A DA was developed according to the guidelines for the appropriate use of psychotropic medications and International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). First, a DA prototype was developed based on a previous systematic review and meta‐analysis conducted for identifying the effects of continuing or reducing antipsychotic treatment. Second, mixed‐method survey was performed among individuals with schizophrenia and health‐care providers to modify and finalize the DA. Results The DA consisted of an explanation of schizophrenia, options to continue high‐dose antipsychotics or reduce to the standard dose, options to continue two antipsychotics or shift to monotherapy, pros and cons of each option, and a value‐clarification worksheet for each option. The patients (n = 20) reported acceptable language use (75%), adequate information (75%), and well‐balanced presentation (79%). Health‐care providers (n = 20) also provided favorable overall feedback. The final DA covered six IPDAS qualifying criteria. Conclusion A DA was successfully developed for schizophrenia, considering whether to reduce antipsychotics, which can be used in the SDM process