Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 2:05 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-30 @ 4:37 PM
Study NCT ID:
NCT02435095
Status:
TERMINATED
Last Update Posted:
2020-11-25
First Post:
2015-04-14
Is NOT Gene Therapy:
True
Has Adverse Events:
False
Brief Title:
Antipsychotic Induced Structural and Functional Brain Changes
Sponsor:
RWTH Aachen University
Organization:
Study Overview
Official Title:
Are Antipsychotics Neurotoxic or Neuroprotective? A Long-term Comparison of Two Treatment Strategies
Status:
TERMINATED
Status Verified Date:
2020-11
Last Known Status:
None
Delayed Posting:
No
If Stopped, Why?:
slow patient recruitment, low patient-commpliance, high dropout rates,
Has Expanded Access:
False
If Expanded Access, NCT#:
N/A
Has Expanded Access, NCT# Status:
N/A
Acronym:
APIC
Brief Summary:
Continuation of antipsychotic drug treatment for at least 12 months after remission of the first psychotic episode represents the gold clinical standard, and it is recommended by all international treatment guidelines. Numerous studies have shown that the risk of relapse is significantly increased, if drug treatment is terminated prematurely. However, only a minority of patients achieve functional remission, even if they fully comply with treatment. Long-term adverse effects of the currently available drugs, specifically brain grey matter loss and development of supersensitivity psychosis, might outweigh their benefits. Thus, the current standard of long-term maintenance antipsychotic treatment, which has the primary goal of relapse prevention, has to be questioned. Here the investigators hypothesize that intermittent treatment (experimental) with antipsychotics, which is directed exclusively against the positive symptoms of Schizophrenia, is associated with less loss in total grey matter volume than maintenance treatment (control). Furthermore, the investigators hypothesise that this targeted treatment approach is associated with better functional outcome (fewer negative symptoms, better cognitive performance, better quality of life) than continuous antipsychotic treatment,although the latter is initially associated with fewer relapses.The aim of the present study is to compare two different drug therapies -maintenance therapy versus on-demand, intermittent therapy- in terms of their treatment's success and the structural changes in the brain.
Detailed Description:
Patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 admitted to a hospital participating in the consortium will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as soon as possible after admission. Ideally, this procedure is performed before initiation of antipsychotic treatment (benzodiazepines are allowed). If not possible for clinical reasons, antipsychotic treatment will be started and the MRI will be acquired within three days of initiation of drug treatment. The choice of the antipsychotic will be made by the treating physician. All approved antipsychotics are permitted, including first-generation antipsychotics such as haloperidol or flupenthixol. This is based on the recommendation of the British NICE guidelines: "In nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 1,801 participants with first-episode or early schizophrenia (including people with a recent onset of schizophrenia and people who have never been treated with antipsychotic medication), the evidence suggested there were no clinically significant differences in efficacy between the antipsychotic drugs examined." (NICE 2009, p. 105). However, since second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) are now considered first-line treatment for schizophrenia according to the German S3 guideline, it can be assumed that more than 80% of all patients will be treated with an SGA.
As soon as positive symptoms are sufficiently controlled, medication will be completely tapered off within four weeks. Sufficient control of positive symptoms will defined as follows: "delusions" (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) item 1), "hallucinatory behaviour" (PANSS item 3), and "suspiciousness/persecution" (PANSS item 6) have to be "absent" or "mild" (scores 1 or 2). The PANSS Positive score (7 items) must not be above 18. Patients in the experimental group who will not reach remission according to this definition will be switched to another antipsychotic according to clinical standards. Tapering of medication might be considered at a later time-point. Patients who cannot be tapered off medication will be treated with the lowest possible dose.
Treatment of subsequent exacerbations / psychotic relapses will follow the same rules.
As soon as positive symptoms are sufficiently controlled, medication will be completely tapered off within four weeks. Sufficient control of positive symptoms will defined as follows: "delusions" (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) item 1), "hallucinatory behaviour" (PANSS item 3), and "suspiciousness/persecution" (PANSS item 6) have to be "absent" or "mild" (scores 1 or 2). The PANSS Positive score (7 items) must not be above 18. Patients in the experimental group who will not reach remission according to this definition will be switched to another antipsychotic according to clinical standards. Tapering of medication might be considered at a later time-point. Patients who cannot be tapered off medication will be treated with the lowest possible dose.
Treatment of subsequent exacerbations / psychotic relapses will follow the same rules.
Study Oversight
Has Oversight DMC:
True
Is a FDA Regulated Drug?:
None
Is a FDA Regulated Device?:
None
Is an Unapproved Device?:
None
Is a PPSD?:
None
Is a US Export?:
None
Is an FDA AA801 Violation?: