BACKGROUND

Currently available antipsychotics have limited efficacy in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia and new drugs with wider spectrums of clinical efficacy are very desirable. Cariprazine is a newer antipsychotic acting as dopamine D3- and in lesser extent D2-receptor partial agonist found to be effective in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate cariprazine early effects at the first stage of therapy of schizophrenia patients with predominantly negative symptoms.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

Open-lable observational assessment of 60 adult schizophrenia patients (F20 on ICD-10, 49% males) with predominantly negative symptoms (PANSS-FSNS ≥15, PANSS-FSPS <19) treated by cariprazine (starting daily dose 1.5 mg followed by upward titration by 1.5 mg weekly up to 6 mg if needed) were assessed with PANSS, CAINS, CDSS and SAS scales at baseline and on week 1, 2, and 4. Efficacy criteria were.

RESULTS

Most patients (75%) improved during 28 days of cariprazine treatment. Negative symptoms mean total scores on PANSS-NS and CAINS significantly (<0.05) reduced by 4.3 and 4.9 respectively at the end of assessment (day 28). Cariprazine tolerability was good, only 4 patients discontinued because of TEAEs (akathisia, insomnia).

CONCLUSIONS

The study results preliminary suggest initial effect of cariprazine on negative symptoms at least in some schizophrenia patients with predominantly negative symptoms starting from 1-2 weeks of treatment and available for observation and assessment and could be useful for determination of early clinical predictors for efficacy. Considering limitations of observational open-lable design with no control groups these data need to be confirmed.