Articles related to SCHIZOPHRENIA

The development of effective new therapies has been challenging. This discovery of calcium signaling as a central abnormality in schizophrenia neurons is an exciting new finding, since available antipsychotics treat only positive symptoms and are not effective for all patients.

For the treatment of psychosis in schizophrenia, may an oral molecule constitute a new class of psychotropic drug with a non-D2-receptor binding mode of action? The purpose of a recent study was to answer that question, which Dr. Matt Birnholz delves into in this audio abstract.

According to psychiatrist Russell Margolis, clinical director of the new Johns Hopkins Precision Medicine Center of Excellence for Schizoaffective Disorders, the goal of the center is to create individualized treatment plans for patients, based on the idea that the disorders can be divided into three subtypes: Those who will likely respond favorably to traditional antipsychotics Those who do respond to clozapine but do not respond to traditional antipsychotics Individuals who do not respond to any drugs at all (ultra treatment resistance)

In a study of more than 22,000 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder, 24% also had obsessive-compulsive symptoms; 12% had a diagnosis of OCD. Both co-morbidities were associated with higher rates of aggressive behavior, cognitive problems, and hallucinations or delusions.

A quartet of current clinical trials involving first-in-class molecules and CRISPR gene editing show great promise. STELLAR investigates a fusion protein in PAH, CodeBreak 200 studies a first-in-class of KRAS inhibitor, EMERGENT-2 focuses on a new treatment for schizophrenia, and NCT04601051 studies a gene editing drug for one form of amyloidosis.

Kar-XT adds trospium to xanomeline to substantially improve the second agent’s tolerability, enabling its use to reduce both positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Allopregnanolone, an oral version of brexanolone, is being investigated in MDD. The dextromethorphan and bupropion combo, AXS-05, seeks to offer a new antidepressant option and hydroxynorketamine promises MDD treatment without ketamine’s dissociative effects and abuse potential.