The Direct and Indirect Effects of Paliperidone Extended-release on Depressive Symptoms in Schizoaffective Disorder: A Path Analysis

Conclusion: Results of this analysis suggest that paliperidone’s effect on depressive symptoms in subjects with schizoaffective disorder participating in two six-week, randomized, placebo-controlled studies is mediated through indirect effects (e.g., positive and negative symptom changes) and a direct treatment effect. Introduction Patients with schizoaffective disorder (SCA) often experience complex symptomatology that is characterized by psychotic, depressive, and manic symptoms.[1–3] To manage these diverse symptom groupings, healthcare providers (HCPs) often use mood stabilizers and/or antidepressants in combination with antipsychotics.[4–6] Paliperidone extended-release (ER) (9-OH-risperidone extended-release) is an antipsychotic that has been shown to reduce psychotic symptoms as well as depressive and manic mood symptoms in SCA.[7–9] When trying to understand the multifaceted treatment response observed following the use of paliperidone in persons with SCA, HCPs may find it difficult to determine whether the observed improvements in a given symptom domain have been achieved through direct actions on the symptom domain in question or are achieved indirectly through effects on other symptom domains. Resolving the different types of effects due to treatment and knowing the completeness of the direct response on a symptom grouping, like those associated with depression, is important for the development of an overall treatment plan. If a treatment does not have a di...
Source: Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Bipolar Disorder Current Issue Depression Mood Disorders Original Research Psychiatry Psychopharmacology Schizophrenia depressive symptoms direct effects paliperidone path analysis schizoaffective disorder Source Type: research