Response to Lex Wunderink's query as to whether the development of supersensitivity could explain the greater risk of relapse in individuals with a longer duration of treatment with antipsychotic medication

In our recent study of a cohort of 544 individuals experiencing a first episode of psychosis, we conducted an analysis of predictors of outcome following discontinuation of antipsychotic medication (Bowtell et al., 2017). Of the 61% who had a trial of discontinuation, it was found that 34.0% (N=113) experienced a subsequent relapse in a median follow up time of 372days. Cannabis abuse disorder (HR 1.62; CI: 1.09 –2.40; P=0.02) and a longer duration, in months, of antipsychotic treatment prior to discontinuation (HR: 1.05; CI: 1.01–1.08; P=0.01) were associated with an increased risk of relapse.

Source: Schizophrenia Research - February 17, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Meghan Bowtell, Aswin Ratheesh, Brian O'Donoghue Tags: Letter to the editor Source Type: research