May 8, 2017
Keio University School of Medicine
Dr. Hiroyuki Uchida, a full-time lecturer at the Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, along with schizophrenia research experts from North America, Europe, and Asia, has examined the long-term effects and safety of antipsychotic medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia, clarifying their safety, efficacy, and challenges.
In recent years, there have been scattered reports suggesting that the long-term use of antipsychotic medications may, conversely, worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia, making their use a subject of debate.
Therefore, the research group reviewed past reports on the therapeutic effects of antipsychotics and their impact on the brain to re-examine their efficacy and safety.
The results clearly reaffirmed that the use of antipsychotic medications is effective in improving symptoms and preventing subsequent relapse. On the other hand, the study concluded that for some patients, discontinuing or reducing antipsychotics may be an appropriate treatment, and that future research is needed to find personalized treatment methods for each patient. Furthermore, they concluded that no definitive findings were obtained regarding the effects of antipsychotics on brain atrophy, and that further investigation is required.
By disseminating these findings to patients with schizophrenia and their families, we believe this will help dispel "misconceptions" about the effects of antipsychotic medications, while also highlighting the challenges and presenting a future direction for the treatment of schizophrenia.
These research findings were published in the "American Journal of Psychiatry," issued by the American Psychiatric Association, on May 5, 2017.
For the full press release, please see below.