Maintenance antipsychotic treatment versus discontinuation strategies following remission from first episode psychosis: systematic review

Andrew Thompson, Catherine Winsper, Steven Marwaha, Jon Haynes, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Sarah Hetrick, Alba Realpe, Laura Vail, Sarah Dawson, Sarah A Sullivan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
126 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Understanding the relative risks of maintenance treatment versus discontinuation of antipsychotics following remission in first episode psychosis (FEP) is an important area of practice.

Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prospective experimental studies including a parallel control group were identified to compare maintenance antipsychotic treatment with total discontinuation or medication discontinuation strategies following remission in FEP.

Results: Seven studies were included. Relapse rates were higher in the discontinuation group (53%; 95% CIs: 39%, 68%; N = 290) compared with maintenance treatment group (19%; 95% CIs: 0.05%, 37%; N = 230). In subgroup analyses, risk difference of relapse was lower in studies with a longer follow-up period, a targeted discontinuation strategy, a higher relapse threshold, a larger sample size, and samples with patients excluded for drug or alcohol dependency. Insufficient studies included psychosocial functioning outcomes for a meta-analysis.

Conclusions: There is a higher risk of relapse for those who undergo total or targeted discontinuation strategies compared with maintenance antipsychotics in FEP samples. The effect size is moderate and the risk difference is lower in trials of targeted discontinuation strategies.

Declaration of interest: A.T. has received honoraria and support from Janssen-Cilag and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals for meetings and has been has been an investigator on unrestricted investigator-initiated trials funded by AstraZeneca and Janssen-Cilag. He has also previously held a Pfizer Neurosciences Research Grant. S.M. has received sponsorship from Otsuka and Lundbeck to attend an academic congress and owns shares in GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. J.H. has attended meetings supported by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)215-225
Number of pages11
JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry Open
Volume4
Issue number4
Early online date29 Jun 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2018

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