Pharmacological and nonpharmacological augmentation treatments for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis with normalized entropy assessment
- PMID: 36470132
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103375
Pharmacological and nonpharmacological augmentation treatments for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis with normalized entropy assessment
Abstract
Objective: To integrate all evidence derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of both pharmacological and nonpharmacological augmentation interventions for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia (CRS).
Methods: Six major electronic databases were systematically searched for RCTs published until July 10, 2021. The primary outcome was change in overall symptoms, and the secondary outcomes were positive and negative symptoms and acceptability. We performed random-effects network meta-analysis. Normalized entropy was calculated to examine the uncertainty of treatment ranking.
Results: We identified 35 RCTs (1472 patients with 23 active augmentation treatments) with a mean daily clozapine dose of 440.80 (91.27) mg for 1168.22 (710.28) days. Network meta-analysis of overall symptoms (reported as standardized mean difference; 95 % confidence interval) with consistent results indicated that mirtazapine (-4.41; -5.61, -3.21), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (-4.32; -5.43, -3.21), and memantine (-2.02; -3.14, -0.91) were ranked as the best three treatments. For positive symptoms, ECT (-5.18; -5.86, -4.49) was ranked the best with less uncertainty. For negative symptoms, memantine (-3.38; -4.50, -2.26), duloxetine (-3.27; -4.25, -2.29), and mirtazapine (-1.73; -2.71, -0.74) were ranked the best three treatments with less uncertainty. All antipsychotics, N-methyl d-aspartate receptor agonists, and antiepileptics were not associated with more efficacy than placebo. Compared to placebo, only amisulpride had statistically significant lower discontinuation rate (risk ratio: 0.21; 95 % CI: 0.05, 0.93).
Conclusion: Add-on mirtazapine, ECT, and memantine were the most efficacious augmentation options for CRS. Data on other important outcomes such as cognitive functioning or quality of life were rarely reported, making further large-scale, well-designed RCTs necessary. (PROSPERO number, CRD42021262197.).
Keywords: Antipsychotic agent; Electroconvulsive therapy; Psychotropic drug; Schizophrenia; Transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interest Christoph U. Correll has been a consultant for or has received honoraria from AbbVie, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Alkermes, Allergan, Angelini, Axsome Therapeutics, Gedeon Richter, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Karuna, LB Pharmaceuticals, Laboratorios Farmacéuticos ROVI, Lundbeck, MedAvante-ProPhase, MedInCell, Medscape, Merck, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Mylan, Neurocrine, Noven, Otsuka, Pfizer, Recordati, Seqirus, Servier, Sumitomo Dainippon, Sunovion, Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and Viatris; has provided expert testimony for Janssen and Otsuka; has served on data safety monitoring boards or advisory boards for Laboratorios Farmacéuticos ROVI, Lundbeck, Supernus, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries; has received grant support from Janssen and Takeda; has received royalties from UpToDate; serves on the board of directors for the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology; and is a shareholder of LB Pharmaceuticals.
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