['Awakening': a confusing improvement during treatment with atypical antipsychotic agents].
Two schizophrenic women, aged 30 and 40 years, respectively, in whom the symptoms changed after a switch in medication from clozapine to aripiprazole and from olanzapine followed by quetiapine to risperidone, respectively, were initially thought to be experiencing a possible recurrence. After thoughtful consideration, the phenomena, such as disappearance of drowsiness and of loss of energy, in combination with cognitive improvement, could be understood as the result of a dramatic improvement, known as 'awakening'. This had significant consequences for the follow-up since the patients had to deal with new possibilities and emotions.
Vergouwen
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Sint Lucas Andreas Ziekenhuis, afd. Psychiatrie, Postbus 9243, 1006 AE Amsterdam. a.vergouwen@slaz.nl
de Bruijn
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Been
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D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D018967:Risperidone