Long-term follow-up (24 months) of quetiapine treatment in drug-induced Parkinson disease psychosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term outcome of quetiapine (QTP) use for drug-induced psychosis in Parkinson disease as assessed by the primary caregiver using the Clinical Global Impression Scale.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients (mean age+/-SD, 76.1+/-5.9 years; mean disease duration+/-SD, 10.3+/-5.3 years; 19 with dementia) were followed up over a 24-month period.


RESULTS
At 6 months, 20 (57%) responded to QTP, of whom 11 (31%) maintained their improvement in the long term (for 24 months). Altogether, 15 patients (43%) responded to QTP in the long term (11 were still on treatment at 24 months, 3 stopped because of improvement and medication was no longer required, and 3 stopped because of financial reasons [one was responding positively by the time of stopping medication]). The medications of nonresponding patients (n=15) were switched to clozapine, with a positive response in 12 patients (80%).


CONCLUSIONS
In long-term follow-up, 31% of parkinsonian patients with psychosis treated with QTP were still on QTP therapy at 24 months. For those failing to respond to QTP, clozapine was an effective alternative therapy.
Klein
Colin
C
Department of Neurology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Prokhorov
Tatiana
T
Miniovich
Alla
A
Dobronevsky
Eugenia
E
Rabey
Jose M
JM
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011605:Psychoses, Substance-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D013997:Time Factors
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate