title: Effectiveness and tolerability of olanzapine in the treatment of adolescents with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders: results from a large, prospective, open-label study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess effectiveness and tolerability of oral olanzapine treatment of adolescents with schizophrenic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescent patients (12-19 years) with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or schizophreniform disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4(th) edition (DSM-IV) were enrolled in a multicenter, prospective, open-label study. Following a 2- to 9-day washout period, patients initially received 10 mg/day olanzapine. Dose modification was allowed during week 2 (dose range 5-15 mg/day) and during weeks 3-6 (dose range, 5-20 mg/day). Responders (improvement > or =30% on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, BPRS) continued olanzapine for additional 18 weeks. Psychopathology was assessed using BPRS and Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scales; side effects were assessed by adverse event reporting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 96 patients enrolled at 10 sites, 60 (62.5%) met response criteria at week 6. Mean BPRS total scores decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from baseline (39.2 +/- 13.4) to week 6 last observation carried forward (LOCF) (22.2 +/- 14.7). The rate of patients considered markedly ill or worse (CGI-S) decreased from 83.3% (baseline) to 37.5% (week 6, LOCF). The most common reported adverse event was weight gain (30.2%, 29/96). Three patients (3.1%) discontinued due to adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study of young patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or schizophreniform disorders, olanzapine treatment was associated with marked symptom improvement. As changes in weight and prolactin levels may be greater in adolescent than in adult patients, potential risks and benefits of olanzapine treatment in adolescents should be considered carefully.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lilly Deutschland GmbH, Saalburgstrasse 153, Bad Homburg, Germany. dittmann_ralf_w@lilly.com
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Dittmann
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Franz Joseph
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Freisleder
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Remschmidt
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mehler-Wex
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junghanss
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hagenah
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulte-Markwort
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poustka
authors.forename: Martin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Anneliese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mästele
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wehmeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D011388:Prolactin; D000077152:Olanzapine