Side effects as influencers of treatment outcome.
Research relative to the efficacy of a therapeutic agent commands a clinician's greatest interest, but treatment decisions are made based on optimizing efficacy and tolerability/safety considerations. Second-generation atypical antipsychotic drugs are a study in the importance of taking a careful look at the full benefit-risk profile of each drug. The disorders that atypical antipsychotics are approved to treat--schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder--are associated with an increased rate of certain medical comorbidities compared to the general population. Between-drug differences in efficacy are relatively modest for the atypicals, or between atypicals and conventionals, while differences in safety and tolerability are larger and more clinically relevant. The current article will provide a brief summary of safety-related issues that influence treatment outcome and choice of drug.
Sharif
Zafar
Z
Department of Psychiatry, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA. zas1@columbia.edu
D000328:Adult; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents