title: Aripiprazole as an adjunct to clozapine therapy in adolescents with early-onset schizophrenia: a retrospective chart review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Combination of antipsychotic substances is a therapeutic option increasingly applied in patients with schizophrenia, who do not respond to antipsychotic monotherapy. Recently, various reports on combination of clozapine with aripiprazole in adults have been published. As there is not yet data on adolescent patients, we aimed to study the above-mentioned augmentation strategy in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 15 patients with schizophrenia from a child and adolescent psychiatric department (8 male; mean age 19.3 [SD+/-1.2, range 17.2-21.2] years). Patients had been under clozapine treatment, followed by aripiprazole augmentation. Retrospectively, patients' medical records were reviewed, using a rating scale in analogy to the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean observation time was 11.1 [SD+/-9.7] months. Mean CGI-Severity scores improved significantly (p=0.003, d=0.76) from 5.3 (baseline) to 4.5 (endpoint; last observation carried forward (LOCF)). CGI-Improvement scores decreased from 3.7 (after 1 month) to 3.3 (endpoint; LOCF) (p=0.212, d=0.45).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In adolescents with schizophrenia, aripiprazole augmentation of clozapine treatment might be an effective therapeutic strategy. Prospective studies for this age group are required to obtain more specific clinical data on clinical effectiveness.
authors: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Campus Marburg, Germany. christian.bachmann@charite.de
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Bachmann
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Lehr
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Theisen
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Preiss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D003024:Clozapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D003024:Clozapine