Antipsychotic response in the first week predicts later efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
Time of onset of antipsychotic action is still a debated matter. We aimed to replicate and extend previous findings that early response can predict subsequent non-response.


METHODS
86 acutely psychotic patients treated with haloperidol were studied.


RESULTS
A PANSS reduction ≤16% at 1 week predicts non-response at 3 weeks of treatment (specificity 92%, sensitivity 82%). Conversely, a PANSS reduction ≥23% at 1 week of treatment predicts response at 3 weeks, with a specificity of 84% and a sensitivity of 86%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm that an early response to antipsychotic treatment accurately predicts the treatment effectiveness and extends it to a prediction performed as early as 1 week.
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Ina
I
Giegling
Stefano
S
Porcelli
Beatrice
B
Balzarro
Costanza
C
Andrisano
Martin
M
Schäfer
Hans-Jürgen
HJ
Möller
Dan
D
Rujescu
Alessandro
A
Serretti
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol