title: Add-on oral olanzapine worsens hallucinations in schizoaffective disorder.
abstract: Anecdotal evidence tends to favour olanzapine in the treatment of hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders; however, no conclusive evidence is available on this topic. We report here a clinical case in which a 46-year-old man, suffering from a schizoaffective disorder (depressed type), underwent olanzapine treatment (20 mg/day). After inducing an initial amelioration, the patient had a re-exacerbation of auditory hallucinations and a clinical and psychosocial worsening, which subsided after olanzapine discontinuation. Olanzapine may induce a worsening of hallucinations in a psychotic disorder with substantial affective component and therefore its use should be carefully evaluated in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignapiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Olimpia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabrazzo
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine