title: Antipsychotics decrease response confidence.
abstract: Antipsychotics represent the first-choice treatment for schizophrenia. However, the cognitive and emotional pathways through which symptom reduction is achieved have remained unclear. We recently proposed that the induction of doubt is a core mechanism of action of antipsychotics. In the framework of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 39 nonclinical participants filled out a questionnaire tapping into cognitive and emotional changes (Effect of Antipsychotic Medication on Emotion and Cognition-revised (EAMEC-r)) each time they had received one of three substances (haloperidol, placebo, L-dopa). Participants reported more doubt under haloperidol than under L-dopa lending support to the theory that antipsychotics decrease delusional conviction via the reduction of confidence. Key points from this study are: (a) antipsychotics induce doubt, and (b) doubt may represent a core mechanism of action for the reduction of delusional ideas.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany moritz@uke.de.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolbeck
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D006220:Haloperidol
keywords: Schizophrenia; antipsychotics; confidence; doubt; neuroleptics