{"title":"Psilocybin promotes neuroplasticity and induces rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects in mice","authors":"Xiangting Zhao, Yingjie Du, Yishan Yao, Wei Dai, Yongyu Yin, Guyan Wang, Yunfeng Li, Liming Zhang","doi":"10.1177/02698811241249436","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241249436","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Psilocybin offers new hope for treating mood disorders due to its rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, as standard medications require weeks or months to exert their effects. However, the mechanisms underlying this action of psilocybin have not been identified.Aims:To investigate whether psilocybin has rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects in mice and investigate whether its potential mechanisms of action are related to promoted neuroplasticity.Methods:We first examined the antidepressant-like effects of psilocybin in normal mice by the forced swimming test and in chronic corticosterone (CORT)-exposed mice by the sucrose preference test and novelty-suppressed feeding test. Furthermore, to explore the role of neuroplasticity in mediating the antidepressant-like effects of psilocybin, we measured structural neuroplasticity and neuroplasticity-associated protein levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus.Results:We observed that a single dose of psilocybin had rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects in both healthy mice and chronic CORT-exposed mice. Moreover, psilocybin ameliorated chronic CORT exposure-induced inhibition of neuroplasticity in the PFC and hippocampus, including by increasing neuroplasticity (total number of dendritic branches and dendritic spine density), synaptic protein (p-GluA1, PSD95 and synapsin-1) levels, BDNF-mTOR signalling pathway activation (BDNF, TrkB and mTOR levels), and promoting neurogenesis (number of DCX-positive cells).Conclusions:Our results demonstrate that psilocybin elicits robust, rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects which is accompanied by the promotion of neuroplasticity in the PFC and hippocampus.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140835090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ying Jiang, Yusi Cheng, Zhiqiang Du, Yuan Shen, Qin Zhou, Yingying Ji, Haohao Zhu
{"title":"Unveiling potential adverse events associated with escitalopram oxalate: A real-world analysis based FDA adverse event reporting system database","authors":"Ying Jiang, Yusi Cheng, Zhiqiang Du, Yuan Shen, Qin Zhou, Yingying Ji, Haohao Zhu","doi":"10.1177/02698811241249651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241249651","url":null,"abstract":"Objective:The study aimed to conduct a multidimensional evaluation of potential adverse events (AEs) of escitalopram oxalate based on the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database.Methods:This study utilized the reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma-poisson shrinker (MGPS) to mine and analyze data from the FAERS database from the first quarter of 2004 to the second quarter of 2023.Results:There was a total of 19,854 AE reports related to escitalopram oxalate, extracting 625 preferred terms (PTs), and covering 27 system organ classes (SOCs). The results showed that the number of reports by females was significantly higher than males, accounting for 57.68%. The reporting number was higher in 2018 and 2019, accounting for 9.50% and 10.18% of the total reports, respectively. The main reporters were consumers and other health professionals, accounting for 26.99% and 26.75% respectively. The majority of the reports were primarily from the United States. Newly emerging AE signals such as intentional overdose ( n = 691, ROR 8.51, PRR 8.45, IC 3.05, Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean (EBGM) 8.35), suicide attempt ( n = 665, ROR 8.58, PRR 8.52, IC 3.06, EBGM 8.42), serum serotonin ( n = 5, ROR 1044.78, PRR 1044.71, IC 2.56, EBGM 392.39), anti-actin antibody positive ( n = 5, ROR 626.87, PRR 626.83, IC 2.56, EBGM 313.91), among others, were not mentioned in the drug’s label.Conclusion:While escitalopram oxalate has clear benefits in the treatment of depression and other mental health disorders, the presence of AEs also suggests risks associated with its use. Particularly concerning are risks of suicide and changes in serum serotonin levels.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140811379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara de la Salle, Justin Piche, Brittany Duncan, Joëlle Choueiry, Molly Hyde, Robert Aidelbaum, Ashley Baddeley, Danielle Impey, Noreen Rahmani, Vadim Ilivitsky, Verner Knott
{"title":"Influence of GABAA and GABAB receptor activation on auditory sensory gating and its association with anxiety in healthy volunteers","authors":"Sara de la Salle, Justin Piche, Brittany Duncan, Joëlle Choueiry, Molly Hyde, Robert Aidelbaum, Ashley Baddeley, Danielle Impey, Noreen Rahmani, Vadim Ilivitsky, Verner Knott","doi":"10.1177/02698811241246854","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241246854","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Dysfunctional sensory gating in anxiety disorders, indexed by the failure to inhibit the P50 event-related potential (ERP) to repeated stimuli, has been linked to deficits in the major inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).Aims/Methods:This study, conducted in 30 healthy volunteers, examined the acute effects of GABA<jats:sub>A</jats:sub> (lorazepam: 1 mg) and GABA<jats:sub>B</jats:sub> receptor (baclofen: 10 mg) agonists on P50 measures of auditory sensory gating within a paired-stimulus (S1-S2) paradigm and assessed changes in gating in relation to self-ratings of anxiety.Results:Compared to placebo, lorazepam reduced ERP indices of sensory gating by attenuating response to S1. Although not directly impacting P50 inhibition, baclofen-induced changes in gating (relative to placebo) were negatively correlated with trait but not state anxiety.Conclusions:These preliminary findings support the involvement of GABA in sensory gating and tentatively suggest a role for GABA<jats:sub>B</jats:sub> receptor signaling in anxiety-associated gating dysregulation.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140636357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mining and analysis of security alert signals of valbenazine based on the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database","authors":"Qi Wang, Kankan Qu, Zhiqiang Du, Yuan Shen, Ying Jiang, Haohao Zhu","doi":"10.1177/02698811241248391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241248391","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Valbenazine is used for tardive movement disorders in adults. Current studies on its safety are mostly from clinical trials and small case reports, limiting information on rare adverse reactions. This study investigated valbenazine-related adverse event (AE) risk signals using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.Methods:Valbenazine AEs data were collected from the FAERS database from 2017 Q2 to 2023 Q1, employing methods like reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, and empirical Bayesian geometric mean.Results:After data cleaning and drug screening, there were 20,837 AEs primarily suspecting valbenazine, involving 26 system organ classes and 125 AEs related to valbenazine at the preferred terms level. AEs related to valbenazine were mainly concentrated in nervous system disorders, general disorders and administration site conditions, and psychiatric disorders. Eye disorders and gastrointestinal disorders are new AEs not labeled in the valbenazine instructions. In addition, some new potential AE signals were found, such as Tardive dyskinesia and eyelid function disorder.Conclusion:The common AEs of valbenazine in the real world are consistent with the instructions, but there are some newly discovered suspicious AEs.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140626059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James Jonathan Rucker, Claire Roberts, Mathieu Seynaeve, Allan H. Young, Ben Suttle, Takahiro Yamamoto, Anna O. Ermakova, Fiona Dunbar, Frank Wiegand
{"title":"Phase 1, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and effect on altered states of consciousness of intranasal BPL-003 (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine benzoate) in healthy participants","authors":"James Jonathan Rucker, Claire Roberts, Mathieu Seynaeve, Allan H. Young, Ben Suttle, Takahiro Yamamoto, Anna O. Ermakova, Fiona Dunbar, Frank Wiegand","doi":"10.1177/02698811241246857","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241246857","url":null,"abstract":"Aims:To investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of BPL-003, a novel intranasal benzoate salt formulation of 5-methoxy- N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT), in healthy participants.Methods:In all, 44 psychedelic-naïve participants enrolled in the double-blind, placebo-controlled single ascending dose study (1–12 mg BPL-003). Concentrations of 5-MeO-DMT and its pharmacologically active metabolite, bufotenine, were determined in plasma and urine. PD endpoints included subjective drug intensity (SDI) rating, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI).Results:BPL-003 was well tolerated at doses up to 12 mg. There were no serious adverse events (AEs), and most AEs were mild; the most common being nasal discomfort, nausea, headache and vomiting. 5-MeO-DMT was rapidly absorbed and eliminated; the median time to peak plasma concentration was approximately 8–10 min and the mean terminal elimination half-life was <27 min. 5-MeO-DMT systemic exposure increased approximately dose-proportionally, while plasma bufotenine concentrations and urinary excretion of 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenine were negligible. The intensity of the SDI ratings was associated with plasma 5-MeO-DMT concentrations. MEQ-30 and EDI scores generally increased with the BPL-003 dose; 60% of participants had a ‘complete mystical experience’ at 10 and 12 mg doses. Profound and highly emotional consciousness-altering effects were observed with BPL-003, with a rapid onset and short-lasting duration.Conclusion:The novel intranasal formulation of BPL-003 was well tolerated with dose-proportional increases in PK and PD effects. The short duration of action and induction of mystical experiences suggest clinical potential, warranting further trials.Clinical trial registration:NCT05347849.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140573292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joseph Peill, Miriam Marguilho, David Erritzoe, Tommaso Barba, Kyle T Greenway, Fernando Rosas, Christopher Timmermann, Robin Carhart-Harris
{"title":"Psychedelics and the ‘inner healer’: Myth or mechanism?","authors":"Joseph Peill, Miriam Marguilho, David Erritzoe, Tommaso Barba, Kyle T Greenway, Fernando Rosas, Christopher Timmermann, Robin Carhart-Harris","doi":"10.1177/02698811241239206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241239206","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Reference to an intrinsic healing mechanism or an ‘inner healer’ is commonplace amongst psychedelic drug-using cultures. The ‘inner healer’ refers to the belief that psychedelic compounds, plants or concoctions have an intrinsically regenerative action on the mind and brain, analogous to intrinsic healing mechanisms within the physical body, for example, after sickness or injury.Aims:Here, we sought to test and critique this idea by devising a single subjective rating item pertaining to perceived ‘inner healing’ effects.Methods:The item was issued to 59 patients after a single high (25 mg, n = 30) or ‘placebo’ (1 mg, n = 29) dose of psilocybin in a double-blind randomised controlled trial of psilocybin for depression.Results:Inner healer scores were higher after the high versus placebo dose of psilocybin ( t = 3.88, p < 0.001). Within the high-dose sub-sample only, inner healer scores predicted improved depressive symptomatology at 2 weeks post-dosing.Conclusions:The principle of activating inner healing mechanisms via psychedelics is scientifically nascent; however, this study takes a positivist and pragmatic step forward, asking whether it warrants further examination.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140573002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
André Luiz Schuh Teixeira da Rosa, Olivia Sorato Bezerra, Luis Augusto Rohde, Ana Soledade Graeff-Martins
{"title":"Exploring clozapine use in severe psychiatric symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review","authors":"André Luiz Schuh Teixeira da Rosa, Olivia Sorato Bezerra, Luis Augusto Rohde, Ana Soledade Graeff-Martins","doi":"10.1177/02698811241241384","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811241241384","url":null,"abstract":"Background:Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience severe psychiatric symptoms, often unresponsive to conventional pharmacological therapies, highlighting the need for more effective alternatives.Aims:This study aims to map and synthesize evidence on the use of clozapine as a therapeutic option for managing severe psychiatric symptomatology co-occurring with ASD.Methods:We conducted a scoping review on multiple sources following the JBI guidelines. The search strategy was inclusive, targeting both peer-reviewed publications and gray literature presenting empirical data on the use of clozapine therapy for patients with ASD accompanied by comorbid psychiatric symptoms. Two independent evaluators performed the selection of studies, data extraction, and critical appraisal.Results:The review included 46 studies, encompassing 122 ASD individuals who received clozapine therapy. The sources of evidence comprise 31 case reports, 8 case series, 6 retrospective observational studies, and 1 quasi-experimental prospective study. The tables present the findings along with a narrative summary. Clozapine treatment demonstrated benefits in four groups of severe and treatment-resistant psychiatric symptoms in ASD patients: disruptive behaviors, psychotic symptoms, catatonia, and mood symptoms. Although side effects were common, tolerability was generally satisfactory. However, severe adverse events, such as seizures, moderate neutropenia, and myocarditis, underscore the need for intensive clinical monitoring.Conclusions:While clozapine shows promise as a pharmacological intervention for severe psychopathologies in ASD, more rigorous clinical studies are required to elucidate its efficacy and safety in this population. The limited robustness of the evidence calls for caution, signaling an early research stage into this topic.","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":"244 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140572909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julian Macoveanu, Jeff Zarp Petersen, Johanna Mariegaard, Andreas Elleby Jespersen, Katrine Cramer, Caroline Fussing Bruun, Helle Østergaard Madsen, Martin Balslev Jørgensen, Maj Vinberg, Patrick M Fisher, Gitte Moos Knudsen, Ida Hageman, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Lars Vedel Kessing, Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak
{"title":"Effects of erythropoietin on cognitive impairment and prefrontal cortex activity across affective disorders: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.","authors":"Julian Macoveanu, Jeff Zarp Petersen, Johanna Mariegaard, Andreas Elleby Jespersen, Katrine Cramer, Caroline Fussing Bruun, Helle Østergaard Madsen, Martin Balslev Jørgensen, Maj Vinberg, Patrick M Fisher, Gitte Moos Knudsen, Ida Hageman, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Lars Vedel Kessing, Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak","doi":"10.1177/02698811241237869","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811241237869","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Persistent cognitive impairment is frequent across bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), highlighting an urgent need for pro-cognitive treatments.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study investigated effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on cognitive impairment and dorsal prefrontal cortex (dPFC) activity in affective disorders.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, cognitively impaired patients with remitted BD or MDD received 1 weekly recombinant human EPO (40,000 IU/mL) or saline infusion for a 12-week period. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after 2 weeks of treatment (week 3), immediately after treatment (week 13) and at 6-months follow-up. Participants underwent functional MRI during performance on a n-back working memory (WM) task at baseline and week 3, and for a subgroup 6 weeks post-treatment (week 18). The primary outcome was a cognitive composite score at week 13, whereas secondary outcomes comprised sustained attention and functioning. WM-related dPFC activity was a tertiary outcome.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data were analysed for 101 of the 103 included patients (EPO, <i>n</i> = 58; saline, <i>n</i> = 43). There were no effects of EPO over saline on any cognitive or functional outcomes or on WM-related dPFC activity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The absence of treatment-related changes in cognition and neural activity was unexpected and contrasts with multiple previous preclinical and clinical studies. It is possible that the lack of effects resulted from a recent change in the manufacturing process for EPO. Nevertheless, the findings support the validity of dPFC target engagement as a biomarker model for pro-cognitive effects, according to which treatments that do not improve cognition should not modulate dPFC activity.</p><p><strong>Trial registrations: </strong>EudraCT no.: 2016-004023-24; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03315897.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"362-374"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140189881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samuele Cortese, Frank Mc Besag, Bruce Clark, Chris Hollis, Joe Kilgariff, Carmen Moreno, Dasha Nicholls, Paul Wilkinson, Marc Woodbury-Smith, Aditya Sharma
{"title":"Common pitfalls, and how to avoid them, in child and adolescent psychopharmacology: Part I.","authors":"Samuele Cortese, Frank Mc Besag, Bruce Clark, Chris Hollis, Joe Kilgariff, Carmen Moreno, Dasha Nicholls, Paul Wilkinson, Marc Woodbury-Smith, Aditya Sharma","doi":"10.1177/02698811241239582","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811241239582","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As Faculty of the British Association for Psychopharmacology course on child and adolescent psychopharmacology, we present here what we deem are the most common pitfalls, and how to avoid them, in child and adolescent psychopharmacology. In this paper, we specifically addressed common pitfalls in the pharmacological treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders, and tic disorder. Pitfalls in the treatment of other disorders are addressed in a separate paper (part II).</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"311-317"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11010544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140143660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James R O'Neill, Adam Jameson, Samantha L McLean, Michael Dixon, Alastair G Cardno, Christopher Lawrence
{"title":"A proposal for reducing maximum target doses of drugs for psychosis: Reviewing dose-response literature.","authors":"James R O'Neill, Adam Jameson, Samantha L McLean, Michael Dixon, Alastair G Cardno, Christopher Lawrence","doi":"10.1177/02698811241239543","DOIUrl":"10.1177/02698811241239543","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Presently, there is limited guidance on the maximal dosing of psychosis drugs that is based on effectiveness rather than safety or toxicity. Current maximum dosing recommendations may far exceed the necessary degree of dopamine D<sub>2</sub> receptor blockade required to treat psychosis. This may lead to excess harm through cognitive impairment and side effects.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>This analysis aimed to establish guidance for prescribers by optimally dosing drugs for psychosis based on efficacy and benefit.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used data from two dose-response meta-analyses and reviewed seven of the most prescribed drugs for psychosis in the UK. Where data were not available, we used appropriate comparison techniques based on D<sub>2</sub> receptor occupancy to extrapolate our recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that the likely threshold dose for achieving remission of psychotic symptoms was often significantly below the currently licensed dose for these drugs. We therefore recommend that clinicians are cautious about exceeding our recommended doses. Individual factors, however, should be accounted for. We outline potentially relevant factors including age, ethnicity, sex, smoking status and pharmacogenetics. Additionally, we recommend therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool to determine individual pharmacokinetic variation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In summary, we propose a new set of maximum target doses for psychosis drugs based on efficacy. Further research through randomised controlled trials should be undertaken to evaluate the effect of reducing doses from current licensing maximums or from doses that are above our recommendations. However, dose reductions should be implemented in a manner that accounts for and reduces the effects of drug withdrawal.</p>","PeriodicalId":16892,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Psychopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"344-352"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2024-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140143659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}