Table 1.
Clinical observations and epidemiological arguments | |
---|---|
(I) | The prevalence rates of OCS in schizophrenia increased after market approval of SGAs such as clozapine. |
(II) | The comorbidity rates in later stages of schizophrenia are higher than during the ARMS or at first manifestation of psychosis. |
(III) | In parallel to antipsychotic treatment OCS manifest de novo or show a marked aggravation. |
(IV) | High prevalence rates of OCS are observed during CLZ treatment. |
(V) | Schizophrenia patients with SGA-induced OCS markedly contribute to the entire sample of comorbid patients. |
| |
Evidence derived from pharmacological considerations | |
| |
(I) | Pharmacodynamic properties modulate the risk for OCS: marked difference between samples treated with first generation antipsychotics or mainly dopaminergic SGAs (such as aripiprazole or amisulpride) compared to CLZ. |
(II) | OCS manifest as an unfavourable drug effect de novo during treatment with potent antiserotonergic SGAs such as CLZ. |
(III) | Indicators of a dose-effect relation: the severity of OCS is positively correlated with duration, dosage, and serum levels of CLZ treatment. |
(IV) | OCS severity persists over time in patients under stable CLZ treatment. |
(V) | The severity of OCS improves after reduction of CLZ dosage to minimally sufficient levels (due to augmentation or combination). |
Summary of epidemiological and pharmacological arguments supporting the induction or at least marked aggravation of OCS by SGA treatment as an unfavourable side effect. CLZ: clozapine, OCS: obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and SGA: second generation antipsychotic agents.