IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

OTHER DISORDERS

Chapter

H.5.1

USING ANTIPSYCHOTICMEDICATION FOR THE
TREATMENT OF SCHIZOPHRENIAIN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Maite Ferrin, Helen Gosney, Arianna Marconi &Joseph M. Rey
Maite Ferrin MD, MSc, PhD
Huntercombe Hospital
Maidenhead, UK;
Developmental Brain and
Behaviour Laboratory,
University of Southampton, UK& Servicio Navarro de Salud,
Spain
Conflict of interest: none
declared

Helen Gosney MD
Huntercombe Hospital
Maidenhead, UK
Conflict of interest: none
declaredHenri Laborit (1914-1995),
a French physician, writerand philosopher, was the firstto recognize the potential
use of chlorpromazine
in psychiatric disorders,which opened the door to
the psychopharmacology
revolution of the 2nd half ofthe 20th century.

Arianna Marconi MD
Huntercombe Hospital
Maidenhead, UK &Dipartimento di Pediatria e
Neuropsichiatria Infantile“Sapienza”, Università di Roma,
Italy
Conflict of interest: none
declaredThis publication is intended for professionals training or practicing in mental health and not for the general public. The opinions
expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Editor or IACAPAP. This publication seeks todescribe the best treatments and practices based on the scientific evidence available at the time of writing as evaluated by the authorsand may change as a result of new research. Readers need to apply this knowledge to patients in accordance with the guidelines andlaws of their country of practice. Some medications may not be available in some countries and readers should consult the specific drug
information since not all dosages and unwanted effects are mentioned. Organizations, publications and websites are cited or linked toillustrate issues or as a source of further information. This does not mean that authors, the Editor or IACAPAP endorse their content or
recommendations, which should be critically assessed by the reader. Websites may also change or cease to exist.
©IACAPAP 2016. This is an open-access publication under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License. Use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium are allowed without prior permission provided the original work is properly cited andthe use is non-commercial.
Suggested citation: Ferrin M, Gosney H, Marconi A, Rey JM. Using antipsychotic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia
in children and adolescents. In Rey JM (ed), IACAPAP e-Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Geneva: International
Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions 2016.

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental HealthThere is wide agreement that psychotic illnesses, including schizophrenia, area group of heterogeneous conditions with multi-factorial causes (Howes &Kapur, 2009). A neurodevelopmental model hypothesizes that psychosis is
the result of a deviation in neurodevelopmental processes that begins long before
the onset of symptoms and is caused by a combination of environmental andgenetic factors (Rapoport et al, 2005). In addition to prenatal insults, both lategenetic and late environmental factors could explain the different ages of onset.
Symptoms of psychosis are typically classified in three clusters: positive(hallucinations, delusions), negative (poverty of thought and speech, impairment
in social interactions, blunted affect) and cognitive (cognitive decline, impairment
of executive functions).
This chapter complements and should be read in conjunction with chapter
H.5 of the eBook (Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders of Early Onset).
Early onset psychosis and very early onset psychosis are rare and differ fromschizophrenia in several ways. For example, the early onset ones have a similar
gender ratio and there is no difference between boys and girls in age at onset(Remschidt, 2002), while later onset schizophrenia is more common and has an
earlier onset in men. There is much continuity between very early onset psychosis,
early onset psychosis and schizophrenia in adulthood; however prognosis of theearly onset disorders is poorer.

Joseph M Rey MD, PhD,FRANZCP
Notre Dame School of
Medicine Sydney & Disciplineof Psychiatry, Sydney Medical
School, University of Sydney,
Australia
Conflict of interest: none
declared

The term “early onset
psychosis” refers in thischapter to the presence ofa psychotic episode before
the age of 16, and “veryearly onset psychosis”
when the psychotic episodeoccurs before the age of
13.

Table H.5.1.1 Core principles that should be included in intervention programs for early onset
psychosis

PRINCIPLE

GOAL

Raising awareness•To raise knowledge about the importance of early detection andmanagement•

To detect psychosis as early as possible•

To do a comprehensive assessment and ongoing assessment ofcomorbid disorders including depression and anxiety•••

Symptom reduction
Careful titration
Monitoring side effects••

Rapid allocation of key workers/care coordinators
Care plans focused on risk management, recovery and preventionof relapse

Psychosocial interventions

•
•
•
•

Identification
Psychoeducation to young people and their families
To make available family therapy and CBT
To consider housing and income support

Education and employment••

Undertake an education assessment
Provide support into education, training and employment

Promoting recovery•

Aspire to full recovery and support sufferers in regaining fullparticipation in society

Specific early intervention
training
Assessment
Pharmacological treatment

Care coordination

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental HealthAs highlighted in Chapter H.5, the treatment of psychosis in young people
requires a coordinated and integrated approach based on different components ofcare tailored to the individuals’ and their families’ needs. Optimal managementof young people with psychosis requires a multimodal approach that includes
psychoeducation, psychotherapy, family therapy, specific rehabilitation and reintegration measures (Clark & Lewis, 1998; NICE, 2013). There is also growing
evidence that treating individuals with first episode psychosis with a specificmultimodal team-based, coordinated approach results in better clinical andfunctional outcomes than typical community care, particularly if this treatment
begins soon after the onset of psychotic symptoms (Kane et al, 2015). The
principles of treatment are summarised in Table H.5.1.1.
Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of treatment (Meuser & McGurk, 2004;
McClellan & Stock, 2013) and is the focus of this chapter. It is of note that many
patients with first-episode psychosis still receive medications inconsistent withcurrent guidelines, even in high income Western countries. For example a US
study found that almost 40% of people with first-episode psychosis in community
mental health clinics could benefit from changes to their medication (Robinson
et al, 2015).

Click on the image toview a 17-year-old highschool student talk about
his experiences withschizophrenia.

ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS
Antipsychotic medications can be divided according to chemical structure,
type of receptor binding, and clinical profile into two main groups: first generationand second generation. Some of the more commonly used antipsychotics are
summarised in Table H.5.1.2.

MECHANISM OF ACTION
All antipsychotic drugs interact with a variety of neurotransmitter systems.
First generation antipsychotics typically block dopamine receptors (especially D2
receptors). They reduce positive symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations,formal thought disorder, as well as other non-specific symptoms such as agitation
and aggressiveness. They are also associated with elevated prolactin secretion,
extrapyramidal side effects such as tremor, dystonia and tardive dyskinesia, andwith rare but potentially fatal side effects such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Figure H.5.1.1 shows the main dopamine pathways and effects of antipsychotic
medication according to pathway.
Second generation antipsychotics vary in their receptor affinity, targeting
mainly serotoninergic (5HT2A) as well as D2 and other receptors (e.g., M1, D4,
D5). It was believed initially that second generation antipsychotics were effective
in reducing negative symptoms. However, evidence of this is inconclusive. Because
extrapyramidal symptoms can exacerbate negative symptoms and because second
generation antipsychotics have fewer extrapyramidal effects, this can give the false
impression of a reduction in negative symptoms with atypical antipsychotics.
Second generation antipsychotics mainly cause weight gain, dyslipidaemia, andtype II diabetes.

Antipsychotics H.5.1

WHO
ESSENTIAL MEDICINES
LIST 2015
The WHO Model Listof Essential Medicines
serves as a guide for thedevelopment of national
and institutional essential
medicine lists. It is updated
and revised every two
years. According to theWHO, essential medicines
are drugs that satisfy
the health care needsof the majority of the
population. Thus, theyshould be available forprescription and at a pricethe community can afford.
Medicines not in this list areless likely to be available
in low and middle income
countries.
Antipsychotic drugs
included in the 2015 editionof the list are:•
Chlorpromazine•
Fluphenazine•
Haloperidol•
Risperidone•
Clozapine3IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Table H.5.1.2 Dose range and main side effects of commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications(those included in the WHO essential medicines list 2015 are in bold)*

SECOND GENERATIONFIRSTGENERATION

TYPE

NAME

DOSE
(mg/day)EPS

SEDATIONWEIGHT
GAIN

Chlorpromazine

50-300







Fluphenazine

5-20







Haloperidol

1-10







Trifluoperazine

2-20







Amisulpiride

800



-



Aripiprazole

10-15

-

-



Asenapine

5-10







Brexpiprazole

1-4



-



Cariprazine

1.5-6



-



Clozapine

300-900

-





Iloperidone

2-24



-



Lurasidone

40-120Olanzapine

5-20

-





Paliperidone

3-12



-



Quetiapine

200-800-



Risperidone

1-6







Sertindole

4-24

-

-



Ziprasidone

20-80







- Very infrequent;  infrequent;  frequent;  very frequent.
*Summarised from Leucht et al (2013) and other sources.
EPS: extrapyramidal symptoms.

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

The first antipsychotic drug, chlorpromazine, was introduced in 1952. Many other dopamine
antagonists with antipsychotic properties were synthesized subsequently: between 1954 and1975, about 40 new antipsychotic drugs were introduced worldwide—these were the first
generation, typical or traditional antipsychotics.
A new group of antipsychotics (second generation or atypical) emerged in the 1980s. The
second generation antipsychotics showed similar effectiveness but fewer extrapyramidal
effects.
Clozapine, the first atypical antipsychotic, was introduced in Europe in 1971. It was withdrawn
by the manufacturer in 1975 because it could cause agranulocytosis. Its use with theappropriate monitoring was approved in 1989 after having been shown to be effective intreatment-resistant schizophrenia and in reducing suicide rate in patients with schizophrenia.

Figure H.5.1.1 Main dopamine pathways and effects of antipsychotic
medication according to pathway.

PATHWAYFUNCTION

EFFECT OF DOPAMINEBLOCKADE

1. Nigrostriatal

Sensory stimuli and movement

Extrapyramidal symptoms

2. Mesolimbic

Emotion, reward,
hallucinations, delusions

Reduction of positive symptoms

3. Mesocortical

Cognitive and emotional
behaviour

Reduction of negative symptoms(? & limited)

4. Tuberoinfundibular

Control of the hypothalamicpituitary endocrine system

Increased prolactin secretion

Antipsychotics H.5.1

Click on the image to viewa presentation on themechanism of action of
antipsychotics (9:33)

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

The lower propensity of second generation
antipsychotics to cause extrapyramidal symptoms
has been attributed to a weaker occupancy of D2
receptors—that rapidly falls off within 24 hours, incontrast to that for traditional antipsychotics (e.g.,
haloperidol), which maintains its D2 occupancy
constant over 24 hours—or to 5HT2A blockade orboth (Seeman, 2004). That is, one explanation of thedifference in side effects between typical and atypicalantipsychotics is that the atypical antipsychotics bindmore loosely to D2 receptors than does dopamine
itself (i.e., are displaced by dopamine), while the first
generation antipsychotics bind more tightly than
dopamine—and are less likely to be displaced bydopamine.

Figure H.5.1.2 D2 receptor occupancy andclinical effectThis has practical implications for treatment. Antipsychotic effect is achieved
when 60% to 75% of D2 receptors have been blocked, while extrapyramidalside effects appear when 80% or more D2 receptors have been blocked (Figure
H.5.1.2). This suggests that unnecessarily increasing the dose or using two
antipsychotics concurrently is likely to result in more side effects rather than insymptom improvement.

EFFECTIVENESS
There are not much data regarding the efficacy and safety of pharmacologicalinterventions in psychosis and schizophrenia in children, adolescents and young
adults. A review of 27 trials including 3,067 participants found that antipsychotic
treatment produced a large improvement in symptoms measured by the ClinicalGlobal Impressions Scale, suggesting that efficacy of antipsychotics is similar inchildren, adolescents and young adults (Stafford et al, 2015). Nevertheless, muchof the data about treatment is still extrapolated from studies in adults.

Antipsychotic effect isachieved when 60% to
75% of D2 receptors
have been blocked, while
extrapyramidal side effects
appear when 80% or more
D2 receptors have been
blocked. This suggests that
unnecessarily increasing
the dose or using two
antipsychotics concurrently
is likely to result in moreside effects rather than insymptom improvement.

Recent meta-analyses have failed to find superiority in clinical efficacy
between typical and atypical antipsychotic medication (Crossley, 2010). Yet
different people respond to different antipsychotics. Currently we are unable topredict response of specific individuals to specific antipsychotics. That is, treatment
is largely based on trial-and-error. However, up to 80% of patients with a first
episode psychosis are expected to show a significant improvement with appropriate
antipsychotic treatment. Of the 20% who do not improve, about one quarter islikely to respond to a different antipsychotic; the rest (15%) can be considered“treatment resistant”. A further three quarters of those resistant to treatment arelikely to benefit from clozapine. This does not mean, however, that these outcomes
persist over time; recurrence of symptoms due to relapse, poor adherence totreatment and to other factors is common. A meta-analysis including 65 trials
comprising 6,493 patients found that antipsychotic drugs significantly reduced
relapse at one year from 64% in those taking a placebo to 27% in those taking
medication (number needed to treat to benefit = 3, see Chapter A.6, page 7 of theeTextbook) (Leucht K et al, 2012).

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Given that young people seem to have a higher risk of extrapyramidalside effects and more resistance to accept treatment, most guidelines recommend
atypical antipsychotics as first line treatment. If second generation antipsychotics
cannot be used because they are not available, for instance in some low income
countries, first generation antipsychotics should be commenced at low doses(e.g., 1–2mg haloperidol or 100 mg of chlorpromazine) and titrated slowly
UP to 4-6mg of haloperidol or equivalent in order to minimise undesirable
extrapyramidal side effects (International Early Psychosis Association Writing
Group, 2005). Antiparkinsonian medication can be considered/used if necessary(see “antiparkinsonian pharmacotherapy” below).

LONG-ACTING INJECTABLE ANTIPSYCHOTICS (LAIs)
Not taking antipsychotic medication is the single largest modifiable risk
factor for the recurrence of positive symptoms of schizophrenia (Subotnik et
al, 2015). Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs)—also known as depot
antipsychotics—were developed to enhance adherence at a time of extensive
psychiatric hospital deinstitutionalisation of patients and the need for an effective
community-based treatment (see Table H.5.1.3). The first LAIs—fluphenazine
enanthate and decanoate—were introduced in 1966. Yet, LAIs have been
underused in the treatment of schizophrenia largely due to clinicians’ unjustified

Table H.5.1.3 Long-acting injectable antipsychotics

SECOND GENERATIONFIRSTGENERATIONANTIPSYCHOTICTIME BETWEENINJECTIONS(WEEKS)*

Flupenthixol decanoate

2-4

Fluphenazine decanoate

1-4

Haloperidol decanoate

4

Aripiprazole lauroxil

4-6

COMMENTS•

May need concurrent antiparkinsonian
medication•
Olanzapine pamoate
crystalline

2-4•

Supplementation with oral olanzapine
not required
Monitor for post-injection delirium
sedation syndrome, a risk with every
injection (see Box)

Paliperidone palmitate
crystalline

4•

No overlapping oral taper necessary

Risperidone microspheres

2•

Click here to access instructions foruse* Establish tolerability with the oral form of the medication first

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healthnegative perceptions and service barriers. Clinicians are often anxious about using
LAIs because of:
•
•
•
•

•
•
•

The belief that LAIs are associated with worse side-effects (despite lackof evidence supporting this)Concerns regarding patients’ acceptance of LAIs (patients on thisformulation often prefer it)
Apprehension regarding reduced patient autonomy
Worries about nursing staff involvement in administering LAIs,
training and time pressures on staff—so that they can adequately androutinely monitor symptoms and side-effects
Preferential attention to more fashionable medications
Lower prescriber knowledge about and experience with LAIs
Cost.

Oral formulations have advantages over LAIs such as rapid discontinuationin case of serious side-effects, enhanced sense of autonomy in patients, less frequentclinic attendance.
However, LAIs also have advantages over oral formulations in that they
result in:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Easier early detection of relapse
Improved relapse prevention
Reduced rehospitalisation rates
More stable serum concentrations
Reduced risk of accidental or deliberate self-poisoning
Better ability to distinguish between lack of efficacy and poor adherence.

OLANZAPINE POSTINJECTION DELIRIUM/
SEDATION SYNDROME
Post-injection delirium/
sedation syndrome (PDSS)
is a potentially serious
adverse event observedin about 7 per 10,000
injections of long-acting
olanzapine. PDSS ischaracterized by excessive
sedation or delirium that
occurs shortly after the
injection—similar to what isobserved in an overdose ofolanzapine.
The most likely explanation
for PDSS is that a portionof the olanzapine pamoate
injected accidentallyenters the bloodstream
resulting in an intravascular
injection of a limited
amount of the medication(McDonnell et al, 2014). It
is recommended to monitor
for alertness every 30
minutes for at least 3 hours
after every injection.

Effectiveness
LAIs are as effective as oral antipsychotics and efficacy of first and second
generation LAIs is similar. However, clozapine rather than LAIs should be used forpatients whose clinical instability is due to treatment-resistant illness rather than
medication non-adherence (Castillo & Stroup, 2015).

LAIs in first episode psychosis
Traditionally the main reason for the prescription of LAIs was poor
adherence to medication. However, it is being increasingly recognised that LAIs
The Russian Vaslav Nijinsky(1889-1950), arguably thegreatest male dancer ofthe early 20th century, wasdiagnosed with schizophrenia
in 1919. Subsequently he wasin and out of institutions forthe next 30 years. He neverdanced again in public.

Antipsychotics H.5.1“Psychotic exacerbationis undesirable for any
patient, but it is particularly
important to prevent
psychotic exacerbations
for recent-onset patients.
Early relapse may disrupt
important life tasks
typically accomplishedduring adolescence or
early adulthood, such ascompleting schooling,
starting a career, andestablishing social
relationships outside one’s
family of origin” (Robinson,2011).

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healthcan have a place at various stages in the treatment of the illness and should be
one of the options discussed with any patient requiring long-term treatment, evenduring the first episode. Patients with a first episode of schizophrenia who have
responded well to antipsychotic medication, even if they understand that they
have a mental disorder, very often doubt whether medication continues to benecessary, leading to stopping the medication prematurely, poor adherence andworse outcomes (Subotnik et al, 2015). For example, the French Association for
Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that most patientsthat require long-term antipsychotic treatment should be offered a LAI (Llorca etal, 2013).

How to use LAIs
Long acting injectable antipsychotics are not indicated for short-term
therapy (e.g., less than three months). The issues of patent consent (and/or family
when appropriate) need to be dealt with carefully and sensitively to minimise
harming the doctor-patient relationship. LAIs may be considered for patients withconfirmed schizophrenia and with risk factors for medication non-adherence:
history of non-adherence, severe symptoms, comorbid substance use, cognitive
impairment, ambivalence or negative attitudes towards medication, and poor
insight. LAIs are not indicated in bipolar disorder.
When selecting a LAI, take into account patient’s preferences, health status,
experience with prior antipsychotic medication, and the side-effect profiles ofdifferent medications (Castillo & Stroup, 2015).
When using LAIs you should read about the specific recommendations forthe use of each compound. In general, it is advisable to:•••

Switch to the short-acting, oral preparation of the medication—if thepatient is not already taking it—to establish response and tolerability
Use the recommended injection technique for the particular drug—
usually intramuscular injection in the gluteus maximus or deltoids
Use an initial test dose and then an appropriate therapeutic dose while
the oral medication is reduced and stopped.

SIDE EFFECTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS
While the efficacy of antipsychotics appears to be similar in children,
adolescents and adults, side effects are greater in the young (Stafford et al,2015). Preventing, minimising, and treating side effects are key elements in the
management of these patients, which may result in treatment success or failure andtheir long-term consequences.

Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)••EPS are particularly frequent with typical antipsychotics but can also
be observed in second generation antipsychotics (e.g., risperidone; see
Table H.5.1.2)
EPS are more common in young people, especially if intellectuallydisabled, if there is central nervous system damage, and in drug-naive
individuals

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health•

Antiparkinsonian pharmacotherapy (e.g., trihexyphenidyl or benzhexol,
benztropine) to reduce the incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms inpeople treated with first generation antipsychotics, antiparkinsonian
pharmacotherapy should be considered at the start of treatment ona case by case basis, taking into account individual preferences, priorhistory of extrapyramidal side effects, characteristics of the antipsychotic
medication prescribed, and other risk factors for both extrapyramidal
and anticholinergic side effects (Buchanan et al, 2010). Prophylactic
antiparkinsonian medication in people treated with second generation
antipsychotics is not warranted. Anticholinergic drugs are not without
peripheral (e.g., dry mouth, urinary disturbances, constipation,
blurred vision) and central adverse effects (e.g., cognitive impairment)complicate management. The WHO recommends that anticholinergics
should not be used routinely for preventing extrapyramidal side-effects
in individuals with psychotic disorders treated with antipsychotics. Thisis an important issue to consider when choosing an antipsychotic—

DYSTONIC REACTIONS THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY ANTIPSYCHOTICMEDICATIONS
Dystonic reactions are not uncommon presentations in the emergency room, often seen
in young patients taking metoclopramide, prochlorperazine (anti-emetics) or antipsychotic
medications, particularly first generation ones. Clinical manifestations of acute dystonic
reactions are listed below.

SYMPTOMDESCRIPTION

OculogyriccrisisSpasm of the extra orbital muscles producing a deviation of theeyes upwards and outwards. Blefarospasm

Torticollis

Head becomes persistently turned to one side, often withpainful muscle spasms

Opisthotonos

Uncomfortable forced extension of the neck. When severe, theback is involved and the patient may arch off the bed

Macroglossia

The tongue does not actually swell, but it protrudes andsubjectively feels swollen

Buccolingual
crisisMay present as trismus, risus sardonicus (a grinning expression
produced by spasm of the facial muscles), dysarthria, andgrimacing

Laryngospasm

Spasm of the vocal cords that temporarily makes it difficult to
speak or breathe. The onset is usually sudden and can be quite
frightening

Click on the image to viewa dystonic reaction andits response to treatment(4:28)

Differential diagnosis of dystonic reactions include tetanus and strychnine poisoning,
hyperventilation (carpopedal spasm is usually more prominent than in acute dystonic
reactions), hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia, neurological illnesses such as Wilson’s
disease, and catatonia (Campbell, 2001).
Dystonia responds promptly to anticholinergic drugs (e.g., benztropine 1-2mg by slow
intravenous injection) or antihistaminics (e.g., diphenhydramine). Children should begiven parenteral benztropine (0.02mg/kg to a maximum of 1mg), either intramuscularly or
intravenously. Most patients respond within 5 minutes and are symptom-free by 15 minutes(see video clip). If there is no response the dose can be repeated after 10 minutes (or30 minutes in children if intramuscularly). If the dystonic reaction does not improve, thediagnosis is probably wrong.

Antipsychotics H.5.1

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health••favouring the use of second generation medications
Acute dystonias and akathisia are more frequent during the first weeks
of treatment (see Box). Tardive dyskinesia tends to occur after longterm use, especially with typical antipsychotics
Extrapyramidal symptoms can be minimised by using the lowest
effective dose of medication or antipsychotics that cause fewer EPS.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)•••This syndrome is characterised by hyperthermia, muscularrigidity, tachycardia, hyper- or hypotension, autonomic instability,
rhabdomyolysis and altered mental state (confusion) (see Box)
An elevation of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and/or leucocytosis
is usually observed. NMS should be suspected in any patient taking
dopamine antagonists with raised CPK
NMS is more common during the first weeks of antipsychotic
treatment, but it can occur at any time and has been reported withboth first and second generation antipsychotics (Masi et al, 2011)

NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS) AND SEROTONIN SYNDROME
Distinguishing between NMS and serotonin syndrome can be difficult, particularly in milder cases orin patients taking both dopamine antagonists and serotonergic drugs (including over-the-counter andalternative medicines such as St John’s wort).

SYMPTOMSNEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANTSYNDROME (NMS)SEROTONIN SYNDROME

A neurological disorder caused by an adverse
reaction to neuroleptic or antipsychotic drugs.
NMS usually develops within the firsttwo weeks of treatment with a dopamine
antagonist but it can occur at any time

A dose-related range of toxic symptoms which
are largely attributable to increasing serotoninconcentrations in the central nervous system.
Although severe cases have been reportedwith an overdose of a single drug, theyusually occur with a combination of two or
more serotonergic drugs (even at therapeutic
doses)•

Confusion, delirium or coma

•
•
•
•
•

Hyperthermia
Sweating
Tachycardia
Unstable blood pressure
Tachypnoea

Neuromuscular•

Generalised muscle rigidity

Laboratory
findings••

Behavioural

Autonomic

Antipsychotics H.5.1•••

Confusion, delirium
Agitation
Restlessness

•
•
•
•
•
•

Hyperthermia
Sweating
Tachycardia
Hypertension
Mydriasis
Flushing•

Clonus (symmetrical and usually moremarked in the lower limbs)
Hypotonia•

Elevated creatine phosphokinase
Leucocytosis

11IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

•
•
•
•

Risks for NMS include higher doses of antipsychotics, multiple drugs,
young age and male gender
If not recognised, NMS can lead to loss of consciousness and evendeath
Misdiagnosis can occur with catatonia, extrapyramidal side effects,
serotonin syndrome or infectious diseases
Management (preferably in an intensive care unit setting with cardiorespiratory monitoring) is mainly supportive. The main intervention
is stopping the neuroleptic agents. The benefits of other interventions(e.g., dopamine agonists such as bromocriptine) are still unclear.

Sedation•••

Sedation is a frequent and usually dose-dependent effect, althoughtolerance may be developed with time
Table H.5.1.1 describes the relative sedating effects of commonly used
antipsychotics
Sedation may be a sought after effect in severely agitated patients; inthese cases a more sedating drug (e.g., chlorpromazine, quetiapine)
should be chosen.

Weight gain
•

•

•

•

Weight gain is the most common long term adverse effect of atypicalantipsychotics (see Table H.5.1.2 for the relative likelihood of weightgain)Compared with baseline, a weight gain of 5% during the first 3 monthsof treatment, or an increase of 0.5 in body mass index (BMI) in alonger period should raise concern (Masi et al, 2011)
Negative effects associated with weight gain include dyslipidaemia,
metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, polycystic ovary,and osteoarthritis
Social withdrawal, treatment discontinuation and low self-esteem aresome of the psychological consequences

Metabolic syndrome•••

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by obesity, hyper-triglyceridaemia,
low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, hypertension
and hyperglycaemia
Weight gain is probably the most important precursor of a generalmetabolic dysregulation, the metabolic syndrome. However, there may
also be direct effects on insulin secretion in a dysregulated hypothalamic
pituitary axes
All antipsychotics are associated with metabolic syndrome, particularly
clozapine and olanzapine (Masi et al, 2011).

Endocrinological•

Hyperprolactinaemia seems to be more common in children andadolescents than in adults. Post-pubertal girls may be more sensitive, as
oestrogen stimulates prolactin synthesis

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•

•

•

The main effects of hyperprolactinaemia are amenorrhoea, menstrual
cycle disorders, breast enlargement, galactorrhoea (both in males andfemales) and sexual effects (decreased libido, erectile difficulties)
Hyperprolactinemia with antipsychotics is dose dependant andrelated to the drugs’ affinity to D2 receptors. Overall, it is higher
in first generation antipsychotics but there are second generation
antipsychotics with a high potential for prolactin elevation (e.g.,
amisulpride, risperidone and paliperidone). Quetiapine has little effecton prolactin secretion. Aripiprazole may be associated with a small
decrease of prolactin levels (Correll & Carlson 2006)
If hyperprolactinemia becomes a concern, antipsychotic should bechanged to quetiapine or aripiprazole.

Haematological•••

All antipsychotics can induce a mild leukopenia, usually withoutclinical significance. Agranulocytosis and neutropenia are infrequent; ifthat happens, treatment with the same antipsychotic should be avoided
Clozapine is associated with higher risk of agranulocytosis, especiallyduring the initiation of treatment; however a late risk has also been
described
Regular monitoring by blood test is required when using clozapine (seeclozapine on Chapter H.5, p.16)
PREVENTING WEIGHT GAIN AND METABOLIC SYNDROME

Some young people taking antipsychotics can gain a substantial amount of weight very quickly. Oncegained it is much harder to lose than to prevent it from happening in the first place. Because of thelikelihood of significant weight gain with most second generation antipsychotics (see Table H.5.1.2)
clinicians need to be proactive from the start by informing patients and families of this risk and waysof preventing it. The goal would be to achieve healthy eating, to maintain a body mass index (BMI) of
less than 25 and an adequate level of physical exercise. Apart from regular monitoring of weight, waist
circumference, fasting glucose and lipids (see Table H.5.1.4) clinicians ought to provide dietary andexercise advice, which should be monitored and reinforced at each consultation, recommending, forexample to (Women’s and Children’s Health Network, 2007):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Eat every 3 to 4 hours, with no more than 2 meals in the evening or at night
Eat small portions at meals
Eat breakfast every morning
Eat slowly, drink an ample amount of water between bites and take second helpings only after adelay
Eat no more than one fast food meal per week
Avoid fried foods
Replace all drinks containing sugar (e.g., soft drinks, cordial, juice), “diet” drinks, and whole milkwith at least 2L of water a day and moderate amounts of unsweetened tea or low fat milk.
Replace foods made with refined white flour and processed sugar and eat instead whole-grain
foods and other food items that have a low glycaemic index (i.e. ≤ 55).
Do not snack when full and replace high-fat, high-calorie snacks with fruit and vegetables
Limit saturated fat intake
Eat at least 25-30g per day of soluble fibre from fruits, vegetables and whole grains
Limit watching television or playing computer/video games to less than 2 hours per day
Perform moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 30 to 60 minutes per day.

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Table H.5.1.4 Suggested monitoring for people taking antipsychotics

BEFORESTARTING
TREATMENTAT 6
MONTHSAT 12
MONTHS

EVERY 12MONTHS
AFTER

Weight and waist
circumference









Blood pressure









Fasting serum lipids









Fasting blood glucose









Extrapyramidal symptoms,
abnormal involuntary
movements (i.e. tardive
dyskinesia)









Ask about menstrualand sexual problems,
gynecomastia andgalactorrhoea (if positive:
prolactin levels)









Seizures••

Antipsychotics may produce EEG abnormalities but risk varies widely
among specific antipsychotics. Risk is particularly high with clozapine(up to 4% of the cases in studies with adolescents; Freedman et al, 1994)
and olanzapine, moderate with risperidone and typical neuroleptics,
and low with quetiapine
Once other causes of the seizures are excluded, management may entail
switching antipsychotic, stopping the medication briefly, reduce thedose or use an anticonvulsant.

Cardiovascular•••

Cardiovascular adverse effects include orthostatic hypotension,increased heart rate, dizziness, and ECG changes (longer QTc interval,
reduced ST interval)
Adverse cardiovascular effects are more frequent with atypicalantipsychotics, although ziprasidone has the greater risk (Masi et al,
2011)
Transient increases in heart rate have been reported in children andadolescents but they have little clinical significanceAntipsychotics H.5.1

Click on the image toaccess an algorithm tomonitor and achieve goodcardiometabolic healthin young people taking
antipsychotic medication

14

IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health••

Prolongation of the QTc interval (more than 500ms) is of greater
concern because of the increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias andsudden death. Many drugs may lengthen the QT interval increasing
the risk of torsade de pointes, which becomes more of a problem when
patients are taking several medications concurrently
An ECG at baseline and during follow-up is recommended if polypharmacy is used or if there is family history of sudden cardiac death aspart of the monitoring process.

SOME DRUGS THATCAN LENGTHEN THE
QT INTERVALCHOOSING AN ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATION
The first step is to define the goals of treatment in conjunction with thepatient—and family when appropriate or if the patient is not well enough or oldenough to participate in this process—and discuss the main options with theirbenefits and risks.
“Antipsychotic medications, other than clozapine and olanzapine (dueto their side effects) are recommended as first-line treatment for persons withschizophrenia experiencing their first acute positive symptom episode” (Buchanan
et al, 2010) . Overall, a second generation antipsychotic is preferred. The choice
would be made taking into account:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Their side effect profile
The patient’s history of drug response (if known)
The patient’s family history of drug response (if a family member has
schizophrenia)
Availability of the medication
Clinician’s familiarity with the drug, andPrice. Since schizophrenia is a chronic condition, in some countries
price may be the most important factor to ensure or undermine
adherence.

DosageAntipsychotics•
Risperidone•
Fluphenazine•
Haloperidol•
Clozapine•
Ziprasidone•
Pimozide•
Droperidol•
Quetiapine
Antidepressants•
Amitriptyline•
Clomipramine•
Imipramine•
Dothiepin•
Doxepin•
Venlafaxine

People with a first-episode show better response to treatment and a greater
likelihood of side effects than patients with multi-episode schizophrenia. The
Schizophrenia Patient Outcomes Research Team (Lehman & Steinwachs, 1998)
recommended that patients presenting with a first psychotic episode should betreated with lower doses of antipsychotic medication than those recommended forpatients with multi-episode schizophrenia (see Table H.5.1.2). Available researchsuggests that lower doses of antipsychotics are as effective as higher doses in patients
experiencing a first episode but are better tolerated. That is, the goal should be tomaintain the medication at the lowest effective dose to minimise potential adverse
events. Quetiapine is an exception; it often requires titration to 500–600 mg/day(Buchanan et al, 2010; Lachman, 2014). Evidence suggests that “starting low, andgoing slow” during the titration phase is the most effective approach to minimiseside effects.

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Adequate antipsychotic trial
There is no consensus among experts about what constitutes an “adequate”
trial. The majority agrees that treatment for 4-6 weeks (longer if dose increases areslow), achieving optimal dose and ensuring adherence would be an adequate trial.
It is expected that half to two-thirds of patients will experience a reductionin positive symptoms within three weeks at the initial dose; if not, the dose should
be increased. In many countries, due to the need for hospital beds, lack of resources
and the high cost of hospitalization, there is pressure on clinicians to achieve
improvement or to discharge patients quickly. This often results in unnecessarily
high doses of medication or a combination of drugs being used, which will notincrease effectiveness but will cause more side effects, poor adherence to treatment,
and poorer long term outcomes.

The patient does not get better
If after about 4 weeks at an adequate dose of antipsychotic medication there
is no improvement, it would be appropriate to switch antipsychotics. Anotherantipsychotic from the same or a different type can be tried. A second generation
antipsychotic should be the first choice in most young patients. While in generalterms all antipsychotics appear to be similarly effective, some individuals may
respond to some antipsychotics and not to others.

Treatment resistancePatients who show no improvement with two adequate trials of antipsychotics
are described as treatment resistant and should be treated with clozapine. Before
concluding that a patient is treatment resistant, several issues need to be considered,namely:•••Adherence to antipsychotic medication. Up to half of the patients withschizophrenia are partially or totally non-adherent to their antipsychotic
regimen. In cases of poor adherence a trial with long-acting injectableantipsychotics should be considered before using clozapine
Engagement with and use of psychological treatments (familyintervention, CBT)
Other causes of non-response, which should be excluded: comorbid
substance misuse (including alcohol), concurrent use of other prescribed
medication or physical illness.

A trial of clozapine should last at least 8 weeks at a dosage from 300 to
800mg/day. If possible, clozapine levels should be obtained in cases of inadequate
response. If the blood level is less than 350ng/ml, then the dosage should be
increased as far as side effects are tolerated, to achieve a blood level above 350ng/
ml (Buchanan et al, 2010).
A trial of clozapine should also be considered when, in spite of treatment,
aggressiveness and hostility persist or if there are marked and persistent suicidal
thoughts or behaviors (Buchanan et al, 2010). For further issues in the treatment
with clozapine, please go to Chapter H.5, page 16.

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Antipsychotics and pregnancy
Antipsychotic medications cross the placenta. Neonates exposed to
antipsychotic medications during the third trimester of pregnancy may be at risk
for EPS and/or withdrawal symptoms following delivery. However, the current
evidence is that taking antipsychotic medication during pregnancy does notindependently increase risk for important short term maternal medical (e.g.,
gestational diabetes) and perinatal outcomes (Vigod et al, 2015).

ADJUNCTIVE TREATMENTS
A small proportion of people with a first episode of schizophrenia (morefrequent among those with recurrent episodes) show an incomplete reductionof positive symptoms with antipsychotic monotherapy. In these patients,
augmentation and adjunctive treatments are often used (Buchanan et al, 2010):
•
•

•

•
•

•

•

Click on the image toview a lecture by Dr
Paddy Power on “Earlyintervention in psychosis”(53:24)

There is no evidence that adding a second antipsychotic drug improves
response (and increases the risk of unwanted effects)
There is little evidence to support the benefit of adding lithium or
anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine, sodium valproate, lamotrigine)in the absence of clear bipolarity
Benzodiazepines have been used to treat symptoms of anxiety,depression, or hostility in people with schizophrenia. There isno evidence supporting this use and there is considerable risk ofdependence developing
So far, there is insufficient evidence supporting the use of antidepressantsfor the treatment of co-occurring depression in schizophrenia
ECT can be effective in reducing acute positive psychotic symptoms but
shows no advantage compared with carefully chosen and administeredantipsychotic medications
Low-frequency rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation),over the left temporoparietal cortex, has been found to be effective in
the acute treatment of auditory hallucinations that have not responded
to antipsychotics (Tranulis et al, 2008).
There is growing evidence that concurrent psychotherapy, particularly
CBT, is effective (NICE, 2009).

TREATMENT MAINTENANCE AND DURATION IN
FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS
Once psychosis has achieved a sustained remission, a slow reduction of
antipsychotic medication should be tried in order to determine the minimal dose
required by the patient. Maintaining antipsychotic medication reduces the risk of
relapse in the early years after a first episode. Relapse is distressing, may interferewith social, family and educational/vocational outcomes, and may increase the riskof treatment resistance.
One of the most challenging issues that confront clinicians and patientsis deciding for how long antipsychotic treatment should continue after a firstpsychotic episode. Although schizophrenia is a chronic illness, in about one
quarter of the cases there is a complete recovery without further episodes (Stafford

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healthet al, 2015). On the one hand, given the significant side effects of medication,
pharmacological treatment should not be continued unless it is necessary. On theother hand, recurrence occurs in a substantial proportion of sufferers even if taking
medication. The optimal duration of maintenance antipsychotic treatment tominimise the risk of recurrence remains controversial. In general, most guidelines
recommend continuing treatment for 1-3 years (NICE, 2013; Royal Australianand New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, 2005). When making such a decision,clinicians should consider many factors, among others:
•
•

•
•
•

•

•
•
•
•
•
•

The reliability of diagnosis: whether there is a high or low certainty
about the diagnosis of schizophrenia
Whether there is reasonable evidence suggesting the existence of amood disorders (e.g., antipsychotic treatment may not need to be
prolonged in cases of psychotic depression)
The duration of the psychotic episode (e.g., if it was brief, shorter than
one month, or more prolonged)
The nature of the psychotic episode (e.g., a drug-induced psychosis)
Whether complete recovery was achieved or whether symptoms,
particularly negative symptoms, persist. Most patients with the socalled chronic schizophrenia may need lifelong medication treatment
Patient’s insight and adherence to treatment (e.g., if the patient iswilling to be reviewed regularly and has a good understanding of theillness and of the initial symptoms of a recurrence)
Presence of comorbid conditions such as depression or substancemisuseAge at first episode (earlier onset has worse prognosis)
Whether there have been previous episodes
The life stage: it would be unwise to cease treatment during importantlife transitions (e.g., starting university) or stressful periods
Whether there are relatives or social supports who can monitor early
deterioration
Severity of side effects of medication.

Medication should always be reduced gradually, over a period of weeks ormonths. Individuals who elect against advice to stop taking medication should
continue to be monitored frequently and receive ongoing support. In all cases,
families should be provided with continuing assistance and psychoeducation about
the risks and possible manifestations of recurrence, accompanied by frequent
review and support with unhindered access to early psychiatric treatment in theevent of recurrence. Depression, suicide risk, substance misuse and social anxiety
in the patient should be identified and actively treated.

MISUSE AND OVERUSE OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS“Antipsychotic medication use in youth has been increasing since themid-1990s. This development, most pronounced in the United States, has raised
criticism about potential overuse because antipsychotics are prescribed mainly offlabel, and their adverse effect burden for young people is worrisome […] Who
are these young people prescribed antipsychotic treatment? All signs suggestthat SGA [second generation antipsychotic] use among children is chiefly in

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healththose with aggression and behavioral dyscontrol, attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs), but not for thosewith psychosis, bipolar mania, Tourette syndrome, or autism spectrum disorders”(Correll & Blader JC, 2015).
Misuse and overuse of antipsychotic medication in young people, oftenprescribed by professionals not trained in psychiatry, is becoming a growing
problem globally. While antipsychotics are effective in reducing aggressive
behaviours, their side effects, particularly with long-term use, are significant.
Treating ADHD, disruptive behaviours, depression, and anxiety in youth with
antipsychotic medications is problematic; other interventions with fewer side
effects, when correctly used, can avoid the need for antipsychotic treatment(Correll & Blader JC, 2015). Frequently, antipsychotic drugs are also improperly
used in people with intellectual disability.

THE COSTS OF A PSYCHOTIC EPISODE
The personal and financial costs of a psychotic episode for the sufferer, thefamily and society as a whole are considerable. For example, it was estimatedin 2013 that the cost of treating one person with schizophrenia in the UK was£50.000 per year (NICE, 2013). Suicide rates are nearly 15% among people withschizophrenia, and their unemployment in Western countries varies between 50%75%.
Figure H5.1.3 shows a comparison between different atypical antipsychotics
and haloperidol according to the Regional Drug and Therapeutic Centre. The
chart shows comparative costs of 1 year of treatment at a standard daily dose as ofApril 2015. Maintenance treatment in adults would usually require higher doses.
In the UK a 1-month supply of haloperidol costs less than £2, compared with
£100-£120 for atypical antipsychotics or £200 for clozapine.

ORGANIZATION OF SERVICES
Optimally, care for patients with a first episode of psychosis should becoordinated and individualized, provided through services that are specific foreach phase of the illness (Ministry of Health, Province of British Columbia, 2010;
International Early Psychosis Association Writing Group (2005). For example,
minimising in-patient hospitalization during the acute phase should be a goal—
young people often find their initial inpatient experience traumatizing (McGorry
et al, 1991). Treatment should be provided in an outpatient setting or the homewhen possible. Ways to avoid hospitalization include:••••

SEE “ONE CASE STUDY,TWO PATHWAYS” IN
APPENDIX H.5.1.1
This vignette illustrates how
patient’s and family’s beliefs
and behaviour, bureaucratic
barriers, organisation ofservices, and other factors
impact on short and longterm outcomes.

Increasing the number of outpatient visits
If available, outreach treatment team follow-up
Access to emergency services when required, andSupported housing or residential care.

The level of intervention (inpatient, outpatient) depends largely on the
degree of family, community and health services support rather than on the degreeof psychopathology itself. Acute day-stay services and early intervention programs
may be appropriate alternatives to in-patient care.

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Figure H.5.1.3
Cost of atypical antipsychotics in the UK in April 2015 (according to the UK
Regional Drug and Therapeutic Centre)

Hospitalization may be required if there is a significant risk to self or toothers, if the level of support in the community is insufficient, or if the severity of
the crisis is too high for the family to manage. If the attempts to engage the youthin treatment fail and the young person remains actively psychotic, involuntarytreatment should be considered according to the requirements of local mental
health legislation. When hospitalization is necessary, it should be as short as
possible (McGorry et al, 1991). Thus, adolescent inpatient units should be smallin size and adequately staffed so that nursing of highly distressed or agitated young
people is possible without locking the unit. A secure area is necessary so that carecan be provided for aggressive or agitated patients without harming or disturbing
others.
Early intervention programs seek to ensure continuity of care from thehospital to the community. These programs can reduce inappropriate use of
emergency services or early re-hospitalization by increasing the frequency ofcontacts or adjusting medication dosage. Early intervention programs should alsooffer family education and support. The Ministry of Health Services Province ofBritish Columbia (2010) recommends that in the first year the minimum frequency
of contact with the young persons and their families should be once weekly during
the acute or relapse phases; after that, once monthly. After acute symptoms

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healthimprove, it is recommended that young people not be transferred to primary carewithout the supervision of a specialist mental health team or professional.

FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS IN RURALCOMMUNITIES AND LOW INCOME COUNTRIESService provision in rural areas and in low income countries differs
significantly from those described. A number of issues must be considered,including:•••Geographic and demographic barriers (widely disperse ruralcommunities, long distances to travel to access services, heterogeneityof the population)
Limited resources (lack of trained mental health professionals in most
low income countries, reduced staff and capacity of existing services,
isolation of clinicians, less availability of employment, education andsocial opportunities for sufferers)
Other barriers (stigma, lower tolerance of eccentricity).

These factors may result in longer duration of untreated psychosis, treatment
discontinuation, higher stigma, and higher rates of alcohol and drug misuse(Welch & Welch, 2007; Kelly et al, 2007; Ministry of Health Services Province ofBritish Columbia, 2010). These difficulties highlight the need for contemporary
technologies (e.g., telemedicine), and for a close cooperation with primary care,drug and alcohol services, community supports and education (e.g., cooperationand education of elders and religious figures).

••

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Adolescent inpatient units should be small in size and adequately staffed so that nursing of highly distressed or agitatedyoung people is possible. A secure area is necessary so that care can be provided for aggressive or agitated patients withoutharming or disturbing others. Photo: ITV News

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

PREVENTION AND HIGH RISK FOR PSYCHOSIS
There is much interest and argument about whether young people whoshow some psychotic symptoms but who do not yet have a diagnosable illness
can be identified and treated to prevent the development of schizophrenia.
Psychotic episodes are usually preceded by a period of variable length in which a
number of changes are detected—the “prodromal” phase—typically characterisedby a sustained and clinically significant deterioration from the premorbid levelof functioning, thinking, and behaviour. These changes include either subtle ormore dramatic alterations in behaviour and emotions such as suspiciousness,social or family withdrawal, deteriorating self-care, and transient and attenuatedhallucinations and delusions.
One model—the staging model—conceptualises two stages of the
prodrome: a stage of mild or nonspecific psychotic symptoms, and a stage ofincreased symptom activity but which still does not fulfil criteria for diagnosis of a
psychotic episode. This period is often called the “at risk mental state” rather thanthe “prodrome”, as this period can only be definitively identified as the prodrome
in retrospect.
Another model seeks to identify individuals at “ultra-high risk” for psychosis.
These young people would be aged 14 to 29 years and would:••

Experience positive symptoms or brief, limited, intermittent psychotic
symptoms that are not severe or persistent enough to meet criteria fordiagnosis of a psychotic disorder other than brief psychotic disorder, orHave a history of psychotic disorder or schizotypal personality
disorder in a first-degree relative, and show a significant, persistent
but non-specific decline in psychosocial functioning over the last year
(International Early Psychosis Association Writing Group, 2005).

Click on the image toview a 2013 lecture by
Patrick McGorry on “Earlyintervention for psychosis:
A new architecture andculture of care” (1:03:34)

The purpose of identifying this high risk group is to prevent the developmentof a full-blown psychosis by early treatment. However, recent studies have foundthat the likelihood of transition to a full blown psychosis in this group of patientsis only 16%, compared with earlier estimates of up to 60%.
A third approach focuses on the so called “basic symptoms”, such as subtle
disturbances of thought, speech, and perception which may be altered years prior tothe onset of frank psychosis. The Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms(BSABS; Huber & Gross, 1989) has shown that presence of such basic symptoms
predicts the development of schizophrenia with a probability of 70% over 10 years,
while their absence excluded schizophrenia with a probability of 96%. Particular
disturbances, such as thought interference, disturbances of receptive language, or
visual distortions, predicted later schizophrenia with a probability of up to 91%(Klosterkotter et al, 2001). The BSABS is thought to detect individuals in an“early” prodromal phase characterized by the negative or deficit-like symptoms aswell as neurocognitive deficits, while the “ultra-high risk” approach is more likely
to identify youth in the late stage of the prodrome.

Click on the image to viewa video clip questioning thevalidity of the “ultra-highrisk of psychosis” model (2parts)The possibility of a psychotic disorder should be considered in a young
person who shows a deteriorating psychosocial functioning, is becoming sociallywithdrawn, performing worse for a sustained period at school or at work, or who
is becoming more distressed or agitated without an adequate trigger. However,

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Healthevidence of the effectiveness of different treatments, including antipsychotics, in
reducing the likelihood of transition to psychosis is still lacking. Evidence is growingthat psychological treatments, particularly CBT, may prevent or delay transition
to psychosis in identified high risk populations. Given the limited evidence andthe risks of antipsychotic treatment, the use of antipsychotics is not recommended
in at risk youth. In some cases, for example if there is a rapid deterioration, severe
suicide risk, or if there is severe aggression or hostility, a time-limited “therapeutic
trial” may be appropriate.

A trial has shown thatomega-3 fatty acidadministration reduces
the rate of transition
from prodromal stage toa full psychotic episode(Amminger et al, 2010).
Given this is a treatment
with minimal side effects
it is hopeful but requires
replication (NICE, 2013).

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psychotic disorders; a randomized, placebo-controlled
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Buchanan RW, Kreyenbuhl J, Kelly DL et al (2010) The
2009 schizophrenia PORT psychopharmacologicaltreatment recommendations and summary statements.
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Campbell D (2001). The management of acute dystonic
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Lachman A (2014). New development in diagnosis andtreatment update: schizophrenia/first episode psychosis
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and management of schizophrenia in adults in primaryand secondary care. NICE Clinical Guideline 82.
London: National Institute for Health and ClinicalExcellence.
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clinical guideline 155. London: NICE
Rapoport JL, Addington AM, Frangou S (2005). The neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia update 2005.
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Evidence from child psychiatry. Journal of Neural
Transmission, 109:101-117
Robinson DG (2011) Medication adherence and relapse inrecent-onset psychosis. American Journal of Psychiatry,
168:240-242

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental HealthAppendix H.5.1.1
EMILY: ONE CASE STUDY, TWO PATHWAYSThis vignette intends to show how different care pathways—the result of
patient’s and family’s beliefs and behaviour, bureaucratic barriers, organisation ofservices and other factors—may impact on short and long term outcomes.

Background
Emily is a 15 year old girl at the time of her first consultation. She had
a normal birth following an uneventful pregnancy and an unremarkable earlychildhood, although she was regarded as intense and highly strung. She often
preferred to be with her horses or boys rather than girls or her age. When she was14, her family noticed that she was increasingly spending more time alone or withher horses and seemed preoccupied. They assumed she had had another argumentwith her female friends and just gave her some time and space. However, thispattern of behaviour persisted. Her parents then heard from other parents that
Emily had blocked all her friends on social media and had completely stopped
texting and phoning them. Emily’s parents tried to support her to rebuild somefriendships by making suggestions and offering help (e.g., by driving a few ofthem to get a pizza or to see a film together), but Emily became irritated with herparents and told them to keep out of her life. At the end of the school term, Emily’sparents were informed by several teachers that Emily had become disorganised
and disinterested, and that her academic performance had declined. None of theteaching staff were aware of conflicts with peers, on the contrary, Emily’s peers
were also concerned about her and had tried to be supportive and understanding.
School staff thought that there were family problems which impacted on Emily’slife. At this point, Emily’s parents also became concerned about the situation.
Then, Emily told her parents that she could no longer trust them and that she
might need to move to live somewhere else.

Optimal care
Due to the recent events, parents sought medical help. After a preliminary
assessment, the family doctor stated that Emily could be psychotic and referred
her to the child and adolescent mental health team and the early intervention in
psychosis service (EIP). The EIP team assigned a support worker to spend timewith Emily, at first in her bedroom, later going out for walks, and after to a café.
As the worker gained Emily’s trust, she spoke about her fears—she knew that there
was a plot against her. The support worker carefully validated Emily’s feelings andexperiences but did not say they were real and repeatedly suggested that stress orillness might be causing some of these experiences. After 4 months of weekly or
twice weekly engagement sessions Emily had a good enough relationship with her
support worker to accept her suggestion that she meet some colleagues, a doctor
and an occupational therapist who might be able to help her.

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Emily did not allow her parents to be present at the assessment but agreed
that the team could speak with them separately. After the assessment, Emily wasdiagnosed as having a psychotic episode. She was advised to have blood tests andan ECG and then commenced on a low dose of risperidone. Emily did not believethat this would help, but she accepted that she was struggling to cope with hercurrent experiences and that even if medication did not help, it might not do her
any harm, and she would appreciate sleeping better. After several long discussions
with her support worker Emily agreed to try risperidone for 3 or 4 weeks, as longas she could stop it if she felt worse.
Two weeks after starting taking risperidone Emily’s beliefs became less rigid,
she began to open to alternative explanations and thought that maybe she had
been affected by exam stress, and stated she had only been considering existential
issues about what is reality and who controls destiny, rather than being certain ofanything. She gradually started communicating more with her parents who did
not challenge her as she regained insight and reframed her past behaviour, so thatshe did not feel humiliated. Over the next 6-8 weeks, she largely returned to be
her old self and functioned better. She dropped some subjects and used the time
to catch up on what she had missed in the other areas. Both Emily and her family
were informed about the diagnosis, and they attended psychoeducation sessions at
the EIP service.

Less optimal care
Emily refused to attend the family doctor stating that she was not unwell,and would be fine if she was “not being forced to be a part of all of this stuff”. Herparents attended without her. The doctor advised that he could not help without
seeing Emily, and that child and adolescent mental health team would not accept
a referral unless he sent a six-page referral with consent signed by both one of theparents and Emily. He advised them to monitor for signs of cannabis use and totry and persuade Emily to come and see him at the surgery.
Her parents felt despondent after the appointment and very isolated with
their worries. They continued trying to communicate with Emily, but she remained
irritable and guarded in her interactions. Her self-care gradually deteriorated andshe was increasingly difficult to wake up for school. Four months later, she stopped
attending school altogether. She stayed in the house without going out at all fortwo months. However, she did not fulfil the family doctor’s criteria for a home
visit. When her parents contacted social services, they were advised that it was a“health issue”. After another 2 months Emily made a suicide attempt (“the only
way to escape from the plot against me”). Her parents found her drowsy in bed
and took her to the hospital’s emergency. After medical treatment of her overdose
in a paediatric ward she was detained under the mental health act for treatment.

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental HealthAppendix F.5.1.2
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING EXERCISES AND SELF-ASSESSMENT•

Read the case vignette In Appendix H.5.1.1 (Emily) and write one page about thefactors you believe are relevant in causing the less optimal care in the second part ofthe vignette.

•

Find a medical record of a patient who has been treated for a first psychotic episodeand comment on the quality of the care provided, specifically:•A.

Were baseline tests conducted and appropriate?

B.

Was the medication prescribed appropriate and why?

C.

Was the patient given several concurrent medications? If yes, why?

D.

Were side effects of medication reported and dealt with appropriately?

E.

Would you have treated the patient differently? If yes, how and why?

List four unjustified concerns that some medical practitioners have about long acting
antipsychotic medications (answer: see pages 7 and 8).

MCQ H.5.1.1 Which one of the symptoms
below is characteristic of the so called
negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
A. Hallucinations
B. Delusions
C. Illusions
D. Flat affect
E. Thought disorder
MCQ H.5.1.2 Which one of theseneurotransmitter receptors plays the keyrole in schizophrenia?
A. Dopamine D1
B. Dopamine D2
C. Muscarinic M2-4
D. Serotonin 5-HT1A
E. Alpha1 adrenergic

Antipsychotics H.5.1

MCQ H.5.1.3 Which of the following
antipsychotics is less frequently
associated with weight gain?
A. Olanzapine
B. Quetiapine
C. Aripiprazole
D. Clozapine
A. Haloperidol
MCQ H.5.1.4 Which of the following
antipsychotics is less likely to cause
extrapyramidal symptoms?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Ziprasidone
D. Clozapine
E. Chlorpromazine

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

MCQ H.5.1.5 Compared to first generation
antipsychotics, second generation
antipsychotics:
A. Bind less strongly to D2 receptors
B. Bind less strongly to 5-HT2
receptors
C. Do not bind to D2 receptors
D. Do not bind to 5-HT2 receptors
E. Do not cause extrapyramidal side
effects
MCQ H.5.1.6 Extrapyramidal symptoms
are associated with D2 receptors blockade
in?
A. Mesocortical pathway
B. Mesolimbic pathway
C. Nigrostriatal pathway
D. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
E. Amygdala
MCQ H.5.1.7 What is the percentage of D2
receptor occupancy commonly associatedwith the antipsychotic effect?
A. 30%-45%
B. 45%-60%
C. 60%-75%
D. 75%-90%
E. 90%-100%
MCQ H.5.1.8 Which antipsychotic has
most likely to produce seizures?
A. Risperidone
B. Quetiapine
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
E. Haloperidol

Antipsychotics H.5.1

MCQ H.5.1.9 Treatment resistance inschizophrenia is defined as:
A. Patients’ refusal or resistance totreatment
B. Not showing improvement with two
adequate trials of antipsychotics
C. Not showing improvementwith 2 or more antipsychotics
simultaneously
D. Not showing improvement after
4-6 weeks of treatment
E. Not showing improvement with
one antipsychotic drug andconcurrent CBTMCQ H.5.1.10		
Neuroleptic malignant
syndrome differs from serotonin syndromein that patients with neuroleptic malignant
syndrome show:
A. Hyperthermia
B. Confusion
C. Sweating
D. Elevated creatine phosphokinase
E. Tachycardia
MCQ H.5.1.11		
In a 6-week doubleblind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial(Findling RL et al. Am J Psychiatry 2008;
165:1432-1441) 302 patients aged 13 to 17
years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
were randomly assigned to placebo or
10 or 30 mg/day of aripiprazole. Results
showed that 54% of the patients taking 10
mg/day of aripiprazole and 36% on placebo
had responded at 6 weeks. What is thenumber needed to treat (NNT)?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health

MCQ H.5.1.12		
The same study(Findling RL et al. Am J Psychiatry 2008;
165:1432-1441) showed that 58% of thepatients taking 30 mg/day of aripiprazoleand 36% on placebo had responded at 6
weeks. What is the number needed to treat(NNT) in this case?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
E. 6
MCQ H.5.1.13		
Which one of thesedrugs is typically used in the treatment of
antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal side
effects?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Anticholinergic drugs (e.g.,benztropine)
SSRI’s (e.g., sertraline)
L-dopaNaltrexone
Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam)

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IACAPAP Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental HealthANSWERS
MCQ H.5.1.1: 		

Answer: D

MCQ H.5.1.2: 		

Answer: B

MCQ H.5.1.3:		

Answer: C

MCQ H.5.1.4: 		

Answer: D

MCQ H.5.1.5:		

Answer: A

MCQ H.5.1.6:		

Answer: D

MCQ H.5.1.7:		

Answer: C

MCQ H.5.1.8:		

Answer: C

MCQ H.5.1.9:		

Answer: B

MCQ H.5.1.10:

Answer: D

MCQ H.5.1.11:

Answer: E

MCQ H.5.1.12:

Answer: D

MCQ H.5.1.13:

Answer: A

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