Antipsychotic Polypharmacy in Schizophrenia
Daniel Guinart, Christoph U. Correll
Abstract
Article Abstract Because this piece does not have an abstract, we have provided for your benefit the first 3 sentences of the full text. Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP), defined as the use of 2 or more antipsychotics, is common in schizophrenia, with a global median rate of 19.6% (interquartile range, 12.9%-35.0%), although substantial variations exist between treatment settings, regions, populations, and prescribers. Reasons for APP are diverse and include trying to enhance antipsychotic efficacy or targeting different symptoms or symptom domains that are insufficiently addressed by antipsychotic monotherapy, including anxiety, insomnia, aggressive/impulsive behaviors, or negative symptoms. APP has also been associated with the desire to lower the dose and/or reduce side effects of the original antipsychotic, the process of ongoing or aborted cross-titration, combination of different antipsychotic formulations, and prescriber and/or patient/family preference.