Research Into Antipsychotic Discontinuation and Reduction Trial

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2020-02-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Psychosis and schizophrenia are common and costly mental health problems. Psychosis is the name given to a group of mental conditions in which cause people to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them. One of the most common causes of psychosis is schizophrenia, a condition that causes a range of psychological symptoms, including hallucinations (hearing and/or seeing things) and delusions (believing something that is not true). One of the main treatment options for psychosis and schizophrenia is long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication, but many patients still find life difficult. Antipsychotic drugs can also have dangerous and unpleasant side effects. Finding alternatives to long-term drug treatment is a priority for patients and services. This study is testing the effects of gradually reducing antipsychotic medication in people with schizophrenia, psychosis or similar conditions in order to see if it can help improve day-to-day functioning and how it affects their chance of suffering a relapse (worsening of their condition).

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University College, London
• Treatments: Antipsychotic Agents

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged over 18 years

• A clinical and/or ICD10 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder or other non-affective psychosis

• More than one previous episode of relapse or psychotic exacerbation, or a single episode lasting more than one year

• Taking antipsychotic medication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participant lacks capacity to consent to the trial

• Participant has insufficient command of spoken English to understand trial procedures

• Participant subject to section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act (MHA) or a Community Treatment Order (CTO) that includes a requirement to take antipsychotic medication.

• Clinician considers there will be a serious risk of harm to self or others

• Participant has been admitted to hospital or had treatment from the Home Treatment or Crisis Team within the last month

• Females who have a confirmed pregnancy

• Females who are breast-feeding

• Involvement in another "investigational medicinal product" (IMP) trial

• No contraindications to continuing on antipsychotic medication