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Volume 17
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10.3390/ph17040535
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Article

Investigating the Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder: A Prospective, Multicentric, Real-World Study

by
Stefania Chiappini
1,
Clara Cavallotto
2,*,
Alessio Mosca
2,
Francesco Di Carlo
2,
Tommaso Piro
2,
Giulia Giovannetti
2,
Arianna Pasino
2,
Mariachiara Vicinelli
2,
Chiara Lorenzini
2,
Mariapia Di Paolo
2,
Maria Pepe
3,
Marco Di Nicola
3,
Valerio Ricci
4,
Mauro Pettorruso
2 and
Giovanni Martinotti
2
1
School of Medicine, UniCamillus International Medical School University, Via di S. Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi G. D‘Annunzio, 66100 Chieti, Italy
3
University Polyclinic Foundation “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00136 Rome, Italy
4
Department of Psychiatry, “San Luigi Gonzaga” Hospital, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040535
Submission received: 6 April 2024 / Accepted: 18 April 2024 / Published: 21 April 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychiatric Drug Treatment and Drug Addiction)
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Abstract

Background: Dual disorders (DDs) involve the coexistence of a substance use disorder (SUD) with another mental illness, often from the psychotic and affective categories. They are quite common in clinical practice and present significant challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. This study explores the effectiveness of brexpiprazole, a third-generation antipsychotic, in an Italian sample of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and a comorbid SUD. Methods: Twenty-four patients, diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and enrolled in several Italian hospitals, underwent a psychometric assessment at baseline (T0) and one month (T1) after starting brexpiprazole treatment administered at a mean dosage of 2 mg/day. Results: Brexpiprazole demonstrated significant reductions in psychopathological burden (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale/PANSS total score: p < 0.001). Positive (p = 0.003) and negative (p = 0.028) symptoms, substance cravings (VAS craving: p = 0.039), and aggression (MOAS scale: p = 0.003) were notably reduced. Quality of life improved according to the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) subscales (p < 0.005). Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence supporting brexpiprazole’s efficacy and safety in this complex patient population, with positive effects not only on psychopathology and quality of life, but also on cravings. Further studies involving larger cohorts of subjects and extended follow-up periods are needed.
Keywords: dual disorders; substance use disorder; brexpiprazole; real-world study; addiction; substance-induced psychosis dual disorders; substance use disorder; brexpiprazole; real-world study; addiction; substance-induced psychosis

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MDPI and ACS Style

Chiappini, S.; Cavallotto, C.; Mosca, A.; Di Carlo, F.; Piro, T.; Giovannetti, G.; Pasino, A.; Vicinelli, M.; Lorenzini, C.; Di Paolo, M.; et al. Investigating the Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder: A Prospective, Multicentric, Real-World Study. Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17, 535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040535

AMA Style

Chiappini S, Cavallotto C, Mosca A, Di Carlo F, Piro T, Giovannetti G, Pasino A, Vicinelli M, Lorenzini C, Di Paolo M, et al. Investigating the Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder: A Prospective, Multicentric, Real-World Study. Pharmaceuticals. 2024; 17(4):535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040535

Chicago/Turabian Style

Chiappini, Stefania, Clara Cavallotto, Alessio Mosca, Francesco Di Carlo, Tommaso Piro, Giulia Giovannetti, Arianna Pasino, Mariachiara Vicinelli, Chiara Lorenzini, Mariapia Di Paolo, and et al. 2024. "Investigating the Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder: A Prospective, Multicentric, Real-World Study" Pharmaceuticals 17, no. 4: 535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040535

APA Style

Chiappini, S., Cavallotto, C., Mosca, A., Di Carlo, F., Piro, T., Giovannetti, G., Pasino, A., Vicinelli, M., Lorenzini, C., Di Paolo, M., Pepe, M., Di Nicola, M., Ricci, V., Pettorruso, M., & Martinotti, G. (2024). Investigating the Effectiveness of Brexpiprazole in Subjects with Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness and Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder: A Prospective, Multicentric, Real-World Study. Pharmaceuticals, 17(4), 535. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040535

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