The effect of bupropion on sexual function in patients with Schizophrenia: A randomized clinical trial

Background and objective: About one percent of the world's population are affected by Schizophrenia. It is assumed that antipsychotic drugs cause sexual dysfunction, but the main mechanism of it, is not specified. Few researches that have addressed this issue showed that there is a relationship between neuroleptics and sexual dysfunction. A number of studies found that bupropion could improve the sexual dysfunction. So the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of bupropion on sexual function of the patients with Schizophrenia. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 40 schizophrenic patients admitted to Kamrani psychiatry clinic in Tehran during 2015-2016. Participants were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The experiment group was taken bupropion tablets 150 mg/day and the control group were given placebo for one-month. The sexual performance of participants was studied before and after the intervention by the sexual functioning questionnaire (SFQ). Obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS software with student t-test and chi-square tests. Results: 40 patients older than 18 year old participated in the study. Before treatment the two groups did not have significant difference based on a general score of SFQ questionnaire, but There was a significant difference between two groups after the intervention. Experiment group (bupropion) showed significant improvement in sexual function. Using bupropion in the experiment group led to significant change in the score of sexual desire, erection and orgasm, but it had no effect on sexual arousal and ejaculation. The associations of ejaculation and orgasm were significance. Using the bupropion changed the erection and orgasm in the two groups of control and experimental. Conclusion: This study shows that 150 mg/day dose have considerable effect on sexual dysfunction of patients that are under treatment with anti-psychotic drugs. Also, this drug does not have any special side effects

No disponible

Saffron aqueous extract prevents metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia on olanzapine treatment: a randomized triple blind placebo controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether saffron aqueous extract (SAE) or its active constituent, crocin, prevents olanzapine-induced metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: 66 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who were on olanzapine treatment (5-20 mg daily) were randomly allocated to receive a capsule of SAE (n=22; 30 mg daily), crocin (n=22; 30 mg daily) or placebo (n=22) in a 12-week triple-blind trial. Patients were screened not to have MetS at baseline and further assessment was done at weeks 6 and 12. Measurement of fasting blood glucose (FBS) and serum lipids were repeated at weeks 2, 6 and 12. Fasting blood levels of insulin and HbA1c were also measured at baseline and week 12. HOMA-IR and HOMA-ß were determined to evaluate insulin resistance. RESULTS: 61 patients completed the trial and no serious adverse effects were reported. Time-treatment interaction showed a significant difference in FBS in both SAE and crocin groups compared to placebo (p=0.004). In addition, SAE could effectively prevent reaching the criteria of metabolic syndrome (0 patients) compared to crocin (9.1%) and placebo (27.3%) as early as week 6. CONCLUSION: SAE could prevent metabolic syndrome compared to crocin and placebo. Furthermore, both SAE and crocin prevented increases in blood glucose during the study.

Effects of demographic factors, body mass index, alcohol drinking and smoking habits on irritable bowel syndrome: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. AIMS: To identify demographic factors in patients with IBS. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One-hundred and fifty three IBS patients seen at Taleghani Hospital Gastroenterology Clinic and met the Rome III criteria and 163 peoples who did not meet IBS criteria were consecutively enrolled. Both groups were asked to complete a self-rating questionnaire containing information, which included questions about age, sex, monthly income, education level, marital status, height, weight, alcohol drinking and smoking habits. Student's t-test, Pearson's Chi-square and logistic regression were used to statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age for IBS patients 36.3 (13.5) years and 33.1 (9.9) years in non-IBS group (P < 0.001). Frequency of IBS defined by Rome III criteria was higher in females and younger individuals. Univariate analysis showed that IBS in males was associated with a lower monthly income and educational level and in females younger age, single, lower monthly income and educational level, body mass index (BMI), and unemployment status. Multivariate logistic regression identified a low level of education in males (Odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-9.6) and in females, lower education level (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1-5.2), lower BMI (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89-0.99), unemployed (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.11-0.85) and smoking (OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 1.03-37.2). CONCLUSION: We identified demographic factors in IBS patients. Being single and having a lower educational level, income, lower BMI and being unemployed were the most important factors associated with IBS, particularly in females.

Association analysis of the dopamine transporter (DAT1)-67A/T polymorphism in bipolar disorder.

An imbalance in the dopaminergic system in humans has been hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of psychiatric illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We performed a case/control study on the DAT1 (HUGO approved symbol SL6A3) gene core promoter polymorphism -67A/T to analyze the possible association of either allele of this polymorphism with bipolar disorder. The allele and genotype frequencies of the polymorphism were studied in 136 patients and 163 controls, which were matched on the basis of sex, age, and ethnicity. The genotype frequencies in the patients group were as follows: AA 30.9%; AT 55.1%; TT 14% versus the genotype frequencies in the control group: AA 49%; AT 41.8%; TT 9.2% [chi2 = 10.3, df = 2, OR = 2.15 (95% CI 1.34-3.47, P < or = 0.006]. The T-allele of the -67A/T polymorphism revealed a approximately 1.4-fold excess in the patients group comparing with the controls (P < or = 0.003). For the first time, these findings provide tentative evidence of the contribution of the DAT1 gene core promoter polymorphism to the etiopathophysiology of bipolar disorder at least in the Iranian population that we have studied. Interestingly, no allelic or genotype association was observed in the female patients (P < or = 0.6 and P < or = 0.7, respectively). Replication studies of independent samples and family-based association studies are necessary to further evaluate the significance of our findings.

Association of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) core promoter polymorphism -67T variant with schizophrenia.

Dysfunction of the central dopaminergic neurotransmission has been suggested to play an important role in the etiology of schizophrenia. The dopamine transporter (DAT1) mediates the active reuptake of dopamine from the synapses and thereby plays a key role in the regulation of the dopaminergic neurotransmission. In this study, we sought to determine the possible association of the DAT1 gene core promoter polymorphism -67A/T with schizophrenia in a case/control study. The allele and genotype frequencies of the polymorphism were studied in 100 patients and 100 controls, which were matched on the basis of sex, age, and ethnicity. The genotype frequencies in the patients group were as follows: AA 29%; AT 59%; TT 12% versus the genotype frequencies in the control group: AA 57%; AT 38%; TT 5% [chi2 = 16.54, df = 2, OR = 2.25 (95% CI 1.46-3.45, P < or = 0.0003]. For the first time, these findings provide tentative evidence for the contribution of the DAT1 gene core promoter polymorphism to the etiopathophysiology of schizophrenia at least in the Iranian male population that we studied. Replication studies of independent samples and family-based association studies are necessary to further evaluate the significance of our findings.