Symptomatic and Functional Response and Remission From the Open-Label Treatment-Optimization Phase of a Study With DR/ER-MPH in Children With ADHD.

Objective: Delayed-release and extended-release methylphenidate (DR/ER-MPH), the first stimulant predicted to be absorbed primarily in the colon, demonstrated significant improvements in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and functional impairment from awakening until evening versus placebo in clinical trials. The clinical significance of these improvements was explored post hoc by examining response and remission thresholds as well as safety in the context of dose optimization.Methods: Data from the open-label, treatment-optimization phase of a phase 3 study of DR/ER-MPH in children (aged 6-12 years) with ADHD, as diagnosed by DSM-5 criteria and enrolled between July 2015 and March 2016, were analyzed. Thresholds for response (anchored to Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scale [CGI-I] score of 1 or 2) and remission were applied to ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV), Before School Functioning Questionnaire (BSFQ), and Parent Rating of Evening and Morning Behavior, Revised, Morning Subscale (PREMB-R AM) and Evening Subscale (PREMB-R PM) scores. Rates of response, remission, and treatment-emergent adverse events by starting dose were examined.Results: Mean DR/ER-MPH dose increased from 29.7 mg/d at baseline (51% on 20 mg/d; 49% on 40 mg/d) to 66.2 mg/d at week 6. At week 6, most participants achieved response/remission thresholds (response/remission: ADHD-RS-IV: 97%/89%; BSFQ: 98%/94%; PREMB-R AM: 94%/98%; PREMB-R PM: 91%/84%). More participants starting on a 40-mg versus 20-mg dose achieved thresholds at week 1 (P < .02). Weekly treatment-emergent adverse event rates over the open-label period were similar between starting doses.Conclusions: When DR/ER-MPH dosing was optimized for ADHD symptom control throughout the day, the majority of participants achieved thresholds indicating all-day control of ADHD symptoms and functional impairment to the level of their non-ADHD peers.Trial Registration: Data used in this post hoc analysis came from the study with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02493777.

Remission in schizophrenia: 196-week, double-blind treatment with ziprasidone vs. haloperidol.

To compare the remission rate and its time-course over 196 wk of double-blind treatment with an atypical antipsychotic, ziprasidone (80-160 mg/d given b.i.d., or 80-120 mg/d given q.d.), or a conventional antipsychotic, haloperidol (5-20 mg/d). Outcome assessments included attainment of remission (Andreasen criteria) by longitudinal analysis. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) scores, and quality-of-life (QLS) were also assessed in the initial 40-wk study phase (n=599) and the 3-yr extension study (n=186). Discontinuation rates in the initial 40-wk core and follow-up extension studies were comparable between groups: 64% and 65% for the 80-160 mg/d ziprasidone group, 65% and 58% for the 80-120 mg/d ziprasidone group, and 60% and 66% for the 5-20 mg/d haloperidol group, respectively. Mean change scores from baseline to LOCF endpoint (week 40 or early termination) for PANSS negative and GAF (primary efficacy variables) were not statistically significantly different between ziprasidone and haloperidol. During the 3-yr extension study, ziprasidone-treated subjects (80-160 mg/d) were more likely to achieve remission (51%) than haloperidol-treated (40%) subjects (p=0.04), while there was a favourable trend associated with 80-120 mg/d ziprasidone (48%). Compared to the haloperidol group, subjects assigned to the 80-160 mg/d ziprasidone group showed a gradual and persistent improvement in remission (p=0.006) and quality-of-life (p=0.004) in the longitudinal analyses. Significant differences in the trajectory of PANSS total and GAF scores favouring the 80-160 mg/d ziprasidone group were also observed. In this long-term, double-blind study, ziprasidone treatment was more likely to result in remission than haloperidol treatment, and was associated with greater improvement in quality-of-life.