P03-49 - Efects of Rivastigmine Tartrate in Therapy of Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Objectives

Exelon (ravastigmine tartrate) is dual, reversible cholinesterase inhibitor. FDA has approved its use in treatment of Alchaimer dementia and Dementia combinated with Parkison disease. In addition to this, results based on small clinical studies and case reports showed positive efects of rivastigmin tartrate in therapy applied in numerous pyschiatric disorders.

Methods

In this study 15 patients have been observed. According to ICD 10 they all satisfied criteria for diagnosis of residual schizophrenia and had a score of below 24 at MMSE and high scores at NPI 12 and BPRS. During the period of 60 days, apart from antipsychotics and anxiolitics or psychostabilisers, patients also received rivastigmin tartrate in their therapy.

Results

The study showed that rivastigmine therapy produced significant improvements when it comes to cognition and reduction of disorders in the sphere of afective-behavioristic functioning of patients with residual schizophrenia. However, this interpretation cannot be confirmed to be completely valid due to the size of treated group, the absence of the control group, and the length of the observing period.

Conclusions

Dual cholinesterase inhibitors (Acetilcholine and Butirilcholine) may produce improvement in cognition and behavioural performances, as well as the general quality of life of patients diagnosed with residual schizophrenia. Future studies applied on this kind of patients should precisely explain the basic pharmachological mechanisams of rivastigmin tartrate, and approve/disapprove the results of clinical studies and case reports that have been preformed so far.