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Preliminary data regarding some cognitive effects of atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenia: monotherapy vesus polypharmaceutical approaches
* 1, 2 , 3 , 4 , 4, 5 , 6 , 7, 8, 9, 10
1  Faculty of Biology, Biology Department, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, 700506 Iasi, Romania
2  Department of Biological and Morphofunctional Sciences, College of Medicine and Biological Science, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
3  Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
4  Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, Iasi Str. Bucium 36, 700282 Iasi, Romania
5  Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 700115 Iasi, Romania
6  Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iasi, Carol I Avenue, 20A, 700505 Iași, Romania
7  Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
8  Center of Biomedical Research, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, Teodor Codrescu 2, 700481 Iasi, Romania
9  Academy of Romanian Scientists, 3 Ilfov, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
10  “Ioan Haulica” Institute, Apollonia University, Pacurari Street 11, 700511 Iasi, Romania
Academic Editor: Carla Masala

Abstract:

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disease characterized by deficiencies in multiple cognitive domains, such as attention, working memory, long-term memory, and learning, that are stable throughout the patient’s life. Due to mainly focusing on typical symptomatology relief, in many cases, cognitive impairment is overlooked. However, the medication of choice often consists of antipsychotics, their combination being adjusted to the therapeutic response. Yet data regarding the cognitive effects of antipsychotics in schizophrenia is rather scarce and inconsistent. In this context, we aimed to investigate the impact of various combinations of atypical antipsychotics on the cognitive functions of schizophrenia patients. Methods: Thirty participants with schizophrenia were enrolled in the study (18 men and 12 women). The assessment of study participants was conducted by specialized medical personnel, and the application of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) questionnaires aimed to verify cognitive parameters such as spatial–temporal orientation, attention, immediate and short-term memory, the capacity to perform concrete and abstract operations, motor skills, and language. Results: There were differences between the polypharmacy group and the monotherapy group in copying tasks, visuospatial orientation, and attention for both scales involved in this study. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the polytherapeutic approach based on a combination of atypical antipsychotics could lead to the significant improvement of cognitive functions, including spatial and visual orientation, general attention, and verbal memory.

Keywords: Atypical antipsychotics; Schizophrenia; Polypharmaceutics; Cognition;
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