Improving effects of additional administration of brexpiprazole to antipsychotics on cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia - A pilot study

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> In addition to positive and negative symptoms, patients with schizophrenia exhibit cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, the present study examined the attenuating effects of the additional administration of brexpiprazole on cognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia. <h3>Methods</h3> This observational study included patients with schizophrenia aged 18–65 years who were outpatients, had a negative score of ≥20 on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and had started additional treatment with brexpiprazole. Patients performed the trail making test (TMT) and word fluency test (WFT), and PANSS at 0, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. <h3>Results</h3> Between February and August 2023, 19 patients started to receive additional treatment with brexpiprazole. The times required for Parts A and B of TMT were 122.8 ± 54.4 and 155.7 ± 94.2 s, respectively, at the initiation of brexpiprazole and 106.4 ± 57.8 s and 135.4 ± 85.9 s, respectively, at 16 weeks. The time required for Part A significantly decreased after 16 weeks. WFT and PANSS total scores were 19.3 ± 9.7 and 81.7 ± 11.1, respectively, at baseline and 20.2 ± 10.7 and 80.5 ± 12.9, respectively, at 16 weeks, with no significant changes. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The present results demonstrated that the additional administration of brexpiprazole achieved favorable outcomes for information processing speed, in patients with schizophrenia who had negative symptoms. This is the first study to investigate the effects of the additional administration of brexpiprazole on the attenuation of cognitive dysfunction. Further studies are needed on methods to assess cognitive function and recovery in patients with schizophrenia.