Fluvoxamine may prevent onset of psychosis: a case report of a patient at ultra-high risk of psychotic disorder
There is emerging evidence that antidepressants may be effective in preventing patients with non-specific and psychotic-like prodromal symptoms, defined as patients at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychotic disorder, from transitioning to psychosis. However, the mechanism of such an effect is still unknown.
Methods:
We report the case of a 19-year-old Japanese man determined to be at UHR of psychotic disorder in whom fluvoxamine (one of the antidepressants with sigma-1 receptor agonism) showed preventive effects on psychotic-like prodromal symptoms.
Results:
Our patient's depressive symptoms were reduced and maintained below remission as a result of treatment with 100 mg/day of fluvoxamine.
In addition, it is likely that an additional dose of fluvoxamine (50 mg/day) improved his psychotic-like prodromal symptoms directly, independent of its antidepressive effects.
Conclusion:
Fluvoxamine, a sigma-1 receptor agonist, may be effective in preventing patients at UHR of psychotic disorder from onset of psychosis via its neuroprotective/neurotropic actions, independent of its antidepressive effects.
Author: Shigenori TadokoroNobuhisa KanaharaShuichi KikuchiKenji HashimotoMasaomi Iyo
Credits/Source: Annals of General Psychiatry 2011, 10:26
Published on: 2011-09-30
Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please
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