%0 Journal Article
%T Pharmacological Treatment of Schizophrenia: Japanese Expert Consensus.
%A Sakurai H
%A Yasui-Furukori N
%A Suzuki T
%A Uchida H
%A Baba H
%A Watanabe K
%A Inada K
%A Kikuchi YS
%A Kikuchi T
%A Katsuki A
%A Kishida I
%A Kato M
%J Pharmacopsychiatry
%V 54
%N 2
%D Mar 2021
%M 33434943
%F 2.544
%R 10.1055/a-1324-3517
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Conventional treatment guidelines of schizophrenia do not necessarily provide solutions on clinically important issues.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A total of 141 certified psychiatrists of the Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology evaluated treatment options regarding 19 clinically relevant situations in the treatment of schizophrenia with a 9-point scale (1="disagree" and 9="agree").<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>First-line antipsychotics varied depending on predominant symptoms: risperidone (mean±standard deviation score, 7.9±1.4), olanzapine (7.5±1.6), and aripiprazole (6.9±1.9) were more likely selected for positive symptoms; aripiprazole (7.6±1.6) for negative symptoms; aripiprazole (7.3±1.9), olanzapine (7.2±1.9), and quetiapine (6.9±1.9) for depression and anxiety; and olanzapine (7.9±1.5) and risperidone (7.5±1.5) for excitement and aggression. While only aripiprazole was categorized as a first-line treatment for relapse prevention (7.6±1.0) in patients without noticeable symptoms, aripiprazole (8.0±1.6) and brexpiprazole (6.9±2.3) were categorized as such for social integration. First-line treatments in patients who are vulnerable to extrapyramidal symptoms include quetiapine (7.5±2.0) and aripiprazole (6.9±2.1).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>These clinical recommendations represent the expert consensus on the use of a particular antipsychotic medication for a particular situation, filling a current gap in the literature.