22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Atypical Antipsychotics and Relapsing Psychoses

Abstract

In their letter to the editor, Boot and colleagues comment on the results of treatment with atypical antipsychotics in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and relapsing psychoses. They identify 3 issues (i. e., description of study rationale and assessments, the importance of endocrine dysfunctions and possible effects of sample bias) and conclude that “until strong evidence to the contrary [is available], standard pharmacological management of psychotic illness in 22q11DS remains recommended.” In our reply, we will illustrate the erroneous nature of their conjectures.

Key words

antipsychotic drugs - psychosis - genetics - 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

• References

• 1 Verhoeven WMA, Egger JIM. Atypical antipsychotics and relapsing psychoses in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A long term evaluation of 28 patients. Pharmacopsychiatry 2015; 48: 104-110
• 2 Butcher N, Fung WLA, Fitzpatrick L et al. Response to clozapine in a clinically identifiable subtype of schizophrenia. Br J Psychiatry 2015; 206: 484-491
• 3 Boot E, Butcher NJ, van Amelsvoort TAJM et al. Movement disorders and other motor abnormalities in adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2015; 0: 639-645