Pitt Psychiatry Professor Deepak Sarpal and Social Work Professor Shaun Eack have been awarded $3.8 million R01 by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for their project: "Neural Mechanisms of Anticholinergic Burden in Mid- to Late-Life Schizophrenia Spectrum Illness" Dr. Nev Jones of the School of Social Work is also Co-Investigator. This study will focus on the cognitive, quality of life, and neural impacts of de-prescribing excessive medications in older adults with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) cause a wide range of issues in both healthcare and society due to cognitive impairment. To date, remarkably little is known about the neural and molecular contributors to functional outcome in mid- to late-life SSD. Over prescription of medication is an important factor and a preventable contributor to cognitive impairment, functional disability, and poor quality of life in mid- to later phases of this condition.
"This study will build on promising evidence generated in everyday practice with patients with schizophrenia and examine the benefits of reducing or deprescribing anticholinergic medications that negatively affect memory and other cognitive abilities," explained Dr. Eack.
It also includes a diverse team of researchers with expertise in SSD research, lived experience, psychopharmacology, psychosocial treatment, outcomes research, geriatric psychiatry, and neuroimaging. Findings are expected to yield new insights into neural and molecular contributions to outcome in mid- to late-life SSD and identify novel mechanisms to improve functional outcomes and quality of life in this greatly underserved population.
“The deprescription of unnecessary anticholinergic drugs provides a framework for characterizing positive changes cognition, quality of life, and functioning in people living with serious mental illness, “said Dr. Sarpal. “In addition, we hope that examining the neural circuitry underlying anticholinergic deprescription will shed light on mechanisms that can be leveraged in future brain-based therapeutics that optimize recovery and outcomes.”