Recent advancements in the treatment of schizophrenia offer new hope for patients and health care providers alike.
The condition, which impacts 24 million people and is a leading cause of disability, alters a patient’s perception of reality with troubling and sometimes dangerous results.
First New Drug in Decades
Federal approval of a new drug on September 26 marks a true breakthrough, targeting a different part of the brain than the schizophrenia treatments available in years past.
The newly approved drug – a combination of xanomeline and trospium chloride – represents a significant shift in how schizophrenia is treated. As compared to prior antipsychotic medications, which primarily target dopamine receptors, the new drug works by activating muscarinic receptors in the brain. Research shows it offers comparable, and perhaps better, efficacy than decades-old approaches with fewer side effects.
Managing Schizophrenia with Fewer Side Effects
Managing schizophrenia is difficult enough, but current antipsychotic medications can also create challenges associated with adverse effects. Long-term use of antipsychotic medications can cause tardive dyskinesia, an involuntary movement disorder.
If the newly developed medication can provide similar mental health support with fewer or less severe downsides, patients’ quality of life and medication adherence may both improve.
Harnessing Digital Tools
At the same time patients and providers are celebrating the arrival of the first new medication in decades, an equally innovative non-drug tool for managing schizophrenia has also arrived.
Recently approved under a “breakthrough device” designation, CT-155 is a new software designed to enhance patient care through always available, technology-driven intervention.
Especially for patients with schizophrenia, who often lack consistent access to other therapies and may be socially isolated either by symptoms or stigma, a clinically validated behavioral therapy tool at home could be revolutionary. Clinical evidence from this first device, once in wider use, will also pave the way for more personalized and effective treatment options in the future.
A Promising Future for Schizophrenia Treatment
With the approval of a new, less-disruptive medication and the first of a new wave of digital therapeutics, the future of schizophrenia care looks promising. These advancements represent a crucial step forward, offering new options for patients to manage a challenging condition more effectively.