Plasma substance P level in patients with schizophrenia: A cross‐sectional study

• Published in: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol. 65; no. 5; pp. 526 - 528
• Main Authors: Ishida, Takuto, Uchida, Hiroyuki, Suzuki, Takefumi, Nakajima, Shinichiro, Watanabe, Koichiro, Kashima, Haruo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.08.2011; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents - pharmacology; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; antipsychotics; aspiration pneumonia; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Cigarettes; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Neuroleptics; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pneumology; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Aspiration - prevention & control; Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Psychoses; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - blood; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; smoking; Smoking - blood; Substance P; Substance P - blood; Tobacco smoking; Human; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Neuroleptic; Psychotropic; Substance P; Tobacco smoking; Pharmacotherapy; Schizophrenia; Neuropeptide; Psychosis; Treatment; Aspiration pneumonia; Cross sectional study; smoking; antipsychotics; Antipsychotic; Tachykinin
• ISSN: 1323-1316; 1440-1819
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2011.02244.x

Aspiration pneumonia is a serious health concern in older patients with schizophrenia. In this study, we examined clinical and demographic variables that could impact the plasma substance P level, which is a useful predictive biomarker of aspiration. Thirty‐four patients were included (mean age ± SD: 70.9 ± 10.8 years). A greater number of cigarettes/day and a higher antipsychotic dosage were found to be associated with a lower plasma substance P level, while age showed a trend‐level effect. This finding suggests the need for intensive observation for prevention of aspiration pneumonia in heavy smokers who are receiving a higher antipsychotic dose in this senior population.