QT interval prolongation related to psychoactive drug treatment: a comparison of monotherapy versus polytherapy

Michela Sala, Alessandro Vicentini, Paolo Brambilla, Cristina Montomoli, Jigar R.S. Jogia, Eduardo Caverzasi, Alberto Bonzano, Marco Piccinelli, Francesco Barale, Gaetano M. de Ferrari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background - Several antipsychotic agents are known to prolong the QT interval in a dose dependent manner. Corrected QT interval (QTc) exceeding a threshold value of 450 ms may be associated with an increased risk of life threatening arrhythmias. Antipsychotic agents are often given in combination with other psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants, that may also contribute to QT prolongation. This observational study compares the effects observed on QT interval between antipsychotic monotherapy and psychoactive polytherapy, which included an additional antidepressant or lithium treatment.
Method - We examined two groups of hospitalized women with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder in a naturalistic setting. Group 1 was composed of nineteen hospitalized women treated with antipsychotic monotherapy (either haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone or clozapine) and Group 2 was composed of nineteen hospitalized women treated with an antipsychotic (either haloperidol, olanzapine, risperidone or quetiapine) with an additional antidepressant (citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, venlafaxine or clomipramine) or lithium. An Electrocardiogram (ECG) was carried out before the beginning of the treatment for both groups and at a second time after four days of therapy at full dosage, when blood was also drawn for determination of serum levels of the antipsychotic.
Statistical analysis included repeated measures ANOVA, Fisher Exact Test and Indipendent T Test.
Results - Mean QTc intervals significantly increased in Group 2 (24 ± 21 ms) however this was not the case in Group 1 (-1 ± 30 ms) (Repeated measures ANOVA p < 0,01). Furthermore we found a significant difference in the number of patients who exceeded the threshold of borderline QTc interval value (450 ms) between the two groups, with seven patients in Group 2 (38%) compared to one patient in Group 1 (7%) (Fisher Exact Text, p < 0,05).
Conclusions - No significant prolongation of the QT interval was found following monotherapy with an antipsychotic agent, while combination of these drugs with antidepressants caused a significant QT prolongation. Careful monitoring of the QT interval is suggested in patients taking a combined treatment of antipsychotic and antidepressant agents.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of General Psychiatry
Volume4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Jan 2005

Bibliographical note

© 2005 Sala et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords

  • antipsychotic
  • antidepressant
  • proarrhythmia
  • QTc interval

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'QT interval prolongation related to psychoactive drug treatment: a comparison of monotherapy versus polytherapy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this