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Papers by K. N. Roy Chengappa

Research paper thumbnail of Weight gain and metabolic issues of medicines used for bipolar disorder

Current Psychiatry Reports, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of A Preliminary Study of Sustained-Release Bupropion for Smoking Cessation in Bipolar Disorder

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2008

... Andrea H. Weinberger, PhD*. Jennifer C. Vessicchio, LCSW*. Kristi A. Sacco, PsyD*. ... ACKNOW... more ... Andrea H. Weinberger, PhD*. Jennifer C. Vessicchio, LCSW*. Kristi A. Sacco, PsyD*. ... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We wish to acknowledge Marc N. Potenza, MD, PhD, Erin L. Reutenauer, BA, Taryn M. Allen, BA, and Kevin Pohl, RPh, for their assistance with study procedures. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in a State Hospital

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2000

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the state hospital setting currently represents a v... more The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the state hospital setting currently represents a very small percentage of the total overall use of this modality in the treatment of the mentally ill. Using records kept by a state hospital, we retrospectively identified all patients who had received ECT between the years 1986 and 1995. A review of the records at the state hospital from where patients were referred and the university hospital where ECT was administered was undertaken. Demographic and clinical characteristics, reasons for referral, symptom profile, ECT parameters, clinical outcomes, and restraint/ seclusion data were assessed. Over 10 years, 21 patients were treated with ECT, representing 0.4% of all admissions to the state hospital. Of these subjects, 17 records could be retrieved. The majority were women (N = 12; 71%) and were diagnosed with a mood disorder. Ten subjects (59%) were over the age of 60 years, 4 of whom were 70 years or older. Most patients had a state hospital length of stay of 1 year or less. The mean number of ECT treatments was 12.2. There were no medical complications that led to premature termination of ECT. Eleven patients (65%) were discharged either directly from the university hospital or within 10 days of readmission to the state hospital. Six of 7 patients who had restraint and seclusion episodes prior to ECT were found to have no further episodes afterwards. The seventh experienced a dramatic decrease in number and total hours of episodes. For a substantial minority of patients in this state hospital setting, ECT appears to have been an effective and safe form of treatment, and its use should be considered early rather than late in the course of hospitalization.

Research paper thumbnail of A new ‘face’ for Bipolar Disorders?

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Changes in Both Weight and Frequency of Use of Medications for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Clozapine-Treated Patients

Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 1995

Clozapine has an unusual profile of adverse effects; among them, gastrointestinal (GI) side effec... more Clozapine has an unusual profile of adverse effects; among them, gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are important management concerns. The charts of patients in a state hospital who received clozapine for at least 3 months were reviewed. We compared the pre- and post-clozapine weights and changes in frequency and intensity of use of drugs prescribed for gastrointestinal symptoms for each subject (n = 99). There were statistically significant increases in the use of antacids (p < 0.02) and both bulk and non-bulk laxatives (p < 0.05, p < 0.03). Seventy-three percent of patients gained weight, of whom 27% gained over 10% body weight. This study confirms clozapine's association with weight gain, constipation, and upper GI symptoms. The literature concerning weight gain, and the mechanisms underlying GI adverse effects were reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effects of Clozapine on Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia with Minimal Positive Symptoms

Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 1997

The effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia remains... more The effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia remains controversial, as improvements in negative symptoms are invariably accompanied by improvements in positive symptoms and neurological side effects. We examined the effectiveness of treatment with clozapine on negative symptoms in a cohort of patients with minimal positive symptoms. Improvements in positive and negative symptoms were measured by BPRS ratings in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients (n=17, from a state hospital cohort of 75) with minimal positive symptoms, who had received clozapine for 6 months. In this subgroup, significant improvements were noted by a composite score on the three negative symptom items of emotional withdrawal, blunted affect, and motor retardation. Positive and depressive symptoms remained unchanged. The remaining cohort (n=58) showed improvements in overall psychopathology including positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. Interestingly, nearly 50% of each group were discharged from the hospital. These findings suggest that clozapine may be beneficial in the treatment of core negative symptoms, even in the absence of other improvements in psychopathology. This effect of clozapine may be a function of its unique pharmacological profile.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in metabolic syndrome parameters in patients with schizoaffective disorder who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate

Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009

This study evaluated changes in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among patients with schi... more This study evaluated changes in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among patients with schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type who had previously participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of topiramate (Chengappa et al., 2007). Topiramate (or placebo) was added to pre-existing mood-stabilizer and/or antipsychotic treatment. Nearly 41% of the 46 participants with fully available data met criteria for MetS at the pre-study baseline, and six (13%) additional subjects met criteria for MetS during the 16-week study. Several subjects (mostly topiramate treated) showed the hypothesized and expected loss in body weight and this correlated with improved glycosylated hemoglobin or systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements or improvements in lipid levels, whereas a few patients had inconsistent results. Limitations of the study include the lack of targeted treatments for specific components of the metabolic syndrome, and no controls for exercise, diet or concomitant medications. Nevertheless, screening, monitoring and targeted treatment for the metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients is increasingly becoming the standard of practice. Moreover and especially pertinent to the readership of this journal is that as the prevalence of overweight and MetS have increased worldwide, the World Health Organization has proposed lower cut-off thresholds for obesity in Asia. Furthermore, lower thresholds for waist circumference have also been recommended for Asians.

Research paper thumbnail of Weight gain and metabolic issues of medicines used for bipolar disorder

Current Psychiatry Reports, 2007

Research paper thumbnail of A Preliminary Study of Sustained-Release Bupropion for Smoking Cessation in Bipolar Disorder

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2008

... Andrea H. Weinberger, PhD*. Jennifer C. Vessicchio, LCSW*. Kristi A. Sacco, PsyD*. ... ACKNOW... more ... Andrea H. Weinberger, PhD*. Jennifer C. Vessicchio, LCSW*. Kristi A. Sacco, PsyD*. ... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We wish to acknowledge Marc N. Potenza, MD, PhD, Erin L. Reutenauer, BA, Taryn M. Allen, BA, and Kevin Pohl, RPh, for their assistance with study procedures. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Use of Electroconvulsive Therapy in a State Hospital

The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2000

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the state hospital setting currently represents a v... more The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the state hospital setting currently represents a very small percentage of the total overall use of this modality in the treatment of the mentally ill. Using records kept by a state hospital, we retrospectively identified all patients who had received ECT between the years 1986 and 1995. A review of the records at the state hospital from where patients were referred and the university hospital where ECT was administered was undertaken. Demographic and clinical characteristics, reasons for referral, symptom profile, ECT parameters, clinical outcomes, and restraint/ seclusion data were assessed. Over 10 years, 21 patients were treated with ECT, representing 0.4% of all admissions to the state hospital. Of these subjects, 17 records could be retrieved. The majority were women (N = 12; 71%) and were diagnosed with a mood disorder. Ten subjects (59%) were over the age of 60 years, 4 of whom were 70 years or older. Most patients had a state hospital length of stay of 1 year or less. The mean number of ECT treatments was 12.2. There were no medical complications that led to premature termination of ECT. Eleven patients (65%) were discharged either directly from the university hospital or within 10 days of readmission to the state hospital. Six of 7 patients who had restraint and seclusion episodes prior to ECT were found to have no further episodes afterwards. The seventh experienced a dramatic decrease in number and total hours of episodes. For a substantial minority of patients in this state hospital setting, ECT appears to have been an effective and safe form of treatment, and its use should be considered early rather than late in the course of hospitalization.

Research paper thumbnail of A new ‘face’ for Bipolar Disorders?

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Changes in Both Weight and Frequency of Use of Medications for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Among Clozapine-Treated Patients

Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 1995

Clozapine has an unusual profile of adverse effects; among them, gastrointestinal (GI) side effec... more Clozapine has an unusual profile of adverse effects; among them, gastrointestinal (GI) side effects are important management concerns. The charts of patients in a state hospital who received clozapine for at least 3 months were reviewed. We compared the pre- and post-clozapine weights and changes in frequency and intensity of use of drugs prescribed for gastrointestinal symptoms for each subject (n = 99). There were statistically significant increases in the use of antacids (p < 0.02) and both bulk and non-bulk laxatives (p < 0.05, p < 0.03). Seventy-three percent of patients gained weight, of whom 27% gained over 10% body weight. This study confirms clozapine's association with weight gain, constipation, and upper GI symptoms. The literature concerning weight gain, and the mechanisms underlying GI adverse effects were reviewed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Effects of Clozapine on Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia with Minimal Positive Symptoms

Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 1997

The effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia remains... more The effectiveness of clozapine in the treatment of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia remains controversial, as improvements in negative symptoms are invariably accompanied by improvements in positive symptoms and neurological side effects. We examined the effectiveness of treatment with clozapine on negative symptoms in a cohort of patients with minimal positive symptoms. Improvements in positive and negative symptoms were measured by BPRS ratings in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients (n=17, from a state hospital cohort of 75) with minimal positive symptoms, who had received clozapine for 6 months. In this subgroup, significant improvements were noted by a composite score on the three negative symptom items of emotional withdrawal, blunted affect, and motor retardation. Positive and depressive symptoms remained unchanged. The remaining cohort (n=58) showed improvements in overall psychopathology including positive, negative, and depressive symptoms. Interestingly, nearly 50% of each group were discharged from the hospital. These findings suggest that clozapine may be beneficial in the treatment of core negative symptoms, even in the absence of other improvements in psychopathology. This effect of clozapine may be a function of its unique pharmacological profile.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes in metabolic syndrome parameters in patients with schizoaffective disorder who participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topiramate

Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009

This study evaluated changes in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among patients with schi... more This study evaluated changes in the metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters among patients with schizoaffective disorder-bipolar type who had previously participated in a randomized, placebo-controlled study of topiramate (Chengappa et al., 2007). Topiramate (or placebo) was added to pre-existing mood-stabilizer and/or antipsychotic treatment. Nearly 41% of the 46 participants with fully available data met criteria for MetS at the pre-study baseline, and six (13%) additional subjects met criteria for MetS during the 16-week study. Several subjects (mostly topiramate treated) showed the hypothesized and expected loss in body weight and this correlated with improved glycosylated hemoglobin or systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements or improvements in lipid levels, whereas a few patients had inconsistent results. Limitations of the study include the lack of targeted treatments for specific components of the metabolic syndrome, and no controls for exercise, diet or concomitant medications. Nevertheless, screening, monitoring and targeted treatment for the metabolic syndrome in psychiatric patients is increasingly becoming the standard of practice. Moreover and especially pertinent to the readership of this journal is that as the prevalence of overweight and MetS have increased worldwide, the World Health Organization has proposed lower cut-off thresholds for obesity in Asia. Furthermore, lower thresholds for waist circumference have also been recommended for Asians.