Treatment FAQ

how many failed trials in treatment refractory

by Prof. Guillermo Graham Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A general consensus is emerging that unipolar major depression is considered resistant or refractory when at least two trials with antidepressants from different pharmacologic classes (adequate in dose, duration, and compliance) fail to produce a significant clinical improvement.Jul 15, 2009

What percentage of schizophrenia is treatment refractory?

Only 10 % to 15 % of schizophrenia patients are treatment refractory at the onset of disease,8while nearly onehalf eventually become treatment refractory. Taken together with the imaging studies reporting progressive degeneration of brain parenchyma in TRS patients,66these data are at least consistent with a degenerative process.

What is the most common cause of refractory material failure?

A refractory material that is not able to reach its designed strength has the highest potential for failure. Properly Manufacture Date and Storage: Refractory material should be manufactured in the proper time period based on the installation date and manufacture date.

Does refractory material need to be cured?

Curing Procedures: Only after the refractory material has been cured and/or dried will it be at its proper strength. Almost all refractory materials (except those that are phosphate-bonded) must be cured prior to the drying process.

What is the prevalence of treatment-refractory anxiety?

However, refractory anxiety must also include patients who relapse after remission, and this rate is f 0% at 1 year, 20% at 5 years, and 30% at 100 years. 2 Thus the prevalence of treatment-refractory anxiety can be sizable.

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What percentage of depression is treatment-resistant?

Basically, 30% of people with depression are diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Of those, a further 37% resist TRD strategies.

Is treatment-resistant depression permanent?

Taking an antidepressant or going to psychological counseling (psychotherapy) eases depression symptoms for most people. But with treatment-resistant depression, standard treatments aren't enough. They may not help much at all, or your symptoms may improve, only to keep coming back.

How is refractory OCD treated?

Antipsychotic augmentation is by far the most studied intervention for treatment-refractory OCD in adults. Antipsychotic augmentation involves adding a low-dose of an antipsychotic medication (similar to those employed in tic disorders) to continuing SSRI (or clomipramine) pharmacotherapy.

Why is GAD difficult to treat?

A major limitation in the conceptualization of difficult-to-treat GAD is the lack of high-quality data regarding longer-term course of illness after initial nonresponse.

How effective is ECT for treatment-resistant depression?

Conclusions: The ECT is still highly effective in severely treatment-resistant patients with major depressive disorder, with more than half of such patients achieving remission.

What happens when ECT doesn't work?

If nothing else has helped, including ECT, and you are still severely depressed, you may be offered neurosurgery for mental disorder (NMD), deep brain stimulation (DBS) or vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

How many OCD patients are treatment-resistant?

A more recent study from 2015 found that 42% of all patients with an OCD diagnosis are treatment-resistant.

What happens if OCD medication doesn't work?

Although there are many FDA-approved medications available for the treatment of OCD, medications don't seem to be effective for one-third of people's OCD symptoms. This can happen because of genetics, body chemistry, other medications you're on, skipping doses, as well as whether or not you use alcohol and/or drugs.

How many sessions does it take to treat OCD?

Generally speaking, most people with OCD can expect to complete between 12 and 20 therapy sessions before they see a clinically significant decrease in OCD symptoms.

What is the 333 rule for anxiety?

*Name three sounds you hear. *Move three parts of your body — your fingers, shoulders, and then feet. *And point out three things you see. “Whenever you feel your brain going 1000 miles per hour, try this exercise to help bring you back to the present moment,” the psychologist said.

How long does it take to recover from generalized anxiety disorder?

13 Some patients may achieve “durable remission” within the first 4 to 8 weeks of therapy, which may indicate an eventual sustained remission (lasting 4 to 9 months after acute treatment). Patients who achieve a sustained remission are less likely to experience relapse.

Can GAD be cured permanently?

Since it's a natural part of the human condition, anxiety is not completely curable. But feeling anxious should be a temporary state that resolves when a stressor or trigger has passed.

Which antipsychotic is best for OCD?

Current evidence suggests that among patients augmented with antipsychotics, one in three SSRI-resistant OCD patients will show a response. Among antipsychotics, risperidone, and aripiprazole have the best evidence, with haloperidol to be considered as second-line owing to its unfavorable side-effect profile.

What is the latest treatment for OCD?

Specifically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure response therapy (ERP), have been shown to be effective in the treatment of OCD.

What is the first line treatment for OCD?

SORT: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICEClinical recommendationEvidence ratingSSRIs are an effective treatment for OCD and are recommended as first-line pharmacologic therapy.AA trial of SSRI therapy should continue for eight to 12 weeks, with at least four to six weeks at the maximal tolerable dosage.C4 more rows•Aug 1, 2009

Does ECT help OCD?

Fortunately, ECT has been shown to be effective for treating severe OCD in several previously published reports.

What are the obstacles to treatment for severe depression?

For years, the mainstay of treatment for severe depression has been pharmacologic interventions and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

When was the 161st Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association held?

Research presented at the 161st Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association on May 3-8, 2008 in Washington, DC, included further advances in research and treatment of TRD.

What is a rTMS?

Dr. Dougherty then discussed repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which involves the use of a magnetic field on the scalp surface that can focus electrical stimulation on the brain cortex and is currently under review by the FDA. [7] rTMS differs from ECT in that it stimulates the brain in a focal manner, preventing the grand mal seizure and transient memory loss often associated with ECT. rTMS studies have found response rates ranging from 25% to 45%. A recent large scale trial by Neuronetics conducted high frequency rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in approximately 300 patients. The study found that response rates varied according to the number of failed medication trials; a patient with 1 previous failed medication tended to exhibit a better response than those with multiple failed medication trials.

Why is failure of refractory material complex?

Discovering why a refractory material fails is a complex problem because failure is not caused by just one factor, but rather a combination of the following factors: The material selected does not match the environment that exists (i.e., reducing atmosphere);

How much does refractory save?

And yet, it has been proven that when properly designed and installed, refractory can save up to five to seven percent of fuel costs (oil, gas, coal, or refuse).

What elements can react with refractory materials?

In the presence of moisture, sulfur also could form sulfurous and sulfuric acids, which could react with the basic components of a refractory material. Alkali such as sodium (Na) and potassium (K) can chemically react with silica found in some refractory materials.

What should be examined for signs that may indicate the root cause of the failure?

The existing material (or the lack thereof) should be examined for signs that may indicate the root cause of the failure. When looking at an existing refractory lining or photos of the existing lining, keep in mind the following questions:

Can refractory material be used after mixing?

This could reduce the strength of the installed material. Every refractory material has a pot life, which designates how long a mixed refractory material can be used after mixing. Failure to follow recommended pot life times could result in a refractory material not reaching its proper strength.

Why do oncology trials fail?

Ultimately, many oncology trials fail because they do not show a treatment extends survival in a meaningful way. For example, a drug tested in ocular melanoma, a rare cancer occurring in the eye, resulted in an eight-week improvement in progression-free survival. The study showed no difference in overall survival.

Is sorafenib FDA approved?

Instead, sorafenib, which targets multiple signaling molecules besides BRAF, proved effective in inhibiting VEGF, a signaling pathway that controls the growth of blood vessels. Sorafenib is now FDA-approved for kidney, liver and thyroid cancer.

What percentage of patients with GERD fail to respond to proton pump inhibitors?

● Approximately 10 and 40 percent of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) fail to respond symptomatically, either partially or completely, to a standard dose of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Continued symptoms of GERD despite PPI therapy may be due to insufficient acid suppression, reflux hypersensitivity, functional heartburn, or an alternative etiology. (See 'Epidemiology' above and 'Etiology' above.)

How many biopsies are needed for eosinophilic esophagitis?

However, adequate biopsies of the esophagus are needed to rule out eosinophilic esophagitis (two to four biopsies from the distal esophagus and two to four from the mid or proximal esophagus). (See "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis", section on 'Histology' .)

What is NKTR 214?

[66] However, severe toxicities, coupled with potential immunosuppressive effects, [67] have limited its use. NKTR-214, a pro-drug of IL-2, has subsequently been developed to generate the immune stimulatory benefits of the IL-2 pathway to maximize antitumor responses and minimize adverse effects. [68] Combination NKTR-214 and nivolumab was recently examined in the phase I/II PIVOT-02 study. Impressive results were seen in the treatment-naive melanoma cohort, with a reported ORR and DCR of 52% and 78%, respectively, with no increased safety signal. [69] There are several studies evaluating NKTR-214 with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in the first-line and second-line settings (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02983045 and NCT03138889).

What are the primary and acquired resistance mechanisms?

Primary and acquired resistance mechanisms are often mediated by the immunosuppressive elements of the tumor microenvironment; therefore, modulation of these factors with agents such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-γ and CSF1R inhibitors is another area of intense study. Inhibition of PI3K-γ has been shown to affect immunosuppressive macrophages and myeloid-derived stem cells (MDSCs), leading to an increase in cytotoxic T-cell activity. [59] A clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02637531) is currently exploring the combination of PI3K-γ inhibition and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in advanced solid tumor patients, including those with metastatic melanoma, who have progressed on standard therapies. Preliminary data demonstrate evidence of immune modulation and early signs of clinical activity, with an acceptable safety signal. [60]

Is NKTR-214 a pro-drug?

However, severe toxicities, coupled with potential immunosuppressive effects, [67] have limited its use. NKTR-214, a pro-drug of IL-2, has subsequently been developed to generate the immune stimulatory benefits of the IL-2 pathway to maximize antitumor responses and minimize adverse effects. [68] .

Is stereotactic radiosurgery effective?

In cases where surgery is not permissible (eg, poor performance status, medical comorbidities, or metastases in critical locales such as the brain stem), stereotactic radiosurgery has been proven to be a highly effective local therapy . [29] .

Can PD-1 be used after progression?

Prior to transitioning to an alternative treatment approach, clinicians can consider continuing the use of PD-1 inhibitors after progression occurs. Whereas disease progression on chemotherapies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) almost uniformly results in treatment discontinuation due to futility of continued therapy, studies demonstrate the possibility of atypical and delayed response with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy beyond Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST)-defined progression in melanoma. [11,12] Mechanisms to account for these atypical presentations include delayed antitumor response, as well as “pseudoprogression,” in which a transient immune infiltration causes a paradoxical enlargement of the tumor with subsequent shrinkage and clinical benefit that transcends response rate (eg, overall survival (OS) benefit independent of response rate). Two retrospective studies evaluated the benefit of anti–PD-1 antibody therapy past progression in patients with metastatic melanoma. [11,12] Impressive response rates of 19% and 28% were seen in evaluable patients treated beyond progression, with these cases representing 4% and 5% of all patients who had received PD-1 inhibition in these studies, respectively. Notably, delayed responses were rare after 6 months, with these events likely indicative of true progressive disease.

Is immunotherapy a treatment for unresectable melanoma?

Immunotherapy has changed the treatment landscape for unresectable melanoma. However, despite the successes of front-line immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, most patients will eventually progress. Post-progression treatment decisions should be made based on the site of progression, extent of disease progression, and clinical status of the patient. In the setting of oligometastatic progression, employment of local therapy with surgical resection or ablative radiotherapy is often preferred with continuation of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In contrast, transition to an alternative standard or investigational systemic agent (s) is required in cases of diffuse progression. The decision regarding next-line therapy requires assessment of both cancer- and patient-specific factors, such as the molecular features of the tumor (eg, BRAF mutation status), the performance status of the patient, and clinical trial availability. Advancements in translational biomarker research are crucial in order to refine this treatment algorithm. Pre- and on-treatment biomarker discovery will hopefully aid clinicians in identifying patients who are likely to respond to front-line monotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors; importantly, it will also help to provide further insights into the optimal therapeutic strategies for individuals with primary resistance and those destined to develop acquired resistance.

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Maximizing Response

  • The use of pharmacologic agents for TRD can be a complicated practice. In an industry-supported symposium, Roy Perlis, MD, MScbegan his presentation with a discussion on working to maximize response in patients presenting with TRD, and described the critical factors involved in constructing a treatment plan, including diagnosis, adherence, comorbid conditions, and residua…
See more on medscape.org

Development of New Antidepressant Treatments

  • As clinicians work to maximize treatment outcomes, researchers continue to work to uncover the biological mechanisms of TRD and to pursue the development of novel treatments. Recent attention has been paid to the glutamate system and its potential role in the pathophysiology of depression with attention given to the NMDA receptor and the possibility of altered sensitivity o…
See more on medscape.org

Device-Based Treatments and Surgical Interventions

  • Vagus Nerve Stimulation
    Darin Dougherty, MD discussed vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a device-based treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 for TRD. The pivotal study enrolled an extremely treatment-resistant population, specifically looking at patients for who at l…
  • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
    Dr. Dougherty then discussed repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which involves the use of a magnetic field on the scalp surface that can focus electrical stimulation on the brain cortex and is currently under review by the FDA.rTMS differs from ECT in that it stimulates the br…
See more on medscape.org

Summary

  • In clinical practice, clinicians face significant challenges to find a treatment that may provide some relief from TRD. Many individuals still suffer despite our best efforts. Given the heterogeneity of depression and the array of confounding factors associated with TRD, clinicians must systematically evaluate patients to ensure that issues of adherence, appropriate duration …
See more on medscape.org

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