CompletedNot Applicable

Reduction of Anticholinergic Medications Among Persons With Schizophrenia or Other Psychiatric Disorders

United States53 participantsStarted 2025-07-16

Plain-language summary

The goal of this study is to reduce Anticholinergic Medication (ACM) in persons with psychoses or serious mental illness, when these medications are no longer needed.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. are 18 years or older
. have a chart DSM V diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum or schizoaffective or bipolar disorder or any other mental illness disorder
. have received ACM and antipsychotic medications for 6 months or more
. are considered to be clinically stable (by the patient's healthcare team) for 3 months or more
. the ACM (e.g. benztropine and/or trihexyphenidyl) is being used to treat EPS associated with antipsychotic medications.
. on an examination using the modified Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale (head dropping and leg pendulousness items are dropped), no single item rated at 3 or 4.
. able and willing to sign the approved informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

. patients with ongoing Parkinsonian symptoms who require ACM meds for countering EPS side effects based on the Simpson-Angus Scale score cutoffs.
. if the clinicians treating the potentially eligible patients consider them to be clinically unstable or if drug-addiction is the focus of treatment and participation in ACM de-prescription protocols is considered risky, the team will defer to the treating clinicians to exclude participants.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Reduction of Anticholinergic Medications

Timeframe: From enrollment to final visit. The final visit can vary for each participant and can be up to 16 weeks following the first baseline visit.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07043803

SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-05-31

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