Higher than recommended dosages of antipsychotics in male patients with schizophrenia are associated with increased depression but no major neurocognitive side effects: Results of a cross-sectional pilot naturalistic study

Results suggest that it is possible to achieve a good clinical response in refractory patients by exceeding recommended antipsychotic dosages at the price of depression and possible mild isolated concentration deficits but not other neurocognitive or extrapyramidal adverse events. Currently clinicians prefer first-generation antipsychotics when high dosages are prescribed, but considering the more favorable adverse effects profile of newer agents, it is important to study higher dosages of these agents and to test whether they should be preferably given when high dosages are necessary.