Management of schizophrenia: clinical experience with asenapine

Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder comprising a range of clinical features, including positive and negative symptoms, cognitive dysfunction and mood symptoms (particularly depression and anxiety). The management of schizophrenia requires effective short- and long-term treatment with antipsychotic medication that is effective across these symptom domains, while being well tolerated over the long term. Asenapine is the first tetracyclic atypical antipsychotic to be licensed in the USA and several other countries outside Europe for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adults. It has a unique receptor-binding profile and a broad range of therapeutic effects. Since clinical trials are conducted under strict conditions in tightly defined patient populations, evidence of an agent's efficacy and tolerability under 'real-world' clinical practice conditions is also required. As in clinical trials, real-life case reports demonstrate that asenapine is effective in treating the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, both in the acute setting and for relapse prevention. It is also effective in treating negative symptoms and shows promise in the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Asenapine has a favourable tolerability profile, having a minimal impact on weight and metabolic parameters. As such, asenapine is valuable option for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.