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Continuation therapy
Continuation therapy refers to the ongoing administration of a psychiatric medication after an initial treatment phase to maintain clinical response and prevent relapse.
Continuation therapy refers to the ongoing administration of a psychiatric medication after an initial treatment phase to maintain clinical response and prevent relapse. Used for Maintenance treatment following acute phase response in major depressive disorder, Relapse prevention in bipolar disorder, Symptom maintenance in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
At a glance
| Generic name | Continuation therapy |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Psychiatry |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Continuation therapy is a treatment strategy rather than a specific drug, involving the sustained use of an established psychiatric agent (such as an antidepressant, antipsychotic, or mood stabilizer) following acute phase treatment. The goal is to consolidate therapeutic gains, maintain symptom remission, and reduce the risk of symptom recurrence or relapse in conditions like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
Approved indications
- Maintenance treatment following acute phase response in major depressive disorder
- Relapse prevention in bipolar disorder
- Symptom maintenance in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Common side effects
Key clinical trials
- Dose-escalation of Regorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (PHASE2)
- Ibrutinib Before and After Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (PHASE3)
- A Phase I/II Study of Zotiraciclib for Recurrent Malignant Gliomas With Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 or 2 (IDH1 or IDH2) Mutations (PHASE1, PHASE2)
- Efficacy of Different Interventions for Progressive Myopia After Orthokeratology Lens Wear
- Radiation Therapy With or Without Combination Chemotherapy or Pazopanib Before Surgery in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Non-rhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcomas That Can Be Removed by Surgery (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- A Study to Test the Efficacy and Safety of Riliprubart Against the Usual Treatment of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) in People With Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) (PHASE3)
- OPTIA-AF Trial: Rhythm-Guided Antithrombotic Strategy After AF Ablation (PHASE4)
- Study Aiming to Compare the Plasma Exposure of the Payload (Free-DXd) in Patients Treated by T-DXd for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer According to Their BMI. (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |