Research presented at AMCP Nexus 2024 assesses the impact of deutetrabenazine (DTBZ) on psychiatric stability in patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD), as indicated by schizophrenia-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits for psychotic events, and missed outpatient visits.

The study objective was to determine how DTBZ affects the psychiatric stability of patients with TD, specifically looking at SCZ-related hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits for psychotic events, and missed outpatient (OP) visits. 

US patients aged 18 and older with newly diagnosed TD from July 2019 to June 2022 were identified using US-based claims data. Patients needed to have medical/pharmacy claims 6 months before and after their TD diagnosis, at least one AP prescription claim, and no VMAT2i claims before TD diagnosis. Patients with DTBZ claims were matched 1:2 with patients with no VMAT2i claims, and all had a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. The DTBZ group had to be on the same dose for at least 60 days of the first 3 months of the follow-up period.

Analyses of 172 DTBZ patients and 731 non-VMAT2i patients showed no statistical differences in baseline characteristics, with both groups having an average age of 57 years. The proportions of hospitalizations, ED visits, and OP visits at baseline were similar between the 2 groups. While mean CPS scores were comparable at baseline and during the assessment period, DTBZ patients had significantly lower scores compared to non-VMAT2i patients during follow-up.

“Patients with TD not receiving VMAT2is vs patients with TD on stable doses of DTBZ had a lower occurrence of poor mental health outcomes (as indicated by lower CPS score) that may indicate psychiatric stability (eg, SCZ-related hospitalizations and ED visits for psychotic events),” said researchers. 

Reference
Mychaskiw M , Dotiwala Z, Finkbeiner S, et al. Real-world impact of deutetrabenazine use on psychiatric stability and resource use in patients with tardive dyskinesia in the United States. Presented at: AMCP Nexus 2024; October 14-17; Las Vegas, NV.