Anticholinergic Deprescription in Schizophrenia

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Serious anticholinergic side-effects (e.g., fever, blurred vision) indicative of a need for immediate removal of anticholinergics,
• •2. Serious neurologic or medical condition/treatment that impacts the brain and Neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's, dementia, etc.; autoimmune conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and lupus; as well as traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• •3. Significant risk of suicidal or homicidal behavior.
• •4. Cognitive or language limitations, or any other factor that would preclude subjects providing informed consent.
• •5. Contraindications for MR imaging (e.g., a pacemaker).
• •6. Current SCID-verified substance use disorder will be excluded to avoid the confounding impact of significant substance use comorbidity. Participants with a history of substance use disorder that is in early or full remission will be eligible, to enhance generalizability.
• •7. Patients concurrently treated with electroconvulsive therapy will be excluded because of its effects on cognition.
• •1. No history of psychotic illness and no active Axis I disorder as determined by clinical interview using the SCID-NP.
• •2. Score greater than 1 on the ACB scale.
• •3. MR imaging contraindications.
• •4. Neurologic conditions, any serious non-psychiatric disorder that could affect brain functioning, or intellectual disability.
• •5. HC with family history of psychosis will be excluded, as such individuals show subtle, but significant cognitive and neurobiological abnormalities.
• •6. Individuals currently taking anticholinergic medications for reasons other than SSD.