A Comparative Study of Effect on Serum Prolactin Level between Aripiprazole and Risperidone

Objective:To compare the effect on serum prolactin level and its relationship with clinical efficacy between aripiprazole and risperidone treatment in schizophrenia.Methods:70 patients with CCMD-3 schizophrenia were randomized into aripiprazole(n=35) and risperidone(n=35) treatment in a 8-week parallel-group study.The two groups demonstrated a significant decrease in PANSS score(P0.05) at the end of 2nd 4th and 8th week of treatment.The prolactin level was measured by chemiluminescenct assay before,during and after treatment.Results:The reduction of total scores of PANSS and the rate of clinical response were(47.21±13.34)% and 88.57% in aripiprazole group,(46.78±14.13)% and 88.57% in risperidone group,respectively.There was no significant difference in serum level of PRL before and after treatment in aripiprazole group.However,the serum level of PRL increased highly after risperidone treatment(P0.05).There was a significant relationship between the dispersion of serum PRL level and the reduction of total PANSS score in aripiprazole group between before and after treatment(P0.05);however,not in risperidone group(P0.05).Compared with patients in risperidone group(8/17,47.06%),patients in aripiprazole group(1/16,6.25%) seldom had menstruation dysfunction and lactation(P0.05).Conclusion:Aripiprazole is as effective as risperidone in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia,with less influence on serum PRL level,which differentiate from risperidone and has no relationship with clinical efficacy.