A controlled study of effect on serum prolactin level between aripiprazole and risperidone

Objective:To compare the effect on serum prolactin(PRL)level and its relationship with clinical efficacy between aripiprazole and risperidone treatment in schizophrenia.Method:70 patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into aripiprazole group(n=36)and risperidone group(n=34)for 8 treatment weeks.The positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)was evaluated before and after treatment 1,2,4,6,8 weeks.The PRL level was measured by radioimmunoassay before,during and after treatment.Results:The reduction of total scores of PANSS and the rate of clinical response were(44.9±15.0)% and 89.7% in aripiprazole group,(51.3±14.3)% and 92.1% 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(r=0.50,P0.05);however,not in risperidone group(r=0.20,P0.05).Compared with patients in risperidone group(7/18,38.9%),patients in aripiprazole group(1/14,7.1%)seldom had menstruation dysfunction and lactation(χ2=4.23,P0.05).Conclusion:Aripipazole 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.