A randomized, double blind, double dummy parallel controlled study in the female first-ondet schizophrenia treated with aripiprazole and quetiapine

Objective To compare efficacy and safety of aripiprazole and quetiapine in the treatment of female first-ondet schizophrenia. Methods The randomized, Double blind, double dummy parallel controlled was designed for this study. All the cases were diagnosed as schizophrenia in accordance with the CCMD-3 diagnosis standard and randomized into two groups which were treated with aripiprazole or quetiapine for 8 weeks. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Clinical Global Impression(CGI) and Treatment Emergent Side effect Scale(TESS) were used to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects respectively before and at the ends of 2,4,8 weeks treatment. Results 101 adult female first-onset schizophrenia patients were recruited in this study. The significant efficacy rates of aripiprazole was 66.0% and the efficacy rate was 92% after 8 weeks and was 64.7% and 92.2% in quetiapine group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P0.05). The incidence rate of adverse effect was 34.00% in aripiprazole group and 35.29% in quetiapine group, without any significant difference (P0.05). The adverse effect either in aripiprazole group or in quetiapine group was drowsiness(16.00%∶19.61%), dizziness and faint (12%∶13.73%). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P0.05). The rate of nausea and vomiting, headache in aripiprazole group was higher than that in quetiapine group(14.00%∶1.96% P0.05, 18.00%∶1.96% P 0.01). The rate of dry mouth,decrease of appetite or anorexia in quetiapine group was higher than that in aripiprazole group(15.69%∶2.00% P0.05, 15.69%∶2.00% P0.05). Both drugs showed low extrapyramidal symptoms, less endocrine change, less weight gain and has not found amenorrhea galactorrhea syndrome during treatment. Conclusions The results suggest that aripiprazole is as effective as quetiapine for the treatment of female first-onset schizophrenia and fewer side effects in them. They both are effective and safe antipsychotic drugs in treatment of female first-onset sihizophrenia. They are beneficial to improve the therapeutic compliance of female first-onset schizophrenia patients.