Efficacy and safety of paliperidonepalmitate injection in the treatment of schizophrenia in teenagers

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of paliperidone palmitate and risperidone in the treatment in teenager patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Totally 147 schizophrenic patients aged 16 to 18 years old were enrolled in a 12 weeks randomized and compared study. Of the patients,67 were treated with paliperidone palmitate and 80 with risperidone. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scales(PANSS),Clinical General Impressive scale and Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP) were used to evaluate the efficacy and social function at the baseline,and the 2nd,4th,8th and 12th weeks. Related adverse events were recorded. Results: At the endpoint,47 patients in paliperidone palmitate group and 55 patients in risperidone group completed the study. PANSS score and CGI-I score were decreased in both group but no significant differences between the two groups were found in 12 weeks. PSP scores were higher in paliperidone palmitate group than in risperidone group at the 2nd week [(40. 68 ± 5. 58) vs(32. 38 ± 9. 24),P 0. 01],4th week [(45. 14 ± 5. 14) vs(40. 24 ± 9. 37),P 0. 05]and 12th week [(66. 73 ± 10. 38) vs(55. 48 ± 9. 86),P 0. 01]. The adverse events in paliperidone palmitate group were less than those in risperidone group(17. 3% vs 42%,P = 0. 001). Conclusion: The longacting paliperidone palmitate injection is effective in improving psychiatric symptoms and social function of teenager patients with schizophrenia.