Control study of the efficiency of amisulpride vs. risperidone in the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia

Objective To compare the efficiency and safety of amisulpride vs. risperidone in the treatment of firstepisode schizophrenia. Methods 64 patients with first-episode schizophrenia were randomly divided into study group( 32 cases) treated with amisulpride and control group( 32 cases) treated with risperidone for 8 weeks. All patients were assessed with Postive and Negative Syndrome Scale( PANSS) at the baseline and at the end of the 4th,8th week of the treatment to evaluate the efficiency. Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale( TESS) was used to evaluate the side effects. Results Total score and factor scores of PANSS in both groups decreased significantly at the end of the 4th and 8th week when compared with the baseline( P 0. 05 or 0. 01). The response rate and marked improvement rate was 93. 8% and 71. 9% respectively in study group,and was 90. 6% and 68. 8% respectively in control group. There was no significant difference in response rate between the two groups,nor in marked improvement rate( P 0. 05). The incidence of side effects was low in both groups. Conclusion Amisulpride is an effective and safe antipsychotic drugs. The efficiency of amisulpride on first-episode schizophrenia is equivalent with risperidone.