Comparison of efficacy and safety of quetiapine and chlorpromazine in the treatment of schizophrenia

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and side effects of quetiapine in the treatment of schizophrenia.Methods:96 patients with schizophrenia by CCMD-3 were randomly allocated to two groups treated with quetiapine or chlorpromazine for 8 weeks.The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) and Treatment Emergent Symptoms Scale(TESS) were used to evaluate efficacy and adverse effects respectively of treatment.Results: The therapeutic efficacy in quetiapine group was similar to that in chlorpromazine(P0.05);there was no significant different between the two groups(P0.05).Incidence of adverse effects in the quetiapine group was lower than that in the chlorpromazine group.The rates of extra-pyramidal symptoms and endocrine change were significantly higher in the chlorpromazine group than those in the quetiapine group in the field of myotonia,torsion-spasm,akathisia,dry mouth,constipation,nasal,obstruction(P0.05),and quetiapine were less effects on blood glucose and weight than chlorpromazine(P0.05).Conclusions: The results suggest that quetiapine is as chlorpromazine for the treatment of schizophrenia,but these side effects are different.