A controlled study of efficacy between aripiprazole and risperidone in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia

Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole and risperidone in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. Method:70 patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into aripiprazole group(n=36) and risperidone group(n=34) for 8 treatment weeks.Positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS) and treatment emergent symptoms scale(TESS) were evaluated before and after 1,2,4,6,8 treatment weeks for both groups.The plasma prolactin level was measured before,during and after treatment. Results:The total scores of PANSS reduced significantly after treatment in both groups.Patients in aripiprazole group had mild adverse affects in extrapyramidal symptom,weight gain and abnormal menstruation cycle,and had no changes in plasma prolactin level,when compared with that risperidone group. Conclusion:Aripiprazole was as effective as risperidone in the teatment of patients with schizophrenia.Both of them are characterized with quick effect and less severe adverse effects.