Aripiprazole in treatment of female schizophrenics with risperidone induced hyperprolactinemia

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of aripiprasole in treatment of female schizophrenics with risperidone induced hyperprolactinemia. Methods All 117 female schizophrenics with hyperprolactinemia after fixed dose risperidone treatment were randomly assigned to aripiprazole group (n=60) and control group (n=57), and received additional aripiprazole 5 nag daily or placebo for 6 weeks respectively. The plasma prolactin (PBL) level was measured at weeks 0 and 6, and the Brief Psychiatric Bating Scale (BPBS) and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) were assessed. Results (1)Plasma prolactin levels were significantly reduced after the study compared with the baseline [(26±6) μg/L vs. (112±40)μg/L] in aripiprazole group (P= 0.000), however there were no significant difference between pre- and post treatment in control group (P =0.180). (2) At weeks 6, the decline rate and the normal ratio of plasma prolactin levels were significantly higher in aripiprazole group [(75±8) % vs. 82%]than in control group [(5±30) % vs. 4%] respectively (beth P = 0.000 ). (3) Compared with the baseline, the BPRS score showed significant reduction in both groups at the end of the study (both P=0.045). The incidence of side effects showed no significant difference between aripiprazole and control group(P =0.553). Conclusion The results indicate that aripiprazole may be effective and safe for the treatment of female schizophrenics with risperidone induced hyperprolactinemis. Key words: Risperidon;  Hyperprolaetinemia;  Schizophrenia;  Aripiprazole