A comparative study of efficacy between aripiprazole and risperidone in schizophrenia treatment

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of aripiprazole and risperidone in treatment of the patients with acute schizophrenia.Methods Eighty patients of schizophrenia were randomly assigned into aripiprazole(n=40)and risperidone treatment groups(n=40)respectively for 8 weeks.Positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS)and treatment emergent symptoms scale(TESS)were used before and at the end of 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks of treatment for both groups.The plasma prolactin concentration was measured before,during and after treatment.Results The total scores of PANSS decreased significantly with treatment in both groups.Patients had less adverse events of extrapyramidal symptom,weight gain and abnormal menstruation cycle in aripiprazole group than those in risperidone group.There was no change in plasma prolactin concentration in both treatment groups.Conclusion Aripiprazole was as effective as risperidone in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia.Both of the medication had quick response in treatment and no severe adverse events observed.