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Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in first-episode schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder: an open randomised clinical trial

Kahn, René S. and Fleischhacker, W. Wolfgang and Boter, Han and Davidson, Michael and Vergouwe, Yvonne and Keet, Ireneus P. M. and Gheorghe, Mihai D. and Rybakowski, Janusz K. and Galderisi, Silvana and Libiger, Jan and Hummer, Martina and Dollfus, Sonia and López-Ibor, Juan J. and Hranov, Luchezar G. and Gaebel, Wolfgang and Peuskens, Joseph and Lindefors, Nils and Riecher-Rössler, Anita and Grobbee, Diederick E.. (2008) Effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in first-episode schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder: an open randomised clinical trial. Lancet, 371 (9618). pp. 1085-1097.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Second-generation antipsychotic drugs were introduced over a decade ago for the treatment of schizophrenia; however, their purported clinical effectiveness compared with first-generation antipsychotic drugs is still debated. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of second-generation antipsychotic drugs with that of a low dose of haloperidol, in first-episode schizophrenia. METHODS: We did an open randomised controlled trial of haloperidol versus second-generation antipsychotic drugs in 50 sites, in 14 countries. Eligible patients were aged 18-40 years, and met diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. 498 patients were randomly assigned by a web-based online system to haloperidol (1-4 mg per day; n=103), amisulpride (200-800 mg per day; n=104), olanzapine (5-20 mg per day; n=105), quetiapine (200-750 mg per day; n=104), or ziprasidone (40-160 mg per day; n=82); follow-up was at 1 year. The primary outcome measure was all-cause treatment discontinuation. Patients and their treating physicians were not blinded to the assigned treatment. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN68736636. FINDINGS: The number of patients who discontinued treatment for any cause within 12 months was 63 (Kaplan-Meier estimate 72%) for haloperidol, 32 (40%) for amisulpride, 30 (33%) for olanzapine, 51 (53%) for quetiapine, and 31 (45%) for ziprasidone. Comparisons with haloperidol showed lower risks for any-cause discontinuation with amisulpride (hazard ratio [HR] 0.37, [95% CI 0.24-0.57]), olanzapine (HR 0.28 [0.18-0.43]), quetiapine (HR 0.52 [0.35-0.76]), and ziprasidone (HR 0.51 [0.32-0.81]). However, symptom reductions were virtually the same in all the groups, at around 60%. INTERPRETATION: This pragmatic trial suggests that clinically meaningful antipsychotic treatment of first-episode of schizophrenia is achievable, for at least 1 year. However, we cannot conclude that second-generation drugs are more efficacious than is haloperidol, since discontinuation rates are not necessarily consistent with symptomatic improvement.
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine > Bereich Psychiatrie (Klinik) > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie UPK > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie (Riecher-Rössler)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Klinische Forschung > Bereich Psychiatrie (Klinik) > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie UPK > Erwachsenenpsychiatrie (Riecher-Rössler)
UniBasel Contributors:Riecher-Rössler, Anita
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0140-6736
e-ISSN:1474-547X
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
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Last Modified:25 Oct 2016 09:37
Deposited On:11 Oct 2012 15:29

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