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A prospective 6‐month analysis of the naturalistic use of aripiprazole – factors predicting favourable outcome
Author(s) -
Taylor D.,
Atkinson J.,
Fischetti C.,
Sparshatt A.,
Jones S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2007.01102.x
Subject(s) - aripiprazole , discontinuation , medicine , adverse effect , relative risk , prospective cohort study , clozapine , pediatrics , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychiatry , confidence interval
Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of aripiprazole in clinical practice. Method: Prospective follow‐up of patients consecutively prescribed aripiprazole in an acute mental health unit. Retrospective analysis of outcome from casenotes. Results: Data were available on 228 patients. Fifty‐one per cent discontinued aripiprazole over 6‐month follow‐up. Continuation with treatment was more likely in out‐patients [relative risk (RR) 1.50; 95% CI: 1.13–2.00], those never before considered for clozapine treatment (RR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.06–2.44) and older patients [RR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.09 (per 5‐year increase)]. The main reason for early discontinuation was the occurrence of minor adverse effects. Conclusion: Aripiprazole is effective in practice. Outcome is likely to be improved by careful patient selection and by attending to adverse effects experienced early in treatment.