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Effectiveness of aripiprazole in adolescents and young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: comparison of first‐episode to recurrent psychosis
Author(s) -
Huang YuShu,
Yeh ChinBin,
Tang ChingShu,
Chen ChihKen,
Chou WenJiun,
Chou MiaoChun,
Wu YuYu,
Liang HsinYi,
Wang LiangJen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7893.2012.00379.x
Subject(s) - aripiprazole , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychosis , schizophrenia spectrum , early psychosis , observational study , quality of life (healthcare) , psychiatry , psychology , medicine , psychotherapist
Aims The study aims to determine the clinical outcomes of aripiprazole treatment in adolescents and young adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Methods This was a 24‐week, observational, prospective study. Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were prescribed a daily dose of 5 mg to 30 mg of aripiprazole. Effectiveness was assessed by the change from baseline in psychotic symptoms and quality of life. Results Forty‐two patients with a mean age of 18.1 ± 3.7 years were recruited. Eighteen were experiencing the first episode of psychosis ( FEP ), whereas the remaining 24 were non‐ FEP . Psychotic symptoms, but not quality of life, improved globally from baseline scores by the endpoint of the study (effect size = 0.44). Compared with non‐ FEP patients, FEP patients had greater improvements (effect size = 0.45) in some clinical outcome dimensions during the 24‐week aripiprazole treatment. Conclusion We observed significant improvements of medium effect sizes in psychotic symptoms of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders within a naturalistic clinical setting, especially for FEP patients.