Amisulpride: a review of its efficacy in schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of the new atypical antipsychotic drug, amisulpride.


METHODS
Studies comparing the efficacy of amisulpride with that of haloperidol and risperidone, respectively, are reviewed. Outcome measures were Clinical Global Impression, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and Positive And Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) scores.


RESULTS
Amisulpride was at least as effective as haloperidol and risperidone in the improvement of positive symptoms, and significantly more efficacious than haloperidol in reducing PANSS negative subscores (P=0.038) in patients with acute exacerbations. Amisulpride demonstrated a greater improvement in BPRS total scores (P<0.05) and PANSS negative subscores (P=0.0001) than haloperidol after 12 months of treatment in chronic schizophrenic patients with acute exacerbations.


CONCLUSIONS
Amisulpride can thus be considered for use as first-line treatment of acute and chronic schizophrenia.
Möller
H J
HJ
Psychiatric University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018967:Risperidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013469:Sulpiride; D000077582:Amisulpride; D005475:Flupenthixol; D006220:Haloperidol; D018967:Risperidone