title: A double-blind, randomised comparative trial of amisulpride versus olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia: short-term results at two months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy and safety of the atypical antipsychotics amisulpride and olanzapine in the treatment of acute psychotic exacerbations of schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multinational, double-blind randomised clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and seventy-seven patients with predominantly positive symptomatology were treated for six months with either amisulpride (200-800 mg/d) or olanzapine (5-20 mg/d).
  
  
  METHODS
  Short-term results were analysed after two months of treatment. The primary efficacy measure was the change of score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Other measures of efficacy and safety were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychotic symptoms, as measured on the BPRS score, improved with both treatments, amisulpride being equivalent to olanzapine. All BPRS factor scores, as well as depressive symptoms, improved to a similar extent with both treatments. Less than five per cent of patients withdrew for adverse events, and there was no evidence for the emergence of extrapyramidal symptoms with either treatment. Statistically significant greater weight gain (2.7 +/- 3.9 kg) was observed during the study in the olanzapine group, compared with the amisulpride group (0.9 +/- 3.2 kg, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amisulpride and olanzapine show equivalent efficacy at 2 months in the treatment of acute psychotic exacerbations of schizophrenia. Amisulpride offers a significant advantage in preserving body weight.
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, Verdun, Quebec, Canada. profsmartin@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lĵo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peuskens
authors.forename: Srinivasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thirumalai
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giudicelli
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fleurot
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077582:Amisulpride; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000077582:Amisulpride; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013469:Sulpiride