title: Aripiprazole: efficacy and tolerability profile of a novel-acting atypical antipsychotic.
abstract: Aripiprazole, the latest atypical antipsychotic to come to clinical practice, has a proposed mechanism of action different to other agents, most notably in its partial agonist action at dopamine (D2) receptors and at serotonin (5HT1A) receptors. Placebo-controlled comparative trials of aripiprazole confirm efficacy for positive, negative and general psychopathology. Treatment-emergent adverse effects appear low. Aripiprazole is associated with low propensity for extrapyramidal side effects, an absence hyperprolactinemia and a low propensity for weight gain. Aripiprazole's clinical role will be determined by clinical experience, additional phase IV studies, and comparative information for this agent with respect to the efficacy and tolerability profiles of other atypical antipsychotic medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-3800, USA. pbuckley@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D006801:Humans; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015363:Quinolones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole