title: Safety, effectiveness, and quality of life of olanzapine in first-episode schizophrenia: a naturalistic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effectiveness, safety, and quality of life (Qol) offered by olanzapine in first-episode schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eighty-two patients with first-episode schizophrenia (ICD-10) drawn from a larger, naturalistic, study were evaluated after 6 months of treatment with olanzapine, risperidone, or conventional antipsychotics (CA). Clinical status was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and Global Assessment of Function (GAF). AWAD and EuroQol scales were used to evaluate patients' attitude towards medication and Qol, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects treated with olanzapine, risperidone, and CA showed similar improvements on CGI-S and GAF. Treatment-emergent, extrapyramidal symptoms were significantly lower in olanzapine-treated patients (17.8%) than in the risperidone (46.4%) and CA (62.2%) groups. Compared to CA, olanzapine and risperidone showed significantly greater improvement on the visual analog scale of EuroQol. Olanzapine-treated patients also showed significantly improved AWAD scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In first-episode schizophrenia, atypical antipsychotics were effective, and improved Qol. Olanzapine had a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms and better subjective acceptance of medication.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Salud Mental "La Plata" ("La Plata" Mental Health Center), University of Alcalá de Henares, Travesi;a de la Cañada s/n Torrejón de Ardoz, 28850, Madrid, Spain. j_m_montes@hotmail.com
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciudad
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D010890:Pirenzepine; D000077152:Olanzapine