title: Comparison of three antipsychotics in the emergency psychiatric setting.
abstract: In the present naturalistic study, the effectiveness and safety of quetiapine, risperidone and olanzapine were compared in the treatment of non selected acutely psychotic patients. It was observed that the rate of antipsychotic switch because of a lack of efficacy or side effects was higher in the quetiapine treated cases in comparison with the risperidone or olanzapine treated cases. The proportion of cases concomitantly treated with typical neuroleptics was significantly higher in the quetiapine group compared with the other two groups. In the outcome of non crossover cases, there were more improvements in the risperidone and olanzapine groups than in the quetiapine group. The results of this study suggest that quetiapine is not as efficacious as risperidone or olanzapine in the emergency psychiatric setting. Due to the methodological limitations of the study, these results must be considered preliminary and need confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Psichiatrico di Diagnosi e Cura, Ospedale Santo Spirito, Via Prisciano 26, Rome, Italy. michele.raja@libero.it
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azzoni
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010890:Pirenzepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D010890:Pirenzepine; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine