Maintenance of long-term efficacy and safety of quetiapine in the open-label treatment of schizophrenia.
As schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, it is important that treatment be given over a long period of time to avoid relapse. Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has established efficacy and good tolerability in the short-term treatment of schizophrenia. This study investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of quetiapine in 674 patients with schizophrenia using combined data from the open-label extension phase of four Phase IIIa trials. The results showed that quetiapine, at a mean daily dose of 472.4 mg, provided progressive improvement and maintenance in the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total, positive- and negative-symptoms cluster, Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness, and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms total scores over 208 weeks and beyond. Furthermore, quetiapine was well tolerated throughout the study period, with a low incidence of extrapyramidal symptom-related adverse events. In conclusion, quetiapine may be a suitable therapy in the long-term treatment of schizophrenia.
Kasper
Siegfried
S
Department of General Psychiatry, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria. sci-genpsy@meduniwien.ac.at
Brecher
Martin
M
Fitton
Lesley
L
Jones
Andrew Martin
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate